Introduction
David was King of all Israel early in the 10th century BC. Through Bathsheba, he was a forefather of Jesus, but the marriage was the result of a stratagem unworthy of a King.
DAVID became captivated by a young woman called Bathsheba, and wanted her for his wife.
When he discovered that she was already married, he contrived to have her husband, Uriah, drafted into the Israelite army, and posted to the front line.
Soon Uriah was killed in battle, just as David intended. The King seized his chance to comfort the grieving widow, and before long, Bathsheba bore David a son and heir.
A little later, David’s chief prophet Nathan brought a case of injustice to the King. A rich man, he said, with many sheep of his own had stolen a poor man’s lamb, and served it up at his own table!
David angrily demanded retribution; but Nathan simply said, ‘You are that man’.
David now realised the tale had been about him, Uriah, and Bathsheba. He was pierced through with shame and regret, and composed a Psalm* to express his repentance and hopes for forgiveness.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Grieve. Married. Widow.
2 Now. Say. Soon.
3 Draft. Little. Post.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Shame. 2 Case. 3 Husband. 4 Regret. 5 Kill. 6 Table. 7 Demand. 8 Serve. 9 Draft.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Post. 2. Shame. 3. Line. 4. Wife. 5. Battle. 6. Woman. 7. Table. 8. Hope. 9. Chance.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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