2 Samuel 11
1 While Joab besieges Rabbah, David commits adultery with Bath-sheba.
6 Uriah, sent for by David to cover the adultery, would not go home.
14 He carries to Joab the letter of his death.
18 Joab sends the news thereof to David.
26 David takes Bath-sheba to wife.
[A.M. 2969. B.C. 1035. An. Ex. Is. 456. after the year, etc. Heb. at the return of the year.]
time <06256> [at the time.]
The sacred historian seems to intimate that there was one particular time of the year to which military operations were limited; and Josephus informs us that this took place in the beginning of spring. In another part of his works he says, that as soon as spring was begun, Adad levied and led forth his army against the Hebrews. Antiochus also prepared to invade Judea at the first appearance of spring; and Vespasian marched to Antipatris at the commencement of the same season. The kings and armies of the East, says Chardin, do not march but when there is grass, and when they can encamp, which is in April. This rule, however, seems to be disregarded in modern times.
David sent out ................... David <07971 01732> [David sent.]
Rabbah <07237> [Rabbah.]
got ..... bed <06965 04904> [arose from.]
roof ....... roof <01406 04428> [the roof of.]
saw <07200> [he saw.]
very <02896 03966> [very beautiful.]
sent <07971> [sent.]
Bathsheba <01339> [Bath-sheba. or, Bath-shua. Eliam. or, Ammiel.]
Uriah <0223> [Uriah.]
sent ... messengers <07971 04397> [sent messengers.]
sexual <07901> [he lay.]
purifying <06942> [she was, etc. or, and when she had purified herself, etc., she returned.]
purifying <06942> [purified.]
pregnant <02030> [I am with child.]
sent ........ Send ... Uriah ...... sent Uriah <07971 0223> [Send me.]
Joab ...... doing ....... going <07965 03097> [how Joab did. Heb. of the peace of Joab.]
Go down <03381> [go down.]
relax <07364> [wash.]
gift <0310 04864> [there followed him. Heb. there went out after him.]
gift <04864> [a mess.]
ark <0727> [The ark.]
lord ..... lord's <0113> [my lord.]
I go <0589 0935> [shall I then.]
surely ..... alive <02416> [as thou livest.]
drunk <07937> [made him.]
servants <05650> [with the servants.]
wrote ... letter <03789 05612> [wrote a letter.]
It was resolved in David's breast that Uriah must die--that innocent, valiant, and gallant man, who was ready to sacrifice his life for the honour of his prince; and, worse than all, by being himself made the bearer of letters to Joab which prescribed the mode by which he was to be murdered. This was the greatest treachery and villany on the part of David; while Joab appears to enter as fully upon the execution of the murder, being perhaps pleased to have this opportunity of further enthralling his king, and thus increasing his own power.
Station Uriah <03051 0223> [Set ye.]
withdraw <02389> [hottest. Heb. strong. from him. Heb. from after him. and die.]
stationed <05414> [he assigned.]
fell <05307> [there fell.]
Abimelech <040> [Abimelech.]
Jerub-Besheth <03380> [Jerubbesheth.]
[Jerubbaal. Thy servant.]
sword <03415 02719> [displease thee. Heb. be evil in thine eyes. for the sword.]
<02090> [one. Heb. so and such.]
What abominable hypocrisy was here! He well knew that the death of this noble and gallant man was no chance-medley: he was by his own order thrust on the sword.
battle <04421> [make.]
mourned <05594> [she mourned.]
mourning <060> [And when, etc.]
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 husband: and therefore, {Lacrymas non sponte cadentes effudit; gemitusque expressit pectore laeto;} "She shed reluctant tears; and forced out groans from a joyful breast!"
brought .... palace <0622 01004> [fetched her.]
what <01697> [But the thing.]
<03415> [displeased. Heb. was evil in the eyes of.]
