Chapter 11

1 While Joab besieged Rabbah, David committeth adultery with Bath-sheba. 6 Uriah, sent for by David to cover the adultery, would not go home neither sober nor drunken. 14 He carrieth to Joab the letter of his death. 18 Joab sendeth the news thereof to David. 26 David taketh Bath-sheba to wife.

1. After the year was expired. Literally, “in the return of the year” (see 1 Kings 20:22, 26). Among the Hebrews the civil year began with the month Tishri in the fall, although the religious year began with Nisan in the spring. Since the autumn was the “going forth” of the year, the spring would be the “return” (see p. 109). The reference here is to the spring, as proved by the next clause.

When kings go forth. The rulers of Western Asia generally started out on their military campaigns in the spring of the year. The winter was unsuited for fighting because of the cold and the rain. Also the roads at that time were well-nigh impassable and supplies of food were not readily available. The Assyrian annals show that almost invariably the spring of the year was chosen for the armies to conduct their campaigns. With the Assyrians these were annual expeditions.

David sent Joab. Joab had spent the winter, or rainy season, at Jerusalem. As soon as the winter was over, David renewed the conflict. During the previous season a crushing defeat had been inflicted on the Syrians, but the Ammonites still retained their power. When attacked by Joab’s forces they had simply retreated within their city walls, whereupon Joab returned to Jerusalem (ch. 10:14). The Ammonites were mainly responsible for this conflict and had hired the Syrians to help them (ch. 10:6). Hence it was necessary for David to deal with them and thus eliminate the Ammonite threat to the security of Israel.

Without the aid of their Syrian allies, the Ammonites alone were no match for the forces of Israel. Since the Syrians had already been subdued, it was only a question of time until the Ammonites, too, would be reduced to submission. David therefore did not consider it essential that he personally take the field against Ammon, but entrusted the conduct of the war to Joab.

Besieged Rabbah. The Ammonites fell an easy prey to the forces of Israel. The country as a whole was quickly reduced, with the exception of Rabbah, the Ammonite capital (ch. 12:26). When Joab’s men were devastating the countryside of Ammon, many of the people took refuge behind the walls of the capital city. Only a long blockade could bring about its final submission. Surrounding the city, Joab began siege operations. The ultimate doom of the city was certain, for there was no hope of relief from without.

David tarried. While Joab carried on the siege of Rabbah, David remained behind at Jerusalem. He was now at the height of his power. His enemies on all sides had been reduced to submission. Only a remnant of the Ammonites remained, and in a short time they too would be completely subdued. Surrounded by the fruits of victory, receiving honor and acclaim from his own people and from the nations about, his coffers overflowing with the tribute that was pouring in from his defeated foes, David lived a life of ease and contentment. The greatness of his success exposed him to his greatest danger. Satan chose this moment to bring upon the king of Israel a temptation that was to cause him deep humiliation and disgrace. David tragically forgot that there was an enemy greater than men. Feeling himself strong and secure against his earthly enemies, intoxicated by his prosperity and success, while receiving the plaudits of men, Israel’s honored hero and saint was thrown off his guard. Imperceptibly the inner defenses of his soul had weakened, until he yielded to a temptation that transformed him into a shameless sinner.

2. In an eveningtide. Evening began in the midafternoon. David was probably arising from his midday siesta. The palace roof, being, presumably, higher than the neighboring houses, provided a view of their courtyards.

3. Enquired after the woman. When the temptation arose, David did not resist it, but descended from the roof with the determination to bring the evil thoughts of his heart into action. It was the tempter who had suggested the sin, and David should have turned him aside with a “Get thee behind me, Satan” (Mark 8:33). Instead, he listened to the seducer, and obeyed the voice of Satan instead of the voice of God. If David had paused for a moment, if he had turned his thoughts upward to heaven to pray, if he had allowed his mind to engage itself with the responsibilities of his kingly office or given himself to the conduct of the affairs of state, the spell of the enemy would have been broken. The conduct of David in this instance is a sad commentary on what a most godly man may become when he forsakes the Lord, even for a moment. The experience is recorded as a lesson to others who might also be tempted. It is not God’s plan to cover up or excuse sin, even on the part of the greatest heroes or saints. David’s sin was followed by deep repentance and divine forgiveness; nevertheless its fruitage of evil overclouded all the remaining years of his life.

Eliam. Given as Ammiel in 1 Chron. 3:5. Eliam and Ammiel are actually the same name, with the two parts of the name transposed, as is frequently the case in Scripture. Compare Hananiah (1 Chron. 3:19) and Joanna (Luke 3:27), Jehoahaz and Ahaziah (2 Chron. 21:17; cf. 2 Chron. 22:1). If this Eliam is the same as the one mentioned in 2 Sam. 23:34, then Bath-sheba’s father was one of David’s “mighty men” at arms, and Bath-sheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel, the well-known counselor of David and Absalom (2 Sam. 15:12, 31).

Uriah the Hittite. The name of Uriah, like that of Eliam, appears in the list of David’s greatest heroes (ch. 23:39). Everything indicates that Uriah was a brave soldier and a man of upright character. The Hittites as a people were warlike and brave. David’s offense was particularly grievous since Bath-sheba was a married woman and her husband was one of David’s most noble and trusted officers, a man of an alien race who had been brought in contact with the religion of the true God.

4. Took her. There is no indication that David’s messengers took Bath-sheba by force. Bath-sheba was beautiful, and she was not beyond temptation. Possibly she was flattered by the overtures made to her by the king, and yielded herself to David without resistance.

She was purified. See Lev. 15:19, 28.

5. Sent and told David. The information was necessary both for her own and David’s safety and for the king’s honor. Both parties in the case of adultery were to be punished by death (Lev. 20:10); hence to escape the penalty, the guilty would naturally seek to conceal the sin. Bath-sheba turned to David for help. If Uriah discovered that his wife was with child by David, he might avenge himself by taking the lives of both David and Bath-sheba, or by inciting the nation to revolt because of such a disgraceful deed on the part of the king.

6. Send me Uriah. David’s sin brought him into desperate straits. Concealment by deceit seemed to offer a hope of escape. Instead of humbly confessing his sin and relying upon divine mercy and guidance, David took matters into his own hand, only to find that he was adding sin to sin, and was constantly bringing himself into greater difficulties.

7. How Joab did. As an important and trusted officer, Uriah would be well acquainted with the course of the war. David now sent for him as if to inquire for details concerning the course of the siege, and particularly concerning the conduct of Joab, as if he were desirous of some confidential report regarding the commander in chief. The degrading falsehood and dissimulation to which David stooped in the hope of concealing his sin reveals the results of a course of evil.

8. Go down to thy house. Go now to your home, refresh yourself after the journey, relax, and take your ease (see Gen. 18:4; 19:2). By sending Uriah to his wife, David evidently planned to deceive him into the belief that the child begotten in adultery was his own.

A mess of meat. Heb. masЊХeth, literally, “a portion,” here probably of food. The same term is employed for the “messes” Joseph set before his brethren (Gen. 43:34). The gift sent by David was obviously to induce in Uriah a feeling of happiness and contentment and to do its part toward ensuring the accomplishment of David’s purpose.

9. Slept at the door. Probably in the guardroom at the entrance to the palace, with the troops who were stationed there (see 1 Kings 14:27, 28). There is no evidence that Uriah had suspicions of his wife’s misconduct with David. He declared his course to be that of a loyal, upright, conscientious soldier who wished to do what was scrupulously right under the circumstances.

11. The ark. Some commentators believe that the statement here indicates that the ark was at this time with the army in its siege of Rabbah. In all probability, however, Uriah was simply referring to the fact that the ark was in a tent (ch. 7:2, 6) rather than in a permanent abode.

Israel, and Judah. These two divisions of the nation were already, to a degree, recognized and were hostile to each other during the early part of David’s reign.

Shall I then go? Uriah had just come from the battle front, where conditions were vastly different from those at home. Before Rabbah the men of Israel were encamped in the open field, suffering the privations of war, living a rigorous life, and subsisting on an army diet. Having just left his friends who were forced to live under those severe conditions, Uriah evidently did not wish to partake of the comforts and delights of life while his compatriots were suffering and dying.

As thou livest. Uriah took an oath that he would not go home. It seems strange that he would make an issue of such a point in opposition to the king. It was either perfervid loyalty and patriotism or a suspicion of the truth.

12. Tarry here. David thought that after a little extra time, Uriah’s scruples would no longer restrain him, and he would be willing to return to the comforts of his home.

13. Made him drunk. David was reduced to desperate straits in resorting to this means to induce Uriah to go to his home. But so strong was Uriah’s resolve that, intoxicated as he was, he still would not return to his home, but slept with the soldiers.

14. Wrote a letter. Every effort of David to conceal his sin proved of no avail. At length, in his desperation he decided to resort to murder in order that the mouth of Uriah might be stopped and he himself might not be exposed. David had placed himself in the hand of Satan, who now was determined to bring Israel’s new king to utter ruin and destruction, as he had Saul. Apparently David’s sole desire was to avoid disgrace before the nation. He would not even stop short of murder in order to conceal his guilt. With Uriah dead, Bath-sheba could be brought into the palace as another of David’s wives, and the king’s adultery would not be known.

By the hand of Uriah. So low had David sunk that he made his trusted officer the bearer of his own death warrant. The valor of Uriah was to pay the price for the king’s transgression.

17. Died. Uriah approached one of the city gates (v. 23) whence the defenders made a sudden sally, slaying not only Uriah but a number of the men who were with him.

18. Then Joab sent. The main object was, of course, to inform David that his orders had been carried out and that Uriah was dead.

20. King’s wrath. Joab was acquainted with David and knew that the king would be displeased when told of some reverse. David, as a wise commander, demanded prudence from those under him carrying responsibilities, and he held them accountable for any mistakes or errors in judgment. Only thus could he continue successfully to carry out his responsibilities as king and secure the greatest efficiency from his men.

21. Who smote Abimelech? Abimelech had been foolish enough to approach so close to a tower that he was killed by a piece of millstone thrown by a woman (Judges 9:53). Joab anticipated that he too would be charged with folly for permitting his men to approach so close to the wall as to come within reach of the defenders.

Jerubbesheth. Jerubbaal, or Gideon (Judges 6:32; see on 2 Sam. 2:8; 9:6).

Uriah the Hittite. Joab knew that this was the news that David was anxious to hear and that it would appease David’s possible wrath, atoning for any bad military move that Joab might have made.

23. The men prevailed. This reverse was one for which there was no excuse. It was murder, pure and simple, chargeable first to the king and next to Joab, who carried out David’s orders. Implicit obedience to the orders of superiors is not a virtue when it leads to disobedience of the laws of God. If Joab had been a truly upright man, willing to give a word of honest remonstrance when ordered to commit so base a crime, Uriah and his men need not have been sent to their untimely deaths. But David had as his commander in chief a man with apparently few conscientious scruples, a man willing to become a party to foul murder to please his king.

The entering of the gate. This detail casts some light on the nature of the incident that brought about the death of Uriah. The city gate, being an especially important and vulnerable point, would be the most strongly defended. When Uriah and his men made their approach to the gate, the Ammonites sent out a body of men against them.

24. Shot from off the wall. Uriah and his men probably approached so close to the wall that they became the target not only of the arrows of the archers but of any type of missile that might be hurled against them (see v. 21). In making such an approach the Israelites would of course have known exactly what to expect, and in thus exposing themselves to danger they could justly be accused of carelessness.

25. Displease thee. Under normal circumstances the loss of so valiant and important a man as Uriah would be keenly felt by both Joab and David. In bringing about the death of Uriah, Joab had only carried out David’s orders and he knew that he would have the approbation of the king. David was now letting him know that he was well pleased with his action and was conveying to him his thanks.

More strong. David made it appear that he feared Joab would be disheartened by the loss of Uriah, and instead of carrying on the siege with strength and vigor, might become unduly cautious and thus prolong hostilities. The messenger on his return was to encourage Joab, letting him know that David approved of the risks he was taking. The whole thing was only a sham to cover up David’s part in the death of Uriah.

26. She mourned. These words refer to the customary formal mourning observed in Oriental lands. The usual period was seven days (Gen. 50:10; 1 Sam. 31:13).

27. Fetched her. As soon as the period of mourning was over David sent for Bath-sheba, that she might become his wife. There is no evidence of any reluctance on her part to join the king’s harem.

Displeased the Lord. A great change had come over David. He was not the same David who, as a fugitive from Saul, refused to lift up his hand against “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 24:6, 10). Sin had seared his conscience as he had gone on from adultery to deceit and murder, and it now appears that he even hoped to be allowed to reap the reward of his iniquities without rebuke from God. But God had seen all.

Satan endeavors to conceal from men the terrible results of transgression, making them believe that sin will bring increased happiness and greater rewards. Thus he beguiled Eve, and thus he has seduced men through all the ages. But the Lord in His kindness allows men to see that the results of sin are not increased prosperity and happiness, but misery, woe, and death. His restraining hand would be withdrawn from David, and the king would be permitted to taste the bitter fruits of sin. He would learn to know that the pathway to true happiness could not be found in disobedience. Those who seek their own pleasure by following a path that displeases the Lord, may be certain that they will ultimately reap disappointment, bitterness, and woe.

Ellen G. White comments

1–27PP 717–720; Ed 48, 49

2–5PP 718

14, 15  1T 255

15, 19–21PP 719

25, 27  PP 720

27        PP 723