2 Samuel 11:14

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 adulteriam, perpetravit et homicidium, saith Isidor; to palliate his adultery he committeth murder. This was to do worse than that non-such, Ahab, who only coveted Naboth's vineyard, and then took away his life: but David coveted first the wife, and then the life of this valiant Uriah; yea, and of many more that fell with him by like treachery, Joab also being involved in the same guilt. Well might Gregory say, David rectior fuit in servitio quam in regno: servus enim adversarium retire timuit, Rex factus luxuriae, persunsione Uriam fraude extinxit: David was better while a servant than when a king; for being a servant, he feared to kill Saul his adversary, but becoming a king, he basely slew his most faithful friend and dutiful subject.

And sent it by the hand of Uriah.] Qui abiit ferens gladium suae caedis, saith Theodoret, who went his way carrying a sword to Joab to cut his own throat. So did Bellerophon to Jobata by the command of King Praetus; unless that fable were feigned by Satan's subtlety out of this true story, to elude it. Lysander carried letters to Lacedemon from Pharnabarus against himself. And the like do all those, saith Aquinas, b qui sciunt et docent, et non faciunt, who know and teach others the will of God, but practise it not themselves. Knowledge without virtue draweth a greater judgment, and oftentimes condemneth the bearer.

a Isidor.

b Praef., in Epist. Canon.