Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba. He renews to her the solemn pledge he had given, in terms, the solemnity and impressiveness of which show that the aged monarch had roused himself to the duty the emergency called for. The cold, stiff, and repulsive etiquette of an Oriental court is strikingly represented in the narrative of these interviews with the aged king. First, Bath-sheba was introduced into the presence chamber; she bowed and did obeisance. On Nathan's entrance she withdrew and then, after a brief conversation between the king and the prophet, orders were given to the attendants to recall Bath-sheba. On her return, Nathan retired. This formality, however irksome, was the established usage of the court.