The Book of second Samuel

Chapter 11

[1] And it came to pass, after the year was 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.

1) Absence from Battle (Vs 1)

(One of the greatest tragedies in the OT)

David, the king of Israel, should be out w/ army in battle (II Sam 10 decisive victory came only when David led)

His absence from battle provided opportunity for temptation (Gal 5:16)

David’s disregard for God’s plans of marriage led David into this sin (I Sam 25:42,43 II Sam 3:2-5)

His lack of restraint and indulgence of passion bore bitter fruit in David’s life.

Not satisfied with what God has given him

[2] And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his 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.
[3] And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
[4] And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
[5] And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

2) Adultery w/ Bathsheba (Vs 2-5)

(Vs 2) David was upon roof pacing at nighttime “Uneasy, as he is not where God wanted him to be”

(Vs 2) Bathsheba acts immodestly as she was bathing openly at night where she could be seen

(Vs 2) David saw her, looked again (she was beautiful and this was more tempting to David)

(Vs 3) David enquires of her

1. Bathsheba is the daughter of Eliam (II Sam 23:34) mighty man, son of Ahithophel

2. Bathsheba is the wife of Uriah (II Sam 23:39) Uriah is away in battle

(Vs 4) David sent messengers and began to follow out a lustful impulse

David requests she attend at the palace and provided means for her to attend (not forcibly)

Bathsheba accepted his invitation w/o hesitation and w/o resistance

David, knew this was wrong YET went ahead and he laid w/ her anyway (1 night of pleasure)

She had recently had her menstrual period and was not already pregnant

We call it affair God calls it adultery, we call it love God calls it lust, we call it romantic God calls it ruin

(Vs 5) Bathsheba conceived and told David, as she feared their adultery would now be known (L 20:10)

[6] And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
[7] And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
[8] And David said to Uriah, 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.
[9] But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
[10] And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
[11] And Uriah said unto David, 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.
[12] And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
[13] And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him 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.
[14] And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
[15] And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
[16] And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
[17] And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

3) Actions of Betrayal (Vs 6-17) Instead of repenting, David tries to hide his sin

(Vs 6-11) Attempt to Deceive

David plans to bring Uriah, her husband, home from the battle

Thinking Uriah will have relations w/ his wife and therefore a reason for pregnancy

David speaks w/ Uriah about the battle and sends Uriah home w/ supper

But Uriah sleeps outside the kings door and doesn’t go home & this was openly witnessed

Uriah was a man of integrity and would not enjoy the comforts of home while comrades endure hardships on battlefield

(Vs 12-13) Allure of Deceit

David again attempts to send Uriah home. He tried getting Uriah drunk to weaken his resolve

But Uriah, though drunk, would not (David drunk w/ lust fell in sin Uriah drunk w/wine didn’t)

(Vs 14-17) Arrangements for Death

David wrote a letter. He gave orders to put Uriah outfront, have army pullback &Uriah is killed

Uriah would carry this letter to Joab the General. Uriah carried his own death warrant

Joab carried this order out. Thus David is guilty of murder and Joab is now an accomplice

Joab will hold this over Davids head

[18] Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
[19] And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
[20] And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
[21] Who smote Abimelech the son of 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.
[22] So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
[23] And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
[24] And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
[25] Then David said unto the messenger, 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.

4) Account from the Battlefield (Vs 18-25)

(Vs 18-21) Joab sends word back to David, via a messenger, of the battlefront account

“If the king seems upset of the news, then remind him of Abimelech who got too close (Jd 9:50-57)

“Tell the king of Uriah’s death and how it appeared he got too close”

(Vs 22-25) The messenger came and spoke to David

David hears the news and takes these words with great relief

Now he can marry Bathsheba and give that as an explanation for her pregnancy

“The sword devoureth one as well as another” These things happen (aiding guilty conscience)

[26] And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
[27] And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

5) Appearance of Bereavement (Vs 26-27)

(Vs 26,27a) Bathsheba hears that her husband Uriah has died in battle and she mourns

* I think David concealed that this was an arranged death from Bathsheba

* I also think Bathsheba is relieved, not to be exposed as an adultress & she has hopes of becoming the queen

David maybe looks like a hero to take the widowed & make her his wife thus taking care of her

(Vs 27b) But this thing displeased the Lord

David tried to hide and looks like he did, But God knows and is displeased. Hindering fellowship

* A lustful thought, an adulterous action, An unwanted pregnancy, murdering a trusted friend