Davids' Reputation Shattered

2 Samuel 11:1-27

I. By Floundering Aimlessly v. 1, 2

A. David Should have been “In the Heat of the Battle” Instead David was “In the cool of the Day”

B. David was “Slumbering” - When He should of been “Serving”

Ill. Salvation, Baptism, Church Membership, Doctrine

II. By Flirting Foolishly v. 3-5

A. He Saw Her v. 2

B. He Sought Her v. 3

C. He Sent for Her v. 4

D. He Sinned With Her v. 4

III. By Fostering Deception v. 12: 1-5

David = The Sinner: The Compromiser

Uriah = The Saint: The Committed

(2 Samuel 12: 19 - 25) Davids Son Dies

(2 Samuel 18: 33 & 2 Samuel 19: 4) Absalom Dies

Honor/Shame Culture

Women (then or now) don’t bathe in places where they could be seen publicly. We might assume Bathsheba had been engaged in a ritual Jewish bath, but the text never says, or even suggests, that she was Jewish (her husband was a Hittite).15 Furthermore, we are unaware of ritual purifications done at night. Since it is evening (remember, David had been in bed), it is likely it was dark and therefore Bathsheba had provided sufficient lighting—sufficient for bathing and sufficient for being seen while bathing. We may assume Bathsheba was aware that her rooftop was visible from the palace, notably from the king’s balcony. In antiquity, people were cognizant of their proximity to the seat of power. Even today, White House offices are ranked by their distance from the Oval Office. We would be unlikely to believe a White House aide who said, “I just stepped out in the hallway to talk. I didn’t realize that the president of the United States walked down this hallway every day at this time!” Likewise, we would be skeptical if Bathsheba asserted, “Oh, I didn’t realize that was the king’s balcony.” We think the story is told in a way to imply she intended to be seen by the king. Her plan works.

The servant responds to the king’s question with a question: “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (2 Sam 11:3 nasb).17 This sort of response is customary in an honor/shame culture. The servant responded with a question because it would shame the king for a servant to know something that the king doesn’t know.

Bathsheba means “daughter of an oath” or probably “daughter of Sheba.” Likely, this term references her appearance and origin—she is from Sheba—rather than her name.

David is the king; he could have paid Uriah for the woman. But David isn’t interested in acquiring Bathsheba as a wife or concubine; he wants to save face.

He asks Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?” (2 Sam 11:10). It is likely that Uriah is angry. His response shames David in three ways. First, Uriah notes that everyone (with one exception) was where they were supposed to be: in the field with the army. “Uriah said to David, ‘The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!’ ” (2 Sam 11:11). Even God (symbolized by the ark) was there. Everyone was there, that is, but David. Second, Uriah notes the one in the field commanding the army—doing David’s job—was Joab, not David. This was all the more poignant because Uriah was a paid solder, a Hittite mercenary. He has less reason to fight for Israel than David had. Lastly, Uriah indicates to David he knows exactly what David wants and will not cooperate: “and make love to my wife.”

Honor and Shame in the Old Testament