House of David‘s riveting second season thrusts the biblical epic forward, covering an entire year of David’s (Michael Iskander) life as he rises from “giant slayer” to embrace his role as the next anointed King of Israel. But before things go south for the would-be king, the Prime Video drama lays the foundation for a familiar Bible tale that shows a darker side of our Old Testament hero. In case you missed it, House of David Season 2 drops not one but two bombshells concerning David’s future as king.
‘House of David’ Season 2 Sets the Stage for David and Bathsheba’s Affair
House of David continues to foreshadow David’s eventual rule in several ways. His vow to Jonathan (Ethan Kai) in the Season 2 finale, “The Truth Revealed,” speaks to the way he will eventually treat King Saul (Ali Suliman) while on the run — as well as how he’ll deal with Jonathan’s descendants upon his coronation. Likewise, the escape of Goliath’s (Martyn Ford) brothers in the Season 2 premiere, “A Tale of Two Swords,” leaves the pending Nephilim thread open for further exploration, as David’s men will eventually hunt down the remaining giants during his rule. But Episode 3, “The Middle Path,” offers audiences a surprising glimpse into our hero’s complicated future with the introduction of Uriah the Hittite (Eyal Bukobza), who quickly becomes one of the most trusted warriors under David’s command.
Only a few episodes later, in “God of Swords,” David and his men travel with Abner (Oded Fehr) to Edom, where they search for the Blacksmith (James Hall) who crafted Goliath’s iron sword. While there, Abner reveals the name of his long-lost daughter, a woman now living as a slave: Bathsheba. Besides Goliath, the first person to come to mind whenever the King of Israel is mentioned is Bathsheba, and it’s completely understandable. The famed Old Testament story — which was famously adapted to the screen in the 1951 film David and Bathsheba — is told in 2 Samuel 11, where David, seduced by Bathsheba’s beauty as he watches her bathe, sleeps with her despite her being married to Uriah. To cover his sins, David sends Uriah to the frontlines to die. David soon marries Bathsheba, but the child they conceive dies as a result of their infidelity, leading to David’s repentance and the writing of Psalm 51. Their second son, Solomon, succeeds David as King of Israel.
7 ‘House of David’ Season 2 Moments That Pay Off from Season 1
Attentive viewers are rewarded in ‘House of David’ Season 2.
Introducing Bathsheba — even if she doesn’t actually appear on-screen — is an interesting move for House of David to make so early. Depending on how much time passes, it’s possible that the yet-to-be-announced third season could dive into this story, but skipping ahead to this story would also mean skipping over a lot of meaty material to potentially cover in David’s early years. After all, the first two seasons alone have only covered about seven chapters of the Old Testament. It seems that series creator Jon Erwin and the writers are laying the foundation for the second phase of David’s life in hopes that the series will continue — and, frankly, this is an intriguing way to do it.
David’s Friendship With Uriah Will Make His Ultimate Fate in ‘House of David’ Even More Tragic
Name-dropping “Bathsheba” here seems to be a way for House of David to set up a love story between her and Uriah in Season 3 rather than bringing her into David’s life prematurely. Indeed, Season 2’s decision to make David and Uriah trusted friends and allies in his younger years frames the “David and Bathsheba” tale in a completely different light. In this version of the story, Uriah won’t just be an afterthought as David attempts to expand his empire by taking yet another wife, but a betrayal of a trusted friend’s confidence that results in his murder. While Uriah doesn’t get a ton of screen time throughout Season 2, the series highlights his willingness to follow David into every battle. He even stands up for his commander when some of the other men aren’t quite sure he can lead them effectively, emphasizing that he’s certainly the type of soldier you’d want at your side.
Admittedly, Uriah is a biblical figure we know very little about, and House of David speculates that the Hittite may have aligned with Israel out of reverence for their God and remained due to his allegiance to his commander. It’s no wonder, then, that Uriah is counted among the many men in the Season 2 finale who stand with David against Saul, and that type of loyalty cannot be bought. This again makes the inevitable betrayal even more difficult to stomach, with House of David foreshadowing one of the darkest moments in David’s life. However the next season of the Prime Video drama plays out, this story is going to be a challenging one to watch unfold.