1
In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, his mercenaries, and Israel's army [to war]. They destroyed the Ammonites and attacked Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem.
2
Now, when evening came, David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the royal palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, and she was very pretty.
3
David sent someone to ask about the woman. The man said, "She's Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite."
4
So David sent messengers and took her. She came to him, and he went to bed with her. (She had just cleansed herself after her monthly period.) Then she went home.
5
The woman had become pregnant. So she sent someone to tell David that she was pregnant.
6
Then David sent a messenger to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to David.
7
When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the troops were and how the war was going.
8
"Go home," David said to Uriah, "and wash your feet." Uriah left the royal palace, and the king sent a present to him.
9
But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace among his superior's mercenaries. He didn't go home.