11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was a expired, at the
time when kings go forth [to battle], that David sent Joab,
and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they
destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But
David tarried still at Jerusalem.
(a) The year following about the spring time.
11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose
from off his b bed, and walked upon the roof of the
king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing
herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.
(b) Upon which he used to rest in the afternoon, as was
read of Ishbosheth in (2Sa 4:7).
11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And [one]
said, [Is] not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the
wife of Uriah the c Hittite?
(c) Who was not an born an Israelite, but converted to the
true religion.
11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and d told David, and
said, I [am] with child.
(d) Fearing lest she be stoned according to the law.
11:8 And David said to Uriah, e Go down to thy house, and wash
thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and
there followed him a mess [of meat] from the king.
(e) David thought that if Uriah lay with his wife, his sin
might be covered.
11:11 And Uriah said unto David, f The ark, and Israel, and
Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants
of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then
go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with
my wife? [as] thou livest, and [as] thy soul liveth, I
will not do this thing.
(f) By this God would touch David's conscience, for seeing
the fidelity and religion of his servant, he would
declare himself forgetful of God, and injurious to his
servant.
11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before
him; and he made him g drunk: and at even he went out to
lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not
down to his house.
(g) He made him drink more liberally than he was wont to
do, thinking by this he would have slept with his
wife.
11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, h Set ye Uriah in
the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from
him, that he may be smitten, and die.
(h) Except God continually uphold us with his mighty
Spirit, the most perfect fall headlong into all vice
and abomination.
11:21 Who smote Abimelech the son of i Jerubbesheth? did not
a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the
wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall?
then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
11:25 Then David said unto the messenger, k Thus shalt thou
say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the
sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle
more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and
encourage thou him.
(k) He conceals the truth from the messenger, so that
neither his cruel commandment, nor Joab's wicked
obedience would be discovered.
