CHAPTER XI
_David sends Joab against the Ammonites, who besieges the city_
_of Rabbah_, 1.
_He sees Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah, bathing; is enamoured of_
_her; sends for and takes her to his bed_, 24.
_She conceives, and informs David_, 5.
_David sends to Joab, and orders him to send to him... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:2. _IN AN EVENING-TIDE - DAVID AROSE_] He had been
reposing on the roof of his house, to enjoy the breeze, as the noonday
was too hot for the performance of business. This is still a constant
custom on the flat-roofed houses in the East.
_HE SAW A WOMAN WASHING HERSELF_] How could... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:3. _THE DAUGHTER OF ELIAM_] Called, 1 Chronicles
3:5, Ammiel; a word of the same meaning, _The people of my God, The
God of my people_. This name expressed the covenant - _I will be your
God; We will be_ _thy people_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:4. _AND SHE CAME IN UNTO HIM_] We hear nothing of
her reluctance, and there is no evidence that she was taken by force.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:5. _AND THE WOMAN CONCEIVED_] A proof of the
observation on 2 Samuel 11:4; as that is the time in which women are
most apt to conceive.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:8. _GO DOWN TO THY HOUSE, AND WASH THY FEET._] Uriah
had come off a journey, and needed this refreshment; but David's
design was that he should go and lie with his wife, that the child now
conceived should pass for his, the honour of Bath-sheba be screened,
and his own crime concea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:9. _SLEPT AT THE DOOR_] That is, in one of the
apartments or niches in the court of the king's house. But in Bengal
servants and others generally sleep on the verandahs or porches in
face of their master's house.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:10. _CAMEST THOU NOT FROM_ THY _JOURNEY?_] It is not
_thy_ duty to keep watch or guard; thou art come from a journey, and
needest rest and refreshment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:11. _THE ARK, AND ISRAEL - ABIDE IN TENTS_] It
appears therefore that they had taken the ark with them to battle.
This was the answer of a brave, generous and disinterested man. I will
not indulge myself while all my fellow soldiers are exposed to
hardships, and even the ark of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:13. _HE MADE HIM DRUNK_] Supposing that in this
state he would have been off his guard, and hastened down to his
house.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:14. _DAVID WROTE A LETTER_] This was the sum of
treachery and villany. He made this most noble man the carrier of
letters which prescribed the mode in which he was to be murdered. This
case some have likened to that of Bellerophon, son of Glaucus, king of
Ephyra, who being in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:17. _URIAH THE HITITE DIED ALSO._] He was led to the
attack of a place defended by valiant men; and in the heat of the
assault, Joab and his men retired from this brave soldier, who
cheerfully gave up his life for his king and his country.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:20. _IF - THE KING'S WRATH ARISE_] It is likely that
Joab had by some indiscretion suffered loss about this time; and he
contrived to get rid of the odium by connecting the transaction with
the death of Uriah, which he knew would be so pleasing to the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:25. _THE SWORD DEVOURETH ONE AS WELL AS ANOTHER_]
What abominable hypocrisy was here! He well knew that Uriah's death
was no _chance-medley_; he was by his own order thrust on the edge of
the sword.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:26. _SHE MOURNED FOR HER HUSBAND._] The whole of her
conduct indicates that she observed the _form_ without feeling the
_power_ of _sorrow_. She lost a _captain_ and got a _king_ for her
spouse; this must have been deep affliction indeed: and therefore: -
_____ Lachrymas non spont... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:27. _WHEN THE MOURNING WAS PAST_] Probably it lasted
only _seven days_.
_SHE BECAME HIS WIFE_] This hurried marriage was no doubt intended on
both sides to cover the pregnancy.
_BUT THE THING THAT DAVID HAD DONE DISPLEASED THE LORD._] It was
necessary to add this, lest the splend... [ Continue Reading ]