1
Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kingsgo out to battle, that DavidsentJoab and his servants with him and allIsrael, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged*Rabbah. But Davidstayed at Jerusalem.
2
Now when eveningcameDavidarose from his bed and walkedaround on the roof of the king'shouse, and from the roof he saw a womanbathing; and the woman was verybeautiful in appearance.
4
Davidsentmessengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house.
8
Then Davidsaid to Uriah, "Godown to your house, and wash your feet." And Uriahwent out of the king'shouse, and a present from the king was sent out after him.
10
Now when they toldDavid, saying, "Uriah did not godown to his house," Davidsaid to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not godown to your house?"
11
Uriahsaid to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in temporaryshelters, and my lordJoab and the servants of my lord are camping in the openfield. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not dothisthing."
13
Now Davidcalled him, and he ate and drankbefore him, and he made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his bed with his lord'sservants, but he did not godown to his house.
15
He had written in the letter, saying, "PlaceUriah in the frontline of the fiercestbattle and withdraw from him, so that he may be struckdown and die."
20
and if it happens that the king'swrathrises and he says to you, 'Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?
21
'WhostruckdownAbimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a womanthrow an uppermillstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?'-then you shall say, 'Your servantUriah the Hittite is deadalso.' "
23
The messengersaid to David, "The menprevailedagainst us and came out against us in the field, but we pressed* them as far as the entrance of the gate.
25
Then Davidsaid to the messenger, "Thus you shall say to Joab, 'Do not let thisthingdisplease* you, for the sworddevoursone as well as another; make your battleagainst the citystronger and overthrow it'; and so encourage him."
27
When the time of mourning was over, Davidsent and brought her to his house and she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.