2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 11

Daud and Bathshaba

1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, Daud sent Yuab and the Yasharalym army to fight the Ammunites. They destroyed the Ammunite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, Daud stayed behind in Yahushalam.

2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, Daud got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 

3 Daud sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathshaba, the daughter of Aliam and the wife of Uryahu the Hittite.” 

4 Then Daud sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, Daud slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. 

5 Later, when Bathshaba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent king Daud a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”

6 Then Daud sent word to Yuab: “Send me Uryahu the Hittite.” So Yuab sent him to Daud. 

7 When Uryahu arrived, Daud asked him how Yuab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. 

8 Then King Daud told Uryahu, “Go on home and relax.” the king even sent a gift to Uryahu after he had left the palace. 

9 But Uryahu did not go home, he slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.

10 When Daud heard that Uryahu had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter? Why did you not go home last night after being away for so long?”

11 Uryahu replied, “The Ark and the armies of Yashar'AL and Yahudah are living in tents, and Yuab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.”

12 “Well, stay here today,” Daud told him, “and tomorrow you may return to the army.” So Uryahu stayed in Yahushalam that day and the next. 

13 Then Daud invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he could not get Uryahu to go home to his wife. Again Uryahu slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.

Daud Arranges for Uryahu’s Death

14 So the next morning Daud wrote a letter to Yuab and gave it to Uryahu to deliver. 

15 The letter instructed Yuab, “Station Uryahu on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.” 

16 So Yuab assigned Uryahu to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting. 

17 And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uryahu the Hittite was killed along with several other Yasharalym soldiers.

18 Then Yuab sent a battle report to Daud. 

19 He told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the king. 

20 But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Did they not know there would be shooting from the walls? 

21 Was it not a woman who killed Abimalach son of Gidaun at Thabaz, by casting a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uryahu the Hittite was killed, too.’”

22 So the messenger went to Yahushalam and gave a complete report to Daud. 

23 “The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate, 

24 the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uryahu the Hittite.”

25 “Well, tell Yuab not to be discouraged,” Daud said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!”

26 When Uryahu’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 

27 When the period of mourning was over, Daud sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH was displeased with what Daud had done.