2 Samuel 11

1-5 (David’s Sin)

6-13 (David’s Sinful Plan of Concealment)

14-21 (David’s Sinful Plan of Murder)

22-27 (The Aftermath)

1-5 (David’s Sin)

Verse 1

This chapter happens during the second battle with the Syrians when Israel sent the army to Rabbah. I had said last week that this took place during the first battle but I was mistaken, David sent the army out to Rabbah and joined them after the battle had been going on for some time. So the events of chapter 11 take place in the spring time when Joab and the army were fighting the Syrians at Rabbah but before David joined them in the fighting, probably with reinforcements. Had David gone out with the army from the start none of this would have happened. David at this point had been king for some time and may be succumbing to slothfulness and as a result opening the doors for his sinful behaviors.

Verse 2

One evening after David had his afternoon meal and apparently a nap in the heat of the day went walking on the roof of his palace that would have been higher in elevation than the surrounding houses, he looked down and saw a beautiful woman bathing. I always thought that Bathsheba was bathing on her roof and while still semi private she was out in the open, but the Bible does not say that. She was where ever the bath was, and as it is mentioned later she was not bathing for enjoyment but for ritual cleansing. So in essence David is spying on a woman taking a normal bath.

Verse 3

What should have ended in just some personal embarrassment for David in catching a neighboring woman in the bath continued and he sent for his attendants and inquired about who she was, and probably her marital status. They know whom he is referring to and tell him that her name is Bathsheba and she is the daughter of Eliam, one of David’s own mighty men. Eliam was the son of Ahithophel one of David’s counselors who later gave his allegiance to Absalom when he revolted against David later in chapter 15. This may be one of the reasons Ahithophel sided with Absalom. His attendant went on to tell David that she was married to Uriah, who was either a proselyte Hittite or had spent time with the Hittites thus gaining that title. Uriah was also one of David’s mighty men named in chapter 23.

Verse 4

David now knows that not only is Bathsheba married but married to and daughter of two of his mighty men and the granddaughter of one of his counselors. This apparently did not stop David who was spiraling down in sin and sent for her to be brought to him. She comes to David and they consensually have intercourse and thus both are guilty of adultery. The Bible adds here that she was bathing to purify herself after her menstruation, clearly identifying that she was not with child before her encounter with David. After their encounter Bathsheba returns home, it does not say whether this is the same night or in the morning.

Verse 5

Some time passes and Bathsheba learns that she is with child, I don’t think that there were any pregnancy tests back then so for her to know for sure there may have been several weeks to a month that has passed. She sends word to David that she is with child, probably hoping that David can figure out a way to prevent the scandal that will ensue as now both of them are guilty of adultery and are deserving to be stoned to death.

Lev 20:10 ““If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”

Deut. 22:22 ““If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.”

6-13 (David’s Sinful Plan of Concealment)

Verse 6

David comes up with a plan to try and cover up his and Bathsheba’s sin. He sends a message to Joab, who was in the middle of the seige of the Syrian city Rabbah about 64 miles away, telling Joab to send Bathsheba’s husband Uriah back from the battle to Jerusalem.

Verse 7

Joab not knowing the reason but obeying the king sends Uriah back to Jerusalem. Uriah hurries back and goes straight to David’s court probably concerned and confused why David would want to have him back. David seems to not have fully figured out the first part of this plan as he questions Uriah on how Joab and the army is doing in the war. David surely knew how the battles were going and probably had regular updates from other dedicated messengers. This was probably even more confusing to Uriah.

Verse 8

After questioning Uriah on information he probably already knew he sends him off to “wash his feet” which was done before bed, David here is suggesting that Uriah go home and be with his wife sexually and thus covering the fact that Bathsheba had become pregnant when her husband was away. David goes further and sends a meal to Uriah and Bathsheba to encourage them to eat, drink and have relations.

Verse 9

But Uriah does not go home to be with his wife and instead sleeps outside the kings house where all of the other guards were stationed. This was probably a barracks right outside and very near to David’s house.

Verse 10

When David learns that Uriah does not go home, probably learning this from the people who carried the meal from to Uriah’s house and saw that Uriah was not there, David once again sends for Uriah to appear before the king and asks him why he did not go home and be with his wife. This has to be very odd to Uriah that the king is taking such an unusual interest in how and where he spends his evenings and why David wants so badly that he see his wife.

Verse 11

Uriah has a very noble and honorable answer for David’s questions about why he did not go to his house. He tells David that all the men are out away from their homes living in tents at the battle and even the ark was in a tent, the ark of the covenant could have been brought to the battle site as it had been in the past or he could have been referring to the container for the ephod, and Urim and Thummim which also may have been taken to the battle in case there was a need to inquire to God for guidance. All of his fellow soldiers were away from their wives and homes so he would not also out of dedication for them.

Verse 12

David seeing his original plan to cover up his sin failing, tries once more and tells Uriah to stay in Jerusalem for a couple more days and then he can go back to Rabbah and Uriah obeyed the king.

Verse 13

The next day David has a meal with Uriah and has him eat and get drunk, another sin on David’s part getting him drunk so that in Uriah’s condition he would be more inclined to go home and enjoy Bathsheba. Uriah however holds to his previous thoughts and sleeps again in the guards barracks and does not go home.

14-21 (David’s Sinful Plan of Murder)

Verse 14-15

David once again learns that Uriah has not gone home and spent the evening instead in the guards barracks. This time instead of trying to convince Uriah to be with Bathsheba and cover up their adultery he decides on a much worse and even more sinful plan. He writes a letter to Joab with the David’s command to put Uriah on the front lines of the battle, in a part where the fighting is at its absolute bloodies, then have the men pull back and leave Uriah to be killed in battle. He also gives this note to Uriah to deliver to Joab, he is so hard hearted and entrenched in his sin with Bathsheba that he give Uriah his own death sentence and tells him to deliver it to his executioner. This sin that David commits is also punishible by death.

Lev. 24:17 ““Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.”

Verse 16

Joab having recieved the note from David, delivered by Uriah, sets to carry out David’s wishes. There is no mention of Joab questioning the orders from David in this cold blooded murder, unless Joab was under the assumption that Uriah did something that deserved death, and death in such a covert manner. Joab sends Uriah to a part of the battle that he knew had brave men fighting.

Verse 17

As Joab expected the valiant men of Rabbah came out when Uriah and the men accompanying him approached and in the battle Uriah is killed, not only Uriah though. Because of this murder plot not only is Uriah’s blood on David’s hands also the men that were with him that died as a result of this suicide mission.

Verse 18

After the battle and Uriah’s death Joan sends word to David on all of the recent happenings in the war.

Verse 19-21

Joab tells the messenger that if when David hears the news about their losses and angrily asks why they fought so close to the walls when they knew that there were archers and recounts the fate of Abimelech and how he died when the woman threw down a millstone from the wall and he was killed. If David is angry tell him that Uriah the Hittite is also dead from the battle. Joab wanted to make sure that David knew that the reason for the losses was because of his orders to have Uriah killed.

22-27 (The Aftermath)

Verse 22-24

The messenger Joab sent to David tells David all that went on and in his rush to convey all of the information does not wait to see David’s reaction to the news of their losses but immediately tells him that Uriah is dead also.

Verse 25

David give a message to be taken back to Joab, he tells the messenger to comfort Joab and not be troubled at the loss of the men and Uriah as war kills officers as well as soldiers. David also wants the messenger to encourage Joab should strengthen the attack against the city and overthrow it. David should be the one to console and encourage his men and the general of his army and not send his words through a messenger. This reaction for losses of his men is vastly different than the reaction David had at the news that Saul and Johnathan had been killed in battle and shows how David’s sin has hardened his heart and made him callous and cruel.

Verse 26

When Bathsheba hears of Uriah’s death, no doubt David sent word to her after his death was confirmed, notice here the Bible does not mention Bathsheba by name in verse 26 but refers to her as the wife of Uriah emphasizing that Uriah was murdered by David, after she learns of his death she mourns for him. Notice also this passage has no mention on any remorse or mourning by David.

Verse 27

When the customary period of 7 days mourning was over, and David probably waited no longer that he had to, he brought Bathsheba to him and married her. The pregnancy that was made from their adultery resulted in a son. Just so there is no misinterpretation of what has happened this chapter ends with the assurance that all David had done displeased the Lord, or was evil in the eyes of God and would bring forth evil consequences.