_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. But David tarried still at Jerusalem._ Ver. 1. _After the year was expired._... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _And it came to pass in an evening tide._] When David should have been a... [ Continue Reading ]
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And [one] said, [Is] not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? Ver. 3. _And David sent and inquired after the woman,_] viz., Who she was, and whether maid or wife. He should rather have checked himself for looking and lust... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _And David sent messengers, and took her._] Unbridled lust, like the wild fig, will soon mount over the wall, and break out int... [ Continue Reading ]
And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I [am] with child. Ver. 5. _And sent and told David._] Chrysostom saith, She went to David, and said, O king, I am undone, I am with child, the fruit of my sin buddeth, I carry an accuser within me, my betrayer is in my womb, my husband wi... [ Continue Reading ]
And David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. Ver. 6. _And David sent to Joab, &c._] To prevent Bathsheba's miseries, wherein he also was sure to have a great share, David casteth about how to colour and cover his sin with fair pretences, - as Alcibiades... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded [of him] how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. Ver. 7. _How Joab did, and how the people did._] David was but a bungler at committing and covering his sin. Lust was but a stranger to him, as Peter Martyr observeth from that... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _Go down to thy house and wash thy feet,_] _i.e., _ _Cura corpus et recrea te cum uxore tua,_ Refresh thyself after thy travel... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. _But Uriah slept at the door, &c._] This was much; but it is like he smelt something: and God had a hand in it. _ And went not down to his house._] Though much urged thereunto... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 10. _And when they had told David._] They, that is, his _corycaei,_ his brokers; such as was that hangby, Hir... [ Continue Reading ]
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 thi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _Tarry here today also._] All this was the worse in David, because done upon deliberation, and in cold blood, seeking a cover for his sin, plotting a... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _And made him drunk._] Thus doth David still _proficere in peius,_ proceed from bad to worse; So p... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent [it] by the hand of Uriah. Ver. 14. _David wrote a letter._] Not with black, but with blood. _Sic ex vitio vitium gignitur._ _a_ This is the last but worst link in that woeful chain of David's lust: _non evitavit adulte... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 15. _Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle._] Here David schemes it indeed with hellish skill: little thinking how heavily this crim... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men [were]. Ver. 16. _He assigned Uriah, &c._] He thrust him into the jaws of death, and basely betrayed him: as holding that unsound principle, Whatsoever pleaseth the king shall please... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 17. _And Uriah the Hittite died also._] Unjustly in respect of David and Joab, who were _ipso facto_ children of death; but justly in respect... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; Ver. 18. _And told David all the things._] But all was to bring in that one thing which he knew would be most pleasing to David's palate, the death of Uriah. Such a dead and dedolent disposition had seized upon David's heart, such a h... [ Continue Reading ]
And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, Ver. 19. _Of telling the matters of the war unto the king._] Who would be inquisitive after the full truth of things, which yet kings seldom are so happy as to hear, as Alphonsus complaine... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 20. And if so be that the king's wrath arise.] As that is the best reward oft times that is given to generals and ot... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 21. _Who smote Abimelech._] See Judges 9:53. _See Trapp on "_ Jdg 9:5... [ Continue Reading ]
So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for. Ver. 22. _And showed David all._] Playing his part notably to flatter, and make all fair weather, as they say.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 23. _Surely the men prevailed._] Sallied out upon us, and slew some of us, but we beat them in again, albeit not without loss.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 24. _And thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also._] This the messenger maketh haste to tell, as that which would salve all; not staying till... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 25. _Let not this thing displease thee._] Thus he smooth... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. Ver. 26. _She mourned for her husband._] _Fictis lachrymis; _ there is little doubt to be made but that she was inwardly glad, considering her danger of being punished for an adulteress, and her hopes of... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. Ver. 27. _And when the mourning was past._] And long it lasted not; seven days Josephus saith was the ordinary time, but here... [ Continue Reading ]