O² P 11:1-. Rabbah. Besieged.
Q 11:-1–12:25. David's sin. Committed.
P 12:26-31. Rabbah. Captured.
Q 13:1-20:22. David's sin. Punished.942 B.C.
2 Samuel 11)
1: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle (i.e. the next spring), that David sent Joab (= whose father is Yahaveh), and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the sons of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah (= great. The capital of Ammon [Deut. 3:11 Josh. 13:25]).
Q R¹ 11:-1-5. David and Bath-sheba.
S¹ T 11:6-24. David and Uriah.
U 11:25. Displeasure of Joab.
R² 11:26,27-. David and Bath-sheba.
S² U 11:-27. Displeasure of Yehovah.
T 12:1-14. David and Nathan.
S³ 12:15-25. David and Bath-sheba's child.
But David tarried still at Jerusalem (note the contrast with "kings" going forth, above, and this word "But". To much time on your hand can cause problems).
2: And it came to pass in an evening-tide, 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 bathing herself (probably in the court below); and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. (Was she tempting David? We will never know)
3: And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bath-sheba (= daughter of the oath. Called Bath-shua, 1 Chron. 3:5), the daughter of Eliam (called "Ammiel", 1 Chron. 3:5. The son of Ahithophel [23:34]), the wife of Uriah (= light of Yahaveh. One of David' faithful soldiers [23:39]. Married the daughter of Eliam [11:3], who was the son of Ahithophel [23:34]. This relationship probably led to Ahithophel's disloyalty [15:12]) the Hittite?” (refers to geographical location, NOT blood-line)
4: And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; and when she was purified from her uncleanness (cp. Lev.15:18. It is possible to be more punctilious about the ceremonial Law than the Moral Law): and she returned to her house. (Did she put up a fight? Was this love at first sight?)
5: And the woman conceived, and sent and told David (that David might shield her from the death penalty [Lev.20:10]), and said, “I am with child.”
T V 6. Message to Joab.
W 7-13. Uriah's reception.
V 14,15. Letter to Joab.
W 16-24. Uriah's death.
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. (Double talk to cause Uriah to think that he [Uriah] is the messenger of the king)
8: And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. (Pregnancy would be explainable if Uriah spent time with his wife)
9: But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. (Uriah did this out of loyalty to his troops)
10: And when they had told David, saying, “Uriah went not down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from your journey? why then did you not go down to your house?” (This is messing up David's plan)
11: And Uriah said to 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 my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as you live, and as your soul (= you [emp.]) live, I will not do this thing.” (Shows his loyalty to the Ark of God which could be in danger)
12: And David said to Uriah, “Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the next day.
13: And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk (David is still trying to get him home to his wife): 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. (He knew Uriah wouldn't open it. He was carrying his own death sentence. David will regret this move)
15: And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set you all Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you all from him, that he may be smitten, and die.” (This is very difficult for a military man to understand)
W s¹ 16,17-. Joab. Obedience.
t¹ -17. Death of Uriah.
s² 18-21-. Joab. Message sent.
t² -21. Death of Uriah.
s³ 22-24-. Joab. Message delivered.
t³ -24. Death of Uriah.
16: And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah to 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.
18: Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19: And charged the messenger, saying, “When you have made an end of telling the matters of the war to the king,
20: And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say to you, ‘Wherefore approached you all so near to the city when you all did fight? knew you all not that they would shoot from off the wall?
21: Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? (Judg. 9:1 = Jerubbal. Baal = lord, Bosheth = shame; changed by Holy Spirit here to suit his idolatry [Judg. 8:27], and now David's sin) did not a woman cast (one of the 10 deaths caused by a woman. See Judg.4:21) an upper-piece of a millstone upon him from the wall (one of the "despised" things used. See Judg. 3:21; 9:35), that he died in Thebez? why went you all nigh the wall?’ then say you,
‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”
22: So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23: And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were upon them even to the entrance of the gate.
24: And the shooters shot from off the wall upon your servants; and some of the king's servants be dead,
and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”
25: Then David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Let not this thing be evil in your eyes (this event put David in Joab's power, which Joab freely used. David was not tongue-tied in 3:29; but from now on he had to endure Joab's insolence, being too suspicious to trust him, and too weak to dismiss him. Cp. 14:19; 19:7. 1 Kings 2:5,22,33), for the sword devours now this one, now that one: make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage you him.”
26: And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentations for her husband.
27: And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house (not till 9 months after), and she became his wife, and bare him a son.
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.