_A.M. 2969. B.C. 1035._ David commits adultery with Bath-sheba, 2 Samuel 11:1. Endeavours to father the child upon Uriah, 2 Samuel 11:6. Contrives the death of Uriah, 2 Samuel 11:14. Marries Bath-sheba, _2Sa 11:26, 2 Samuel 11:27._... [ Continue Reading ]
_After the year was expired_ Hebrew, _at the return of the year:_ when that year ended, and the next began, which was in the spring-time. _When kings go forth to battle_ Which is, when the ground is fit for the march of soldiers, and brings forth provision for man and beast. _David sent Joab and all... [ Continue Reading ]
_David arose from off his bed_ Where he had lain down to sleep in the heat of the day, as the manner was in those countries; and where he had probably slept for some time. The bed of sloth often proves the bed of lust. _And walked upon the roof of his house_ To take the fresh air, for the roofs of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_David sent and inquired after the woman_ Thus, instead of suppressing that desire which the sight of his eyes had kindled, he seeks rather to feed it; and first inquires who she was; that if she were unmarried he might make her either his wife or his concubine. _And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba... [ Continue Reading ]
_David sent messengers and took her_ From her own house into his palace, not by force, but by persuasion. _And he lay with her_ See how all the way to sin is down hill! When men begin they cannot soon stop themselves. _And she returned unto her house_ With a guilty conscience, and oppressed with ter... [ Continue Reading ]
_The woman conceived, and sent and told David_ She was afraid of infamy, and perhaps of the severity of her husband, who might cause her to be stoned. And therefore she prays David to consult her honour and safety. _Send me Uriah the Hittite_ It is likely David ordered an account of the state of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_David said, Go down to thy house_ Not doubting but he would there converse with his wife, and so hide their sin and shame. _There followed him a mess of meat from the king_ In token of David's peculiar favour and kindness to him; and that, eating freely of good cheer, he might be the more desirous... [ Continue Reading ]
_David said, Camest thou not from thy journey?_ Wearied with hard service and travel; nor did I expect or desire that thou shouldest now attend upon my person: or keep watch among my guards. He still artfully pretends kindness to him, and great care of him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents_ It appears by this that the custom which we read of, 1 Samuel 4:4, of carrying the ark with them into the field, was still continued. It was done, no doubt, both for the encouragement of the army, who were taught to consider it as a token of the divin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tarry here to-day_ He pretended still more kindness to him in giving him time to rest himself after his journey; and perhaps pretended also that he could not sooner finish the despatches which he intended to send by him to Joab. _When David had called him in_ Invited him to supper the night before... [ Continue Reading ]
_Retire ye from him, that he may be smitten and die_ Thus swift is the progress of vice! thus does it lead from bad to worse! thus does it corrupt man's whole nature, and bring him to such degeneracy as he could not before have thought himself capable of! So far is David from repenting, that he seek... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where he knew that valiant men were_ He ordered him, with others, to attack a part of the city which he knew would be valiantly defended; or out of which he knew the best men they had in the city would issue forth against them. Joab also was herein very guilty in complying with David's wicked comma... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let not this thing displease thee_ Be not disheartened by this loss. David showed no sign of grief or displeasure at these tidings, as he heard the news, which he desired, of Uriah's death. _The sword devoureth one as well as another_ Makes no distinction between good and bad. _Make thy battle more... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the mourning was past_ Which commonly continued only the space of seven days, 1 Samuel 31:13; nor could the nature of the thing admit of longer delay, lest the too early birth of the child should discover David's sin. _Bare a son_ By which it appears that David continued in the state of impeni... [ Continue Reading ]