BETHSAIBA (Hebr. Bath-Seba'; Septuagint: Βηρατβέε and Βηθατβέε). — Wife of Uriah the Hittite (II Sam. 11:3). She was sinfully loved by David, who seduced her and then caused her husband Uriah to be killed (v.). God punished the king’s double crime with the death of the newborn child (ibid. 12:1 ff.).
Having become a widow, B. was taken into the king’s harem, and bore him Solomon. Aided by the prophet Nathan, she obtained from the aged David the designation of her son Solomon as king, against Adonijah’s attempt (I Reg. 1:11). In Solomon’s time she exercised the influence proper to the queen mother in the Eastern courts. She is also mentioned in the New Testament, in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Mt. 1:6).