CHAPTER XI _David sends Joab against the Ammonites, who besieges the city_ _of Rabbah_, 1. _He sees Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah, bathing; is enamoured of_ _her; sends for and takes her to his bed_, 24. _She conceives, and informs David_, 5. _David sends to Joab, and orders him to send to him... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:2. _IN AN EVENING-TIDE - DAVID AROSE_] He had been reposing on the roof of his house, to enjoy the breeze, as the noonday was too hot for the performance of business. This is still a constant custom on the flat-roofed houses in the East. _HE SAW A WOMAN WASHING HERSELF_] How could... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:3. _THE DAUGHTER OF ELIAM_] Called, 1 Chronicles 3:5, Ammiel; a word of the same meaning, _The people of my God, The God of my people_. This name expressed the covenant - _I will be your God; We will be_ _thy people_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:4. _AND SHE CAME IN UNTO HIM_] We hear nothing of her reluctance, and there is no evidence that she was taken by force.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:5. _AND THE WOMAN CONCEIVED_] A proof of the observation on 2 Samuel 11:4; as that is the time in which women are most apt to conceive.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:8. _GO DOWN TO THY HOUSE, AND WASH THY FEET._] Uriah had come off a journey, and needed this refreshment; but David's design was that he should go and lie with his wife, that the child now conceived should pass for his, the honour of Bath-sheba be screened, and his own crime concea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:9. _SLEPT AT THE DOOR_] That is, in one of the apartments or niches in the court of the king's house. But in Bengal servants and others generally sleep on the verandahs or porches in face of their master's house.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:10. _CAMEST THOU NOT FROM_ THY _JOURNEY?_] It is not _thy_ duty to keep watch or guard; thou art come from a journey, and needest rest and refreshment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:11. _THE ARK, AND ISRAEL - ABIDE IN TENTS_] It appears therefore that they had taken the ark with them to battle. This was the answer of a brave, generous and disinterested man. I will not indulge myself while all my fellow soldiers are exposed to hardships, and even the ark of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:13. _HE MADE HIM DRUNK_] Supposing that in this state he would have been off his guard, and hastened down to his house.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:14. _DAVID WROTE A LETTER_] This was the sum of treachery and villany. He made this most noble man the carrier of letters which prescribed the mode in which he was to be murdered. This case some have likened to that of Bellerophon, son of Glaucus, king of Ephyra, who being in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:17. _URIAH THE HITITE DIED ALSO._] He was led to the attack of a place defended by valiant men; and in the heat of the assault, Joab and his men retired from this brave soldier, who cheerfully gave up his life for his king and his country.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:20. _IF - THE KING'S WRATH ARISE_] It is likely that Joab had by some indiscretion suffered loss about this time; and he contrived to get rid of the odium by connecting the transaction with the death of Uriah, which he knew would be so pleasing to the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:25. _THE SWORD DEVOURETH ONE AS WELL AS ANOTHER_] What abominable hypocrisy was here! He well knew that Uriah's death was no _chance-medley_; he was by his own order thrust on the edge of the sword.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:26. _SHE MOURNED FOR HER HUSBAND._] 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 spouse; this must have been deep affliction indeed: and therefore: - _____ Lachrymas non spont... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 11:27. _WHEN THE MOURNING WAS PAST_] Probably it lasted only _seven days_. _SHE BECAME HIS WIFE_] This hurried marriage was no doubt intended on both sides to cover the pregnancy. _BUT THE THING THAT DAVID HAD DONE DISPLEASED THE LORD._] It was necessary to add this, lest the splend... [ Continue Reading ]