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.
10
When they told David, "Uriah didn't go home," David asked Uriah, "Didn't you just come from a journey? Why didn't you go home?"
11
Uriah answered David, "The ark and [the army of] Israel and Judah are in temporary shelters, and my commander Joab and Your Majesty's mercenaries are living in the field. Should I then go to my house to eat and drink and go to bed with my wife? I solemnly swear, as sure as you're living, I won't do this!"