Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 11

Verses 1-27

Sam 11. David, Bath-sheba, and Uriah (J).

2 Samuel 11:1-5 . In the spring, at the beginning of the season suitable for military operations, Joab and the army set out to besiege Rabbah ( Jeremiah 49:2 *); David stayed at home. He committed adultery with Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, who was in the field with Joab. Uriah would be a ger ( 2 Samuel 1:13 *); his name, “ Yahweh is light,” shows that he was a worshipper of Yahweh.

2 Samuel 11:6-13 . David makes an unsuccessful attempt to conceal the facts. Note that the Ark was taken into the field as a talisman ( 2 Samuel 11:11), as in 1 Samuel 4:3.

2 Samuel 11:14-27 . By David’ s instructions, Joab arranges that Uriah is slain by the enemy. On hearing the news, David marries Bath-sheba.

2 Samuel 11:21 . Cf. Judges 9:50 ff.— Jerubbesheth: Jerubbaal ( cf. 1 Samuel 14:49 *).

2 Samuel 11:22 . After this verse, LXX, probably giving the correct text, adds that David was angry and addressed the messenger in very much the words of 2 Samuel 11:20 f.