2 Samuel

2 Samuel 11 ©

1 While Joab besiegeth Rabbah, 2 David committeth adultery with Uriah's wife. 5 Bath-sheba conceiveth; David sendeth for Uriah from the army, who cometh to David, but refuseth to go down to his house. 14 He carrieth to Joab a letter requiring his death, is exposed in the front of the battle, and slain. 18 Joab sendeth the news of it to David. 22 The messenger's report, and David's answer. 26 David taketh Bath-sheba to wife, who beareth a son.

1

AND it came to pass, 1after 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. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

2

¶And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David aarose from off his bed, and bwalked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he csaw a woman dwashing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to elook upon.

3

And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this 2Bath-sheba, the daughter of 3Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

4

And David fsent messengers, and took her; and she gcame in unto him, and he lay with her; 4for she was hpurified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

g Ps. 51, title.
5

And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, iI am with child.

6

¶And David sent to Joab, saying, jSend me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

j Ps. 51, title,4,10,14. Job 20.12-14. Pr. 9.17.
7

And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him 5how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

8

And David said to Uriah, kGo down to thy house, and lwash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and mthere 6followed him na *mess of *meat from the king.

9

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.

10

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?

11

And Uriah said unto David, oThe ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and pmy lord Joab, and qthe 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 rthou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

12

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.

13

And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he smade 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.

14

¶And it came to pass in the morning, that David twrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15

And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the 7hottest battle, and retire ye 8from him, that he may ube smitten, and die.

16

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that vhe assigned Uriah unto 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 thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,

20

And if so be that the king's wwrath 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?

21

Who smote xAbimelech the son of 9Jerubbesheth? 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.

22

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

23

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.

24

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.

25

Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing 10displease thee, for ythe sword devoureth 11one as well as another: zmake thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

26

¶And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

27

And when the mourning was past, David sent and 12fetched her to his house, and she abecame his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done 13displeased the LORD.