1
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings* go forth to battle, that DavidsentJoab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besiegedRabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2
And it came to pass in an eveningtide*, that Davidarose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king'shouse: and from the roof he saw a womanwashing herself; and the woman was verybeautiful to look upon.
4
And Davidsentmessengers, 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.
8
And Davidsaid to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king'shouse, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
10
And when they had toldDavid,saying, Uriah went not down unto his house,Davidsaid unto Uriah,Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11
And Uriahsaid unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah,abide in tents; and my lordJoab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the openfields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soulliveth, I will not do this thing.
13
And when David had called him, he did eat and drinkbefore 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.
20
And if so be that the king'swratharise, 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 smoteAbimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a womancast 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 servantUriah the Hittite is dead also.
23
And the messengersaid unto David, Surely the menprevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
25
Then Davidsaid unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thingdisplease* thee, for the sworddevoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
27
And when the mourning was past, Davidsent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had donedispleased* the LORD.