2 Samuel 11
โ 2 Samuel 10 | 2 Samuel | 2 Samuel 12 โ
v1
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.
v2
At evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the kingโs house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at.
v3
David sent and inquired after the woman. One said, โIsnโt this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, Uriah the Hittiteโs wife?โ
v4
David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned to her house.
v5
The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, โI am with child.โ
v6
David sent to Joab, โSend me Uriah the Hittite.โ Joab sent Uriah to David.
v7
When Uriah had come to him, David asked him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.
v8
David said to Uriah, โGo down to your house and wash your feet.โ Uriah departed out of the kingโs house, and a gift from the king was sent after him.
v9
But Uriah slept at the door of the kingโs house with all the servants of his lord, and didnโt go down to his house.
v10
When they had told David, saying, โUriah didnโt go down to his house,โ David said to Uriah, โHavenโt you come from a journey? Why didnโt you go down to your house?โ
v11
Uriah said to David, โThe ark, Israel, and Judah, are staying in tents; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field. Shall I then go into my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing!โ
v12
David said to Uriah, โStay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.โ So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day, and the next day.
v13
When David had called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. At evening, he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but didnโt go down to his house.
v14
In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
v15
He wrote in the letter, saying, โSend Uriah to the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck, and die.โ
v16
When Joab kept watch on the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.
v17
The men of the city went out, and fought with Joab. Some of the people fell, even of Davidโs servants; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
v18
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
v19
and he commanded the messenger, saying, โWhen you have finished telling all the things concerning the war to the king,
v20
it shall be that, if the kingโs wrath arise, and he asks you, โWhy did you go so near to the city to fight? Didnโt you know that they would shoot from the wall?
v21
Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didnโt a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?โ then you shall say, โYour servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.โโ
v22
So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.
v23
The messenger said to David, โThe men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate.
v24
The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the kingโs servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.โ
v25
Then David said to the messenger, โTell Joab, โDonโt let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it.โ Encourage him.โ
v26
When Uriahโs wife heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
v27
When the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Yahweh.