David and Bathsheba II Samuel 11

II Samuel 11:2 "And it came to pass in an eveningtide that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look upon."

Perhaps, the most told Bible story about David except maybe the story of Goliath.

Bathsheba was a beautiful woman and married. A series of events took place in this chapter leading to this great sin of David. He was home while his army was out fighting. v1 "...the time when kings go forth to battle..." . He acted on the temptation by enquiring after the woman. Then, he ignored the fact that she was another man's wife. v3 "...the wife of Uriah the Hittite.."

With that information, still he sent for the woman and lay with her. She conceived a child then another series of events lead to another great sin. He had a man killed who was Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, to cover up the first sin.

But first, he sent for Uriah to come home. David did all he could do to get Uriah to go home to his wife which would have cleared David in the eyes of men. But Uriah would not go home:

v11 "And Uriah said unto David, The ark and Israel and Judah abide in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields: shall I then go unto mine house, to eat and to drink and to be with my wife? as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing."

It is here that David gives Uriah a message to carry to Joab. It is his own death sentence. Uriah is put in the heat of the battle and is killed. David then took Bathsheba and marries her.

v27 "And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD."

Although all appeared to be hidden, that last phrase will explain what happens next: it displeased the LORD.

Psalm 119:77 "Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight."

Keywords: Old Old Story, Bible Study, Old Testament, Samuel, Uriah, David, Bathsheba. David's great sin with Bathsheba.