Introduction
The low point in king David’s life.
Questions
1. How is what David does at the return of the year contrasted with what the rest of the nation is doing?
v 1 and 2 At the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. At evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at.
2. Where does Uriah sleep instead of going home to be with his wife?
v 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and didn’t go down to his house.
3. How does David arrange for Uriah to die?
v 14 and 15 In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. He wrote in the letter, saying, “Send Uriah to the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck, and die.”
Summary Points
- v 1 to 5 David sees Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite’s beautiful wife, bathing and calls her to his house. He lies with her and she becomes pregnant. She tells David she is pregnant
- v 6 to 13 David calls for Uriah and tells him to go home. [David obviously hopes Uriah will sleep with his wife and then assume he is the father of his wife’s child.] But Uriah refuses to go home
- v 14 and 15 David sends Uriah back to the army with a letter to Joab, the commander, telling him to put Uriah somewhere in the battle where he will be killed
- v 16 to 27 Joab does as he is asked and reports back to David. After Bathsheba has mourned the loss of her husband, David takes her as his wife. God is displeased with what David has done