旧約聖書の物語の中で、イスラエルの民からもっとも尊敬され人気があったとされるダビデ王は、常に主なる神を崇め、御心に従って生きた人だった。そして律法を守り、40年にわたって民を平和に統治した。
　しかしそんな語り継がれる偉大な王においても、その生涯で一度だけ過ちを犯したことがある。それは自分の臣下である戦士ウリヤの妻に一目惚れし、彼女を奪い取ろうとしたことだった。ウリヤの妻バド・シェバをどうしても手に入れたいダビデ王は、敵との激しい戦の最前線に夫ウリヤを送り込むよう命令を下し、故意に彼を戦死させるよう仕向けた。その結果ウリヤは敵に殺され、ダビデ王はバト・シェバを自分の妻に迎え入れることに成功した。

　ダビデ王とバド・シェバの間にできた最初の子供は、主により生きることを許されなかったが、後にこの二人にソロモンが生まれる。頭脳明晰で知識と知恵に溢れたソロモン王はダビデ王が敷いた地盤の上に、さらに鮮やかに彩られた王国を作り上げた。新しい神殿の構築や諸国からの貢物の量と表敬訪問の様子を想像すると、当時の安定と豊かさが目に浮かぶようだ。
　だがしかし、栄華を極めたそのソロモン王でさえも、度重なる政略結婚を重ねて行くうちに、700人もの王妃と300人の側室たちに翻弄され、偶像礼拝の過ちに堕ちて行く。主なる神との契約を守れなかったソロモンは神の逆鱗に触れ、後に王国を引き裂かれることになる。

　ダビデ王とその息子ソロモン王の、これら二つの物語だけを取り上げて考えてみても、偉大な王の影に女性の姿が見え隠れする。どんなに活躍して名声を獲得した立派な男性であっても、結局は女性に翻弄される運命にあるのかと思うと、残念で寂しい気持ちがする。
　聖書に記されているのは、基本的に男性中心の歴史物語だ。人類初の人口調査では、女性はカウントされなかった。司祭には女性はなれなかっただろうし、12使徒も全員男。恐らく聖書の筆者も男性であろう。
　けれども歴史の要所で女性が重要な役割を果たしてきたことは間違いない。大いなる流れの中で、女性の存在や影響を無視して考えていては、真実に近づくことはできないだろう。あんなに男性から雑な扱いを受けてきた女性は、実は男性よりも強くて賢くて、真実を見定める能力により長けているのかもしれない。実際に現代においても、男性は女性に頭が上がらない場合が多いと聞くし、男は、それは体力はあるかもしれないけれど、野蛮で思慮が足りない生き物なのかもしれない。

　エバはアダムを神に背かせ、人間の歴史を変えたとも捉えられるだろう。もしかしたら歴史の裏側で流れをいつも操作していたのは、実は女性たちだったのだろうか。私が男性だから自然と女性に興味があり、より神秘的に女性を捉えたいという願望がそのように考えさせるのかもしれないが、何だか女性が恐くなってきた。偉そうなことを宣っていても、結局男性は女性の手のひらの上で操られているのだろうか。女性の力が色んな意味で強いことは薄々勘づいてはいたが、聖書を読むことでさらに鋭く思い知らされるとは、意外だった。

　ウリヤ、かわいそうだよね

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Devilishness

　King David, who is said to have been the most respected and popular of the stories in the Old Testament, was a man who always worshipped the Lord God and lived according to his will. He also obeyed the law and ruled his people in peace for 40 years.
　However, even this great king, who is remembered for his many achievements, made one mistake in his life. He fell in love at first sight with the wife of his vassal warrior Uriya, and tried to take her away. King David, who was desperate to have Uriah’s wife, Bath-sheba, ordered Uriah to be sent to the front line of a fierce battle with the enemy, and deliberately caused him to be killed in battle. As a result, Uriah was killed by the enemy, and King David succeeded in taking Bathsheba as his wife.

　The first child born to King David and Bathsheba was not allowed to live, but later Solomon was born to them. King Solomon, who was intelligent and full of knowledge and wisdom, built a kingdom that was even more brilliantly colored than the foundation laid by King David. When you imagine the construction of the new temple, the amount of tribute from the various countries, and the state of the ceremonial visits, you can almost see the stability and prosperity of the time.
　However, even King Solomon, who had reached the height of his glory, was tossed about by 700 queens and 300 concubines as he continued to enter into repeated political marriages, and he fell into the error of idolatry. Solomon, who failed to keep his covenant with the Lord, incurred the wrath of God and would later see his kingdom torn apart.

　Even if we just consider these two stories of King David and his son King Solomon, we can see the figure of a woman lurking in the background of the great kings. It is a sad and lonely thought that even the most accomplished and famous men are ultimately destined to be at the mercy of women.
　The Bible basically tells a story of men. In the first census of the human race, women were not counted. Women could not become priests, and all 12 apostles were men. The author of the Bible was probably also a man.
　However, there is no doubt that women have played an important role at key points in history. If we ignore the existence and influence of women in the grand scheme of things, we will never be able to get close to the truth. Women, who have been treated so roughly by men, may actually be stronger and smarter than men, and more skilled at discerning the truth. In fact, even today, I hear that men often can’t stand up to women, and men, while they may have physical strength, may be a barbaric and thoughtless species.

　It could be said that Eve caused Adam to disobey God and changed the course of human history. Perhaps it was actually women who were always manipulating the flow of history behind the scenes. Perhaps it is because I am a man and naturally have an interest in women, and because I have a desire to view women in a more mysterious light, that I think this way, but somehow I am starting to feel afraid of women.
　Even though they may be talking big, in the end, are men really being manipulated by women? I had a vague idea that women were strong in many ways, but I was surprised to realize even more keenly through reading the Bible.

　Uriya, I feel sorry for you.