Chapter Eleven

David’s sin

2 Samuel 11:1. In the spring, at the time when kings go forth to battle, David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel; and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah; but David remained in Jerusalem. “At the time when kings go forth to battle”, that is, in the most favorable time of year for that; it is supposed (Fr. de Hummelauer) – in the month of Nisan, which began with the March new moon. Rabbah of the Ammonites – the capital city of the Ammonites, located in the southern part of eastern Transjordan. Rabbah of the Ammonites should be distinguished from Rabbah of the Moabites, located in the same Transjordan, but much further south.

2 Samuel 11:3. And David sent someone to ask about the woman. And it was reported to him: This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. “Bathsheba daughter of Eliam” and granddaughter of David’s adviser Ahithophel (2 Sam 23:34), wife of one of David’s military heroes (2 Sam 23:24) – Uriah the Hittite, who came from the Canaanite tribe of the Hittites (Gen 10:15).

2 Samuel 11:16. Therefore when Joab was besieging the city, he placed Uriah at the place where he knew there were mighty men. “Where he knew there were mighty men”, who would not retreat before danger and would fight to the last possibility.

2 Samuel 11:20. and you will see that the king will become angry and say to you: “Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? “Will shoot from the wall” – arrows, stones, logs, burning materials and so forth.

2 Samuel 11:21. Who killed Abimelech son of Jerubbaal? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall [and strike him], and he died in Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?” then you shall say: “Your servant Uriah the Hittite also [was struck and] died. See (Judg 9:53).

2 Samuel 11:27. When the time of mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord. “And the thing that David had done” – that is, his fall with Bathsheba and his contrivance in Uriah’s death.