A New “OnFire Cafe” Book Club series The Study of Scripture. Come Study with us in a Trilogy about King David’s fall from God’s graces. We will look at King David’s Great Sins, God’s Response to King David’s Sin and King David’s Sinners Prayer of Repentance. This is the First Episode Post in our Trilogy…
King David’s Sin of Adultery
King David’s Temptation
The King, David has remained in Jerusalem while the troops have been sent to battle at that time that Kings usually accompany their troops into battle. King David sent Joab, and his Guards and all Israel to destroy the children of Ammon. He sent them to overtake the city of Rabbah. But he himself had not accompanied them. He had remained in the city, resting.
2 Samuel 11:1-5
1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
Temptation of Beauty
One evening King David arose from his bed and took a leisurely stroll on the roof of his house. Looking out over the city of Jerusalem he spotted a beautiful woman bathing. He was enamored by her beauty. Though King David had many wives from which to choose he did not look away from her. His eyes remained fixed on her letting his desires take hold of him.
This temptation of sin was greater than King David was willing to resist. He had become enamored by her, perhaps even obsessed. He had already committed adultery in his heart because he chose not to look away. The choice was to lust after her. He apparently could not just let it go because he expended a great deal of effort to locate information about her. Finding out that she was the wife of one of his soldiers.
However, he wanted her enough to take the risks. Enough to risk the wrath of God. He was no longer satisfied with what he had been given for himself. He now had to have something that belonged to another.
The Adultery
He inquired about her and found out that she was Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam. Her father was one of his “Mighty Men”. And she was the wife of his soldier Uriah the Hittite also one of his “Mighty Men”. However, David was the King it did not seem to deter him. He sent for her by messenger. When she came in unto him he lie with her. Following her experience with the King she then returned to the home of her husband.
Many have said that because the scripture does not mention Bathsheba’s resistance that she was a willing participant. However, in thinking about this it would be reasonable that Bathsheba may not have had a choice in this. Refusal may not have been an option for her with an order from the King and her husband away at war. She would be subject to a very severe penalty if the adultery was found out. They would have stoned her to death. Which is not something she would have taken lightly. So the position that she was willing also does not appear supported in the scripture. But her willingness or lack there of is not certain. it remains a topic requiring further discernment.
Child of the King
The scripture says that before he lay with her she was purified from her uncleanliness. It is confirming here that she was not with child at the time of the adultery. Because she had recently completed her monthly cycle and had been cleansed. Then she had gone into the King.
However, a short time later it became evident that she had conceived. Her husband was still away at the battle of Rabbah so the conception was that of adultery. She sent word to King David of the conception of his child.
King David’s Sin of Deceit
The King’s Plan
2 Samuel 11:6-13
6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
The King’s Idea for Uriah
David knowing the issue they were faced with needed to bring Uriah the Hittite home to bed his wife. If she is with child while Uriah is away in battle the truth of the adultery will come out. It will become known that David has bed the wife of Uriah the Hittite. The penalty they are facing for adultery is death to both of them. Though most likely they would not try to enforce the death penalty upon their King, it would surely mean the death of Bathsheba. The King would be humiliated as a result. He also would lose some of the respect he had earned as a Godly man.
So David sends a message to Joab to have Uriah the Hittite sent back to him to report on the war. And Joab sends Uriah back to Jerusalem. It is David’s intention to give Uriah time to be at home and bed his wife. Then when the news of her child becomes public it will be assumed it is her husbands. His sin and betrayal should remain in the Shadows.
Uriah comes to David, and it is demanded of him to report on the progress of the war. David demands to know how Joab is doing there, how the people are fairing and the result of the efforts. Once the reporting was complete the King bid Uriah to go home get cleaned up and rest. It says he even sent some meat from the King. Uriah departed from the Kings house.
Uriah Returns But Plan Fails
But contrary to King David’s plan Uriah did not sleep at home in his own bed. To the surprise of the King, instead Uriah slept outside the Kings house at his gate with his Guards. He chose not to go home. When they told David that Uriah had not gone he questioned Uriah about why. Why had he not gone home to rest up for battle?
Uriah said that the Ark, the people of Israel and Judea all reside in tents. And Joab along with the King’s Guards are camped in open fields. How could he in good conscience abide the luxury of his home and a warm bed with his wife. With those that are having to suffer those conditions during the war. He demonstrated compassion for them and a purity of spirit.
King David told him that he would remain another day and then could go back to the battle the following day. Uriah remained in Jerusalem. The next day the King ate and drank with Uriah. Uriah became drunk but still slept in the bed of the King’s Guards and did not return to his wife or his home.
King David’s Sin of Murder
The Murder Plot
2 Samuel 11:14-19
14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
The Murder of Uriah
Perhaps due to fear of the consequences for what he had done, David decides to try and cause the death of Uriah the Hittite. What would happen if the truth comes to light that David has committed adultery. If Bathsheba’s husband dies that would be the most convenient solution to the problem. After all, no one would know it was at the direction of the King because he is in Jerusalem. Uriah will die in the battle.
David has the power to direct the conflict, direct the troops in the battle. So he makes sure that Uriah the Hittite is sent to a place where the opponent enemy is particularly brave and courageous. He is hoping for his defeat and his death. The King goes as far as to tell Joab to send him there and to retire from him so that he will die.
King David sacrificed others also in pursuit of this murder of Uriah as it says that there fell some of the people of the Guards of David. It appears David was willing to sacrifice others in pursuit of this selfish goal. Protecting himself from the scrutiny and humiliation of the truth. It was a sad day for the heart of David…
Joab sent a messenger back to report the results of the war to David. The messenger was informed to tell David the results and also inform him of the death of Uriah the Hittite.
2 Samuel 11:20-24
20 And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Report to the King
Joab told the messenger to tell the King about the battle but if the King got angry there was a special message to convey. Joab told him if the King in anger questions why the battle took place near the city where it did. And if the King exclaims that they should have known better. That they should not have approach that area because of dangers from the ramparts already experienced in previous battles. Just tell the King that his servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
As one of King David’s “Mighty Men” Joab was experienced in battle strategy. Clearly following David’s instruction to arrange the death of Uirah the Hittite required some special strategy. So Joab knew that sending them too close to the walls of the city was not a good strategy for victory. However, it was a good strategy for the death of Uriah.
So the messenger went to King David and told him everything he was supposed to communicate. The men who overtook them came out to them into the field. He told the King that they had the upper hand all the way up to the gate when the shooters shot from the wall onto some of the Kings Guards. And his Guard Uriah the Hittite also was killed…
2 Samuel 11:25-27
25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
The King’s Battle Message
The King sends a message back to Joab for the troops and battle. He tells them not to be discouraged that death is a part of war. Communicating a seemingly indifference to the deaths of his guards. David tells them to make a stronger battle plan against the city and move to overthrow them. Taking this battle one step further from their existing blockade. He tells them to be encouraged suggesting that the battle will be won.
A Wedding and A Son
Bathsheba the wife of Uriah hears of the death of her husband and is distraught. She went into a period of mourning. Bathsheba was not a party to the plans to murder her husband. She had not been the one to initiate the adultery. She loved her husband and suffered loss with the news of his passing. The mourning period lasted a minimum of a week but could go on longer even up to a month. There were specific rituals to be followed.
And once that period had passed David sent for her. King David took Bathsheba into his house and made her his wife. The king probably married her as quickly as was reasonable to be sure to give the conception a reasonable window to hide the adultery. And she gave him a son…
But God was Displeased!
I hope you enjoyed the First Episode Post in this Trilogy about King David’s Sins. This Trilogy is the introduction to the new Series the Study of Scripture in the “OnFire Cafe”. Watch for the next one in the near future. We hope to see you there…
The Trilogy
entitled “King David’s Fall from God’s Graces”
- King David’s Great Sin
- God’s Response to King David’s Sin
- King David’s The Sinners Prayer
For the Love of God,
Sparks
