2 Samuel 11

David's Adultery with Bathsheba and Murder of Uriah

¹At 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.

²At 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.

³David sent and inquired after the woman. One said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, Uriah the Hittite’s wife?”

⁴David 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.

⁵The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”

⁶David sent to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” Joab sent Uriah to David.

⁷When Uriah had come to him, David asked him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.

⁸David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and a gift from the king was sent after him.

⁹But 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.

¹⁰When they had told David, saying, “Uriah didn’t go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Haven’t you come from a journey? Why didn’t you go down to your house?”

¹¹Uriah said to David, “The 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!”

¹²David said to Uriah, “Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day.

¹³When 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 didn’t go down to his house.

¹⁴In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

¹⁵He 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.”

¹⁶When Joab kept watch on the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.

¹⁷The men of the city went out and fought with Joab. Some of the people fell, even of David’s servants; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

¹⁸Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;

¹⁹and he commanded the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling all the things concerning the war to the king,

²⁰it shall be that, if the king’s wrath arise, and he asks you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn’t you know that they would shoot from the wall?

²¹Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t 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?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”

²²So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.

²³The messenger said to David, “The men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field; and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate.

²⁴The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”

²⁵Then David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it.’ Encourage him.”

²⁶When Uriah’s wife heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

²⁷When 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 the LORD.

Previous 2 Samuel 10

Next 2 Samuel 12

This chapter records David's gravest moral failure, beginning with his adultery with Bathsheba while her husband Uriah serves in David's army. When Bathsheba becomes pregnant, David attempts to cover his sin by recalling Uriah from battle, hoping he will sleep with his wife and unknowingly claim the child. When Uriah's integrity prevents this deception, David orchestrates his murder by ordering Joab to place him in the most dangerous position in battle.

Context

This chapter marks the turning point from David's earlier victories and God's blessing to a period of personal and dynastic troubles that will dominate the remainder of 2 Samuel.

Key Themes

Outline

1-5
David's Adultery with Bathsheba While his army fights at Rabbah, David commits adultery with Bathsheba, who becomes pregnant.
6-13
Failed Cover-up Attempt David recalls Uriah from battle, hoping he will sleep with Bathsheba, but Uriah's loyalty prevents him from going home.
14-17
Uriah's Murder David sends Uriah back to battle carrying his own death warrant, ordering Joab to ensure his death.
18-25
Report of Uriah's Death Joab carefully reports the battle casualties to David, confirming Uriah's death as planned.

David's Adultery with Bathsheba and Murder of Uriah

11:1–11:27

narrative narration solemn

David commits adultery with Bathsheba while her husband Uriah is at war, then orchestrates Uriah's death in battle to cover up the sin when Bathsheba becomes pregnant.

person_contrast

David's name appears 17 times in this chapter—more than any other narrative chapter about him—yet he never once prays, consults God, or acknowledges divine authority.

Insight Character Study

David's name appears 17 times in this chapter—more than any other narrative chapter about him—yet he never once prays, consults God, or acknowledges divine authority.