2 Samuel 11

While Joab at David’s command besiegeth the city of Rabba, v.1. David at home committeth adultery with Bath-seba, 2. and hearing that she was big with child, he sendeth for Uria her husband out of the camp to cover his shame, 5. which miscarrying, he sendeth Uria again into the camp, with a letter unto Joab, whom he commandeth to order the matter so, as that Uria may fall by the Enemies hand, 9. which so happeneth; and word being sent unto David by Joab, David marrieth the same Bathseba, 17.

1. And it came to pass with the return of the year, at the time when Kings go forth, [i.e. when the year was expired or gone about, and the summer time of the ensuing year came on, when Kings were wont to march into the field to make war: the weather then serving to get provision and necessaries both for men and beasts. See 1 Kings 20:22, 26. and 1. Chron.20.1. and 2 Chron.36.10.] that David sent away Joab and his servants, [i.e. his officers, or commanders with the souldiers] with him, and all Israel, to destroy tyhe children of Ammon, and besiege Rabba; [the metropolis, or chief city of the Ammonites, lying beyond Jordan on mount Gilead, by the house of the brook Jabbok, See also below chap.12.26, &c.] But David tarried at Jerusalem.

2. So it came to pass towards evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed; [Whereon he had taken his after-noons rest. Compare above chap.4, 5, 7.] and walked upon the roof [see of the situation of roofs, Deut.22.on v.8.] of the Kings house, and beheld from the roof a woman washing of herself: now this woman was very beautifully of countenance.

3. And David sent forth, and inquired after this woman: and they said, [Hebr. he said, i.e. some one of his family, court] is not that Bathseba, [otherwise called Bathsua, 1 Chron.3.5. Intimating that it was surely Bathsua. See of such kind of questions, Judg.4.on v.6. and above chap.10.3.] the daughter of Elium, [otherwise called Ammiel, 1 Chron.3.5.] the wife of Uria the Hethite? [but converted to the true Religion, and being therein zealous, as appeareth below v.11. Compare 1 Sam.26.6. Some think that he was called an Hethite, because he had dwelt among the children of Heth. Of this people, see Gen.23.3, &c.]

4. Then David sent forth messengers and caused her to be fetch; [Heb. took her; i.e. caused her to be taken and brought. Although he had understood that she had a lawfull husband] and when she was come in unto him, he lay with her; (now she had purified [Hebr. hallowed, i.e. purified, cleansed. See hereof Lev.15.19, 20, 21, &c.] her self from her uncleanness:) after that she had returned to her house.

5. And the woman conceived: so she sent away, and let David know, [Perceiving that she was with child by David] and said, [i.e. sent him word] I am with child.

6. Then David sent to Joab, (saying); Send Uria the Hethite unto me: and Joab sent Uria unto David.

7. Now when Uria came to him, then David asked after the welfare [Heb. after the peace; and so in the sequel, see above chap 8.on v.10. and Gen. 43.on v.27.] of Joab, and after the welfare of the people, and after the welfare of the war.

8. After that David said unto Uria; go down to thy house, and wash thy feet; [see Gen.18.on v.4.] and when Uria departed out of the Kings house, (there) followed after him a mess of the King. [Hebr. a mess of the King went forth after him. Meaning a mess from the Kings Table, whereby David would stir up Uria to make merry with his wife, and to lie with her: thus to make the world believe that Uria was the child’s own father, and so to hide his adultery from the eyes of men.]

9. But Uria laid himself down before the door of the King's house, with all the servants of his Lord: and he went not down into his house.

10. And they made it known unto David, saying; Uria is not gone down into his house: then said David unto Uria; comest thou not from the journey? [Heb. way] why art thou not gone down into thine house?

11. And Uria said unto David; The Ark, [Which they were wont to take along with them in great wars, to enquire of the Lord in time of need, as appeareth Num.31.on v.6. 1 Sam.4.4. and 14.8. although the same was vain and fruitless in respect of hypocrites, who being unfaithful, do in vain rely on the outward tokens of grace] and Israel, and Juda, abide in tents; and my Lord Joab, and the servants of my Lord are camped in the open Field, [Heb. face of the Field] and should I go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? (As true as) thou livest, [see Gen.42.on v.16.] and thy soul liveth, if I shall do this thing. [whereupon must be understood, then God do this and that to me. Of such abrupt phrase used in swearing, see Gen.14.on v.23. These zealous and Religious speeches of Uria ought to have moved David, to sin no more against this godly man.]

12. Then said David to Uria; tarry here also today, so I will send thee away tomorrow: Thus Uria tarried at Jerusalem that day, and the next day.

13. And David invited him, so that he did eat and drink before his face, [i.e. in David’s presence at his table] and he made him drunk, [David made Uria drunk, all this tending to the same end, whereof mention is made v.8.] after that he [viz. Uriah] went forth in the evening, to lay himself down on his bed, with the servants of his Lord, [viz. David] but went not down into his house. [Though he was drunk, yet he continued stedfast in his resolution and purpose, mentioned, verse 11.]

14. Now it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, [When he perceived that the first assay, to hide and cover his adultery by Urias lying with Bathseba, miscarried, he attempted to cause the good man to be destroyed in such a way, as that the carriage and practise (as he thought) should no waies be perceived: falling thus, being blinded by his own flesh, and seduced by the Devil, from one grievous sin into another] and he sent (it) by the hand of Uria.

15. And he wrote in that letter, saying; [i.e. thus in this manner] Set [Heb. give, bring] Uria before over against the strongest battle, [Heb. over against the face of the strongest battle, i.e. where the stoutest and valiantest souldiers of the Enemy are, as is mentioned in the following verse, that being forsaken by you, he may without fail be slain and perish] and retire from him that he may smitten and die.

16. So it came to pass, when Joab had observed [viz. to perceive where the besieged imployed their valiant souldiers, and to set Uria in the front against them. Others, had set watch against] the city, [viz. Rabba, which he had besieged, above v.1.] that he put Uria in the place, whereof he knew that there were warlike men.

17. Now when the men of the City marched forth, and sought with Joab, there fell of the people, [i.e. there were some slain] of David’s servants: And Uria the Hethite died also.

18. Then Joab sent away, and let David know the whole transaction of this battle.

19. And he charged the messenger, saying; When thou shalt have made an end of uttering the whole managing of this war unto the King.

20. And it shall be, if the Kings wrath arise, and he say unto thee; wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the City to sight? Know ye not, that they would shoot [viz. with arrows, or other instruments of war, as was usual in those times, see v.24.] from the wall?

21. Who smote Abimalech, the son of Jerubbeseth? [Otherwise called Jerubbaal, i.e. Gideon. See Judg.7.1.] did not a woman cast a piece of a mil-stone upon him from the wall, that he died at Tebez? [see Judg.9.52, 53.] why went ye nigh the wall? Then shalt thou say; Thy servant Uria the Hethite is dead also.

22. And the Messenger went his way, and came in, and made Known to David all that Joab had sent him forth for.

23. And the messenger said unto David; Those men [Of the besieged City of Rabba] were surely too strong for us, and narched out unto us into the field: but we were against them unto the [or because the men (of the city) behaved themselves manfully or valiantly against us and marched out against us into the field, therefore we, etc.] door of the gate. [i.e. we beat them back to the very entrance of the City gate, insomuch that through the sierceness of the battle, we coming somewhat too near, lost some of our men.]

24. Then the Archers shot from off the wall upon thy servants, (so) that there are (some) of the Kings servants dead: and thy servant Uria the Hethite is dead also.

25. Then David said unto the messengers, thus shalt thou say unto Joab; let not this thing be evil in thine eyes, [i.e. let not this displease thee, let it nor seem strange to thee] for the sword devoureth a swell this (man) as that; [Heb. according to that and according to this: or so as thus] strengthen thy battle against the City and overthrow it: strengthen him thus. [David chargeth the messenger to strengthen Joab thus, and in the Kings name to be speak a good courage in him. His History is prosecuted, chap.12.26.]

26. Now when Uria’s wife heard that her husband was dead, then she mourned for her Lord. [Ur husband. Compare Gen.20.3. and see Exod.21.3.]

27. And when the mourning was past, David sent thither and took her [Heb. gathered her. See Judg.19.on v.15.] into his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son? But this thing, which David had done, was evil in the eyes of the LORD. [i.e. this whole business of David displeased the Lord exceedingly.]