The Politics of the Royal Harem and the Case of Bat-Sheba

The title gebîrâ in the Hebrew Bible has been discussed in terms of a cultic role, a political role, and as a title accorded to royal women who influenced the politics of Israel and Judah through their strong personalities. This article reviews the ancient Near Eastern documents that refer to the political influence of the queen or queen mother in the royal court. It then reviews documentation from the households of the royal family of the Ottoman Empire as a means of further supporting the argument that the title gebîrâ in the Hebrew Bible refers to a woman who is fulfilling a particular role in the polygynous royal harem. With the role of the gebîrâ defined, it is then argued that in 1 Kings 1-2, Bat-Sheba fulfills the role of the ancient Near Eastern gebîrâ.