Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After the year had expired, at the time when kings typically go out to battle, David sent Joab and his servants with him, along with all Israel, to destroy the children of Ammon and besiege Rabbah. But instead of joining them in battle, David remained in Jerusalem.

As evening fell, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. He saw a woman bathing herself there, and she was extremely beautiful to look at. David sent someone to inquire about her, and he learned that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.

David sent messengers to bring Bathsheba to him, since she had been purified from her menstrual uncleanness. When she came to him, David became intimate with her, and as a result, she conceived. She soon realized that she was pregnant and sent word to David saying, "I am with child."

David then instructed Joab to send Uriah the Hittite back to Jerusalem, thinking that once he was with his wife, he would be more likely to go home and rest, rather than continuing in the battle. When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab was doing and about the welfare of the people and the progress of the war.

David suggested that Uriah return home to his family, saying, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." He even sent a gift from the king with him. However, Uriah refused to go home while his comrades were still in battle. Instead, he stayed at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord.

When David learned that Uriah had not gone down to his own house, he questioned him about it. Uriah explained that the ark and Israel and Judah were dwelling in tents, while Joab and the king's servants were encamped in the open fields. He said, "As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing. The men are still at war; shall I then go into my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife?" Uriah refused to abandon his comrades in battle.

David then told Uriah to stay another day and promised that he would let him return home the next day. However, when the evening came, David had Uriah drink wine until he was intoxicated, and then he lay down with his lord's servants, but still did not go home to his own house.

The next morning, David wrote a letter to Joab, instructing him to put Uriah in the front line of battle where he would be struck down. He sent the letter by hand through Uriah, who was unaware of its contents. When Joab observed the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where the fighting was intense.

As the men of the city attacked, some casualties occurred among David's servants, including Uriah the Hittite, who died in battle. Joab then sent a messenger to inform David about the outcome of the war and the death of his servant Uriah.

The messenger told David that they had fought hard against the men of the city and that some of the king's servants were dead, including Uriah the Hittite. David was not pleased when he heard this news and instructed the messenger to tell Joab not to be displeased by the loss of his servant. He also encouraged Joab to continue fighting and to conquer the city.

After the period of mourning had passed for Uriah's death, David brought Bathsheba into his house as his wife, and she gave birth to a son. But despite this outward appearance of normalcy, the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.