II Samuel 11:1-27
“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.” (II Samuel 11:1)
When the crops were all harvested there was a period when things were rather slow, and kings had time to think about expanding their kingdom. It was also easier to gather the army when the men were not busy, and needed an income, so raids and attacks were more common during that time of year. David took advantage of the period to conquer the Ammonites, sending Joab and the army to beseige the capital at Rabbah, near present day Amman, Jordan. They had destroyed and defeated the rest of the country.
“But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 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.” (II Samuel 11:1b-2)
Confident of Joab’s military skills, David sent the army, but didn’t see any need to lead them himself. With the army gone and no pressing business, he found it hard to get to sleep and went up on the rooftop to relax late at night. Because her husband was out of town fighting the Ammonites, one of the neighbor ladies had decided to take a bath after everyone else had gone to bed to relax. From the rooftop, David could see down into the courtyard and saw her.
He could have simply turned and went back into the house, and their would have been no sin on either part. Instead, excited by what he saw, he stayed to watch and imagine what it would be like to be with her. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” When he stopped to enjoy the sight and think about it, he yielded to his lust.
Human nature wants to blame somebody else for their sin. Some would blame the woman, but she had waited until she was sure no one would be watching, so it wasn’t her fault. Others would blame God or the devil for tempting David by causing him to go up there at that time. James 1:13- 14 warns, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” The problem is not what we see, but how we respond to it.
When David chose to enjoy what he saw, yielding to that lust he began to sin. James 1:15a warns, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.” Once the sin sprouts, like a weed, it just keeps growing and spreading, taking over more of your life.
“And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (II Samuel 11:3)
David next toyed with the idea a little, finding out who she was and thinking about how beautiful she was. Despite the claims to the contrary, adultery doesn’t just happen accidentally. There is a conscious choice to flirt a little and to go as little farther, to let down the bars just a little. David knew she was married, and that God forbid adultery, but he didn‘t stop.
“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.” (II Samuel 11:4)
Notice that even at this point David was still in control, concerned that he would not be breaking the law by having sex with a woman during her period. He still had the ability to stop if he chose. The excuse that things just got out of control and we were unable to stop is a lie. They just got to a point where we were no longer willing to stop.
“And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.” (II Samuel 11:5)
Knowing that pregnancy was a probable outcome of having sex, both Bathsheba and David chose to do it. Her pregnancy was the result of their choices. The abortion movement would like us to believe the woman had no choice, so they call their position pro choice. In reality they are against taking responsibility for their choice. Since abortion was not an option under the law, and adultery required the execution of both parties, her pregnancy presented a serious problem.
“And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 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. 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.” (II Samuel 11:6-9)
Hoping to cover up his adultery, David requested that Uriah be sent home to give a report. Having been away from his wife for an extended period, he expected him to turn to her immediately, and thus when her pregnancy became apparent, no one would question it. He sent a romantic dinner with him to encourage such and outcome, but Uriah didn’t stay the night, returning to the palace.
“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?
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.
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.
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.” (II Samuel 11:10-13)
When David questioned Uriah about why he didn’t spend the night with his wife, he responded that he felt guilty taking things easy and enjoying his pleasures while the rest of the men were out fighting for their country. I wonder how David felt then, taking his wife while he was doing the same? Desperate to conceal his adultery, David got him drunk in hopes he’d forget, but Uriah didn’t go home.
“And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 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.
And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 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.” (II Samuel 11:14-17)
Knowing Joab’s unethical nature, David sent a secret message back with Uriah the next morning to deliberately expose Uriah to danger than desert him so he’d be killed. Joab did as David ordered, putting Uriah in one of the most dangerous positions, and when others were killed, no one questioned Uriah’s death. James 1:15b warns, “…and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” The sin of watching and lusting after Bathsheba led to adultery, and then to murder to cover it up.
“Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 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? 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.
So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for. 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. 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.” (II Samuel 11:18-24)
Not only did Joab have Uriah killed as David ordered, he provided a source of plausible deniability, implying they had taken unnecessary chances, and accidentally had several killed, including Uriah. David could then complain about bad judgment and remind them of what happened to Absalom and no one could ever suspect it was a deliberate murder.
“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.” (II Samuel 11:25)
David pointed out that no one could predict who might be killed, and advised Joab not to worry about having made a mistake that resulted in men’s deaths. It must have seemed that he was going to get away with both adultery and murder.
“And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son.” (II Samuel 11:26-27a)
Carefully observing all the normal proprieties so no one would suspect, Bathsheba and David waited to get married until the dust settled, and it would seem that the baby was Uriah’s, Since Uriah wasn’t around to dispute the assumption, no one would be the wiser, and David could marry her without question. There was just one problem.
“…But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” (II Samuel 11:27b)
“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.” (II Samuel 11:1)
When the crops were all harvested there was a period when things were rather slow, and kings had time to think about expanding their kingdom. It was also easier to gather the army when the men were not busy, and needed an income, so raids and attacks were more common during that time of year. David took advantage of the period to conquer the Ammonites, sending Joab and the army to beseige the capital at Rabbah, near present day Amman, Jordan. They had destroyed and defeated the rest of the country.
“But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 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.” (II Samuel 11:1b-2)
Confident of Joab’s military skills, David sent the army, but didn’t see any need to lead them himself. With the army gone and no pressing business, he found it hard to get to sleep and went up on the rooftop to relax late at night. Because her husband was out of town fighting the Ammonites, one of the neighbor ladies had decided to take a bath after everyone else had gone to bed to relax. From the rooftop, David could see down into the courtyard and saw her.
He could have simply turned and went back into the house, and their would have been no sin on either part. Instead, excited by what he saw, he stayed to watch and imagine what it would be like to be with her. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” When he stopped to enjoy the sight and think about it, he yielded to his lust.
Human nature wants to blame somebody else for their sin. Some would blame the woman, but she had waited until she was sure no one would be watching, so it wasn’t her fault. Others would blame God or the devil for tempting David by causing him to go up there at that time. James 1:13- 14 warns, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” The problem is not what we see, but how we respond to it.
When David chose to enjoy what he saw, yielding to that lust he began to sin. James 1:15a warns, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.” Once the sin sprouts, like a weed, it just keeps growing and spreading, taking over more of your life.
“And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (II Samuel 11:3)
David next toyed with the idea a little, finding out who she was and thinking about how beautiful she was. Despite the claims to the contrary, adultery doesn’t just happen accidentally. There is a conscious choice to flirt a little and to go as little farther, to let down the bars just a little. David knew she was married, and that God forbid adultery, but he didn‘t stop.
“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.” (II Samuel 11:4)
Notice that even at this point David was still in control, concerned that he would not be breaking the law by having sex with a woman during her period. He still had the ability to stop if he chose. The excuse that things just got out of control and we were unable to stop is a lie. They just got to a point where we were no longer willing to stop.
“And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.” (II Samuel 11:5)
Knowing that pregnancy was a probable outcome of having sex, both Bathsheba and David chose to do it. Her pregnancy was the result of their choices. The abortion movement would like us to believe the woman had no choice, so they call their position pro choice. In reality they are against taking responsibility for their choice. Since abortion was not an option under the law, and adultery required the execution of both parties, her pregnancy presented a serious problem.
“And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 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. 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.” (II Samuel 11:6-9)
Hoping to cover up his adultery, David requested that Uriah be sent home to give a report. Having been away from his wife for an extended period, he expected him to turn to her immediately, and thus when her pregnancy became apparent, no one would question it. He sent a romantic dinner with him to encourage such and outcome, but Uriah didn’t stay the night, returning to the palace.
“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?
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.
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.
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.” (II Samuel 11:10-13)
When David questioned Uriah about why he didn’t spend the night with his wife, he responded that he felt guilty taking things easy and enjoying his pleasures while the rest of the men were out fighting for their country. I wonder how David felt then, taking his wife while he was doing the same? Desperate to conceal his adultery, David got him drunk in hopes he’d forget, but Uriah didn’t go home.
“And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 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.
And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 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.” (II Samuel 11:14-17)
Knowing Joab’s unethical nature, David sent a secret message back with Uriah the next morning to deliberately expose Uriah to danger than desert him so he’d be killed. Joab did as David ordered, putting Uriah in one of the most dangerous positions, and when others were killed, no one questioned Uriah’s death. James 1:15b warns, “…and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” The sin of watching and lusting after Bathsheba led to adultery, and then to murder to cover it up.
“Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 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? 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.
So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for. 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. 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.” (II Samuel 11:18-24)
Not only did Joab have Uriah killed as David ordered, he provided a source of plausible deniability, implying they had taken unnecessary chances, and accidentally had several killed, including Uriah. David could then complain about bad judgment and remind them of what happened to Absalom and no one could ever suspect it was a deliberate murder.
“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.” (II Samuel 11:25)
David pointed out that no one could predict who might be killed, and advised Joab not to worry about having made a mistake that resulted in men’s deaths. It must have seemed that he was going to get away with both adultery and murder.
“And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son.” (II Samuel 11:26-27a)
Carefully observing all the normal proprieties so no one would suspect, Bathsheba and David waited to get married until the dust settled, and it would seem that the baby was Uriah’s, Since Uriah wasn’t around to dispute the assumption, no one would be the wiser, and David could marry her without question. There was just one problem.
“…But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” (II Samuel 11:27b)
Excellent post, Donald. When we allow sin to get a foothold in our life, it can easily take over, destroying our testimony, our fellowship with God, and even our lives in the process. This passage is clearly a warning to all of us, because even a man like David, a man after God's own heart, can stray from God. Yet it is also reassuring to know that He is still there when we repent and turn from our sin, and that He is ready to forgive and to restore our fellowship.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laurie.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to know he can even forgive such major sins.