Introduction The narrative of David and Bathsheba has been of interest to commentators of all periods. This account focuses on David's sin and provides insight into the nature of sinful, fallen man, and offers the reader the lesson that this is the nature we possess. The narrative focuses on literary elements including character development, plot, and narrative setting. This essay will summarize the narrative of David and Bathsheba and expose the literary techniques used by the narrator. Literary Features The story of 2 Samuel 11:1-27 includes four main characters who are David, Bathsheba, Uriah, and Joab. David is a well-rounded character as well as a developed character, with his story beginning in 1 Samuel 16. David was chosen by God to be the king of Israel in place of Saul, who disobeyed and sinned against God without proper repentance . Bathsheba is another recurring character in the narrative. She is mentioned by name only once (verse 3) and then referred to as the woman, or wife of Uriah. It plays an important role as David commits the grave sin of adultery with Bathsheba. Uriah is a flat character as he portrays one quality in the narrative, and that is dedication to the king, David. In 2 Samuel 11:11 we read: Uriah said to David: “The ark, Israel and Judah are dwelling in temporary refuges, and my lord Joab and my lord's servants are encamped in the open field. Shall I then go to my house to eat, to drink, and to lie with my wife? For your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing” (NASB). Joab's character as an agent moves the story forward. David orders Joab to put Uriah on the front lines of the battle so that he can be killed to cover up David's sin of adultery. Joab is......middle of paper......ord. As mentioned above, as Christians we too must be able to confess our sins to God. Conclusion This essay has examined the literary elements included in the narrative of David and Bathsheba. These include character development, plot, and narrative setup. The story of David and Bathsheba reveals the sinful nature of man and how it causes destruction in people's lives. David may have been a man after God's own heart, but he failed when he committed adultery and murder. The story continues to show that true repentance is always forgiven by God. Christians can learn from this narrative to seek God's will and depend on the Holy Spirit to stay away from sin. When a sin occurs, the person must confess it to the Lord and then he is forgiven. The narrative also demonstrated that God is always in control and His will is always done.