MPV Commentary

David Commits Adultery with Bath-sheba.

It came to pass in the evening that David arose from his bed. The Hebrews typically rose at daybreak and took a nap during the heat of the day. It's likely that David had ascended to enjoy the open-air refreshment earlier than usual.

One person said, "Is not this Bath-sheba?" She was a celebrated beauty whose renown had already reached David's ears through reports carried by women from one harem to another. Bath-sheba was the daughter of Eliam or Ammiel (1 Chronicles 3:5), one of David's worthies (2 Samuel 23:34) and son of Ahithophel.

David sent messengers, and they took her. The despotic kings of the East would send an officer to a woman's house when they had a fancy for her, announcing it as the royal pleasure that she should move to the palace. An apartment was assigned to her there; if she became queen, the monarch ordered the announcement made that he had chosen her to be queen. Many instances in modern Oriental history show how easily and quickly such secondary marriages were contracted, adding a new beauty to the royal seraglio. However, David had to make a promise or stipulation to Bath-sheba before she complied with his will (1 Kings 1:13, 15, 17, 28). In addition to her exceptional beauty, she appeared to be a woman of superior talents and address in achieving her objectives.

The woman conceived, and sent word to David. Immediate measures were necessary to conceal their sin, both for the king's honor and her safety, as death was the punishment for an adulteress (Leviticus 20:10).

David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house." This sudden recall, along with the manner of the king and his frivolous questions (2 Samuel 11:7), likely raised suspicions about the reason for this procedure.

A portion of meat from the royal table was sent to Uriah's house. In the East, receiving a meal from the palace was one of the greatest compliments an Eastern prince could pay.

But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house. It was customary for servants to sleep in the porch or long gallery; and the guards of the Hebrew king did the same. Whatever his secret suspicions might have been, Uriah's refusal to indulge in domestic pleasure arose from a high sense of military duty and propriety (2 Samuel 11:11).