2 Samuel 11:6-13

6 So David sent word to Joab, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going.
8 Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and 1wash your feet." And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king.
9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
10 When they told David, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?"
11 Uriah said to David, 2"The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and 3the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and 4as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."
12 Then David said to Uriah, "Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
13 And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, 5so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with 6the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

2 Samuel 11:6-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 11

This chapter begins with the destruction of the Ammonites, and the siege of Rabbah their chief city, 2Sa 11:1; and enlarges on the sins of David in committing adultery with Bathsheba, 2Sa 11:2-5; in contriving to conceal his sin by sending for her husband home from the army, 2Sa 11:6-13; in laying a scheme for the death of him by the hand of the Ammonites, 2Sa 11:14-25; and in marrying Bathsheba when he was dead, 2Sa 11:26,27.

Cross References 6

  • 1. See Genesis 18:4
  • 2. 2 Samuel 7:2, 6
  • 3. 2 Samuel 20:6; 1 Kings 1:33
  • 4. See 1 Samuel 1:26
  • 5. [Genesis 19:33, 35]
  • 6. [See ver. 11 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.