2 Samuel 11:1

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 Uriah, 6.

He arrives; and David having inquired the state of the army,

dismisses him, desiring him to go to his own house, 7, 8.

Uriah sleeps at the door of the king's house, 9.

The next day the king urges him to go to his house; but he

refuses to go, and gives the most pious and loyal reasons

for his refusal, 10-11.

David after two days sends him back to the army, with a letter

to Joab, desiring him to place Uriah in the front of the

battle, that he may be slain, 12-15.

He does so; and Uriah falls, 16, 17.

Joab communicates this news in an artful message to David,

18-25.

David sends for Bath-sheba and takes her to wife, and she bears

him a son, 26, 27.

NOTES ON CHAP. XI

Verse 2 Samuel 11:1. When kings go forth] This was about a year after the war with the Syrians spoken of before, and about the spring of the year, as the most proper season for military operations. Calmet thinks they made two campaigns, one in autumn and the other in spring; the winter being in many respects inconvenient, and the summer too hot.