2 Samuel 11:1. The siege of Rabbah = 1 Chronicles 20:1 1. _after the year was expired_ Better, AT THE RETURN OF THE YEAR: that is when spring set in with the commencement of the year in the month Abib or Nisan. Cp. 1Ki 20:22; 1 Kings 20:26; 2 Chronicles 36:10. If Joab's return to Jerusalem (ch. 2... [ Continue Reading ]
_arose from off his bed_ In the cool of the afternoon, after his midday siesta. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 4:5. _walked upon the roof_ The flat roofs of Oriental houses "afford a most delightful promenade.… During a large part of the year the roof is the most agreeable place about the establishment, especial... [ Continue Reading ]
David's adultery with Bath-sheba It is one object of Holy Scripture to paint sin in its true colours. No friendly flattery, no false modesty, draws a veil over this dark scene in David's life. It is recorded as a warning (1 Corinthians 10:11-12), that even holy men may yield to temptation and fall... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam_ In 1 Chronicles 3:5 she is called _Bath-shua, the daughter of Ammiel. Eliam_(God of the people) and _Ammiel_(people of God) are compounded of the same words placed in different order. If this Eliam was the same as Uriah's brother-officer, mentioned in ch. 2 Samuel... [ Continue Reading ]
_David sent messengers_ Bath-sheba cannot be acquitted from blame, for it does not appear that she offered any resistance. Vanity and ambition prevailed over the voice of conscience. "Cupido dominandi cunctis affectibus flagrantior est." "The lust of power burns more fiercely than any other passion... [ Continue Reading ]
_sent and told David_ That he might devise some plan to shield her from the consequences of her sin; for by the Mosaic law she was liable to be put to death (Leviticus 20:10). David accordingly sent for Uriah, in the hope that his return to his wife might cover the shame of his own crime.... [ Continue Reading ]
Uriah summoned to Jerusalem 7. _David demanded_, &c. David sent for Uriah ostensibly to bring him word about the progress of the war. Uriah, as one of the "mighty men," no doubt held some command in the army. _demanded_ Rather, ASKED. The use of _demand_, like Fr. _demander_, meaning simply -to as... [ Continue Reading ]
_wash thy feet_ An indispensable refreshment after a journey in the East, where sandals only were worn. Cp. Genesis 18:4; Genesis 43:24; Luke 7:44. _a mess_of meat _from the king_ A portion from the king's table as a mark of honour for his faithful servant. Cp. Genesis 43:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Uriah slept at the door of the king's house_ Probably in the guard chamber in the outer court. Cp. 1 Kings 14:27-28.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Camest thou not from thy journey_ Better, ART NOT THOU COME FROM A JOURNEY? David expresses surprise and displeasure that Uriah had not done as men usually do on their return from a journey, and gone to his own home. Uriah's brave resolution not to enjoy the comforts of his home even for a single n... [ Continue Reading ]
_The ark_ These wars were "the wars of Jehovah" (see note on ch. 2 Samuel 10:12), and the Ark had been taken along with the army as the symbol of His presence and favour. Cp. Joshua 6:6; 1 Samuel 4:3; 1 Samuel 14:18 (but see note there); 2 Samuel 15:24. _Israel, and Judah_ The description of the nat... [ Continue Reading ]
_and he made him drunk_ In the hope that he might forget his oath and break his resolution not to go home. But this plan also failed. "The Providence of God is here manifest, defeating David's base contrivances, and bringing his sin to the open light. It is no less clear how mercy was at the bottom... [ Continue Reading ]
David's letter to Joab. Uriah's death 14. _sent it by the hand of Uriah_ So in the Greek story Proetus sent Bellerophon to Jobates with his own death-warrant. Cp. Hom. _Il._VI. 168, 169. "Slay him he would not, that his soul abhorred; But to the father of his wife, the king Of Lycia, sent him fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_that he may be smitten, and die_ So blinded was David by his passion, and so eager to screen himself and Bath-sheba from the disgrace of exposure, that he did not shrink from plotting the murder of one of his bravest soldiers. The King's command was sufficient warrant to Joab, without inquiry into... [ Continue Reading ]
_when Joab observed the city_ Better, AS JOAB WATCHED THE CITY, i.e. besieged it. _a place where he knew that valiant men were_ Uriah was posted opposite the most strongly guarded part of the city, where the fighting was likely to be fiercest in case of a sally.... [ Continue Reading ]
_went out_ Made a sally, in which, as the messenger describes (2 Samuel 11:23), the men of Israel imprudently pursued the enemy till they were within shot of the archers on the wall, and suffered considerable loss.... [ Continue Reading ]
News of Uriah's Death carried to David 19. _the matters of the war_ The same Heb. phrase as that translated in 2 Samuel 11:18 "the things concerning the war.... [ Continue Reading ]
_if so be that the king's wrath arise_ Joab assumes that David would find fault with him for bad generalship, until he knew that his commission was executed by Uriah's death.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who smote Abimelech_ See Judges 9:50-54. This reference is interesting, as shewing a familiarity with the history of the time of the Judges; but whether it was preserved by written annals or by oral tradition, is uncertain. It is not likely that our Book of Judges was in existence in its present fo... [ Continue Reading ]
The Sept. reads this verse as follows: "And Joab's messenger went to the king to Jerusalem. And he came and told David all that Joab had told him, even all the things concerning the war. And David was wroth with Joab, and said unto the messenger, Wherefore did ye approach unto the city to fight? Kne... [ Continue Reading ]
_we were upon them_ Or, AGAINST THEM: we repulsed the sally, and pursued them to the gate of the city.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sword devoureth_ Cp. the phrase "the mouth (E. V. _edge_) of the sword" (1 Samuel 15:8). _encourage thou him_ This is certainly the right rendering. That of the LXX., _and take it_, which follows a slightly different text, is contrary to the usage of the verb.... [ Continue Reading ]
Bath-sheba becomes David's wife 26. _she mourned for her husband_ Seven days was the usual period of mourning. See Gen 50:10; 1 Samuel 31:13; Jdt 16:24; Sir 22:12. In exceptional cases thirty days were observed. See Numbers 20:29; Deuteronomy 34:8. No special time seems to have been prescribed for... [ Continue Reading ]
_fet her_ See note on ch. 2 Samuel 9:5. _But the thing that David had done displeased the_Lord] The divine sentence on David's conduct prepares the way for the mission of Nathan in the next chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]