2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11:1

In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

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am 2969 , bc 1035 , An , Ex , Is , 456

at the time The sacred historian seems to intimate that there was one particular time of the year to which military operations were limited; and Josephus informs us that this took place in the beginning of spring. In another part of his works he says , that as soon as spring was begun , Adad levied and led forth his army against the Hebrews. Antiochus also prepared to invade Judea at the first appearance of spring; and Vespasian marched to Antipatris at the commencement of the same season. The kings and armies of the East , says Chardin , do not march but when there is grass , and when they can encamp , which is in April. This rule , however , seems to be disregarded in modern times.

2 Samuel 11:2

One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.

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2 Samuel 11:3

So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, "This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite."

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Bathsheba or , Bath-shua

2 Samuel 11:4

Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.

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2 Samuel 11:5

And the woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

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2 Samuel 11:6

At this, David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David.

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2 Samuel 11:7

When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing with the war.

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2 Samuel 11:8

Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

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2 Samuel 11:9

But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.

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2 Samuel 11:10

And David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” “Haven’t you just arrived from a journey?” David asked Uriah. “Why didn’t you go home?”

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2 Samuel 11:11

Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!”

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2 Samuel 11:12

“Stay here one more day,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

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2 Samuel 11:13

Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he got Uriah drunk. And in the evening Uriah went out to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

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2 Samuel 11:14

The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.

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2 Samuel 11:15

In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”

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hottest Heb. strong

from him Heb. from after him

2 Samuel 11:16

So as Joab besieged the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he saw the strongest enemy soldiers.

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2 Samuel 11:17

And when the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of David’s servants fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.

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2 Samuel 11:18

Joab sent to David a full account of the battle

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2 Samuel 11:21

Who was the one to strike Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?' If so, then you are to say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.'"

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2 Samuel 11:24

Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.”

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2 Samuel 11:25

Then David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him with these words.”

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displease thee Heb. be evil in thine eyes

one Heb. so and such , What abominable hypocrisy was here! He well knew that the death of this noble and gallant man was no chance-medley . he was by his own order thrust on the sword.

2 Samuel 11:26

When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him.

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2 Samuel 11:27

And when the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.

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And when etc. The whole of her conduct indicates that she observed the form , without feeling the power of sorrow. She lost a captain , and got a king for her husband , and therefore , Lacrymas non sponte cadentes effudit; gemitusque expressit pectore laeto; "She shed reluctant tears; and forced out groans from a joyful breast!"