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2 Samuel 11

2 Sam 11, 2 Sa 11, 2S 11, II Sa 11, 2 Sm 11, 2Sa 11, II Sam 11, 2Sam 11, II Samuel 11, 2Samuel 11, 2nd Samuel 11, Second Samuel 11


2 Samuel 11

1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

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.

3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?

11 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 into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.

13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.



15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;

19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,

20 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

22 So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.

23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.

24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

27 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.

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Summary and the Meaning of Chapter 11 of 2 Samuel

The Story of David and Bathsheba

Chapter 11 of 2 Samuel is a pivotal chapter in the story of King David, one of the most well-known figures in the Old Testament. This chapter focuses on the events that led to David's infamous affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and the consequences that followed. It is a story of temptation, sin, and the ultimate consequences of David's actions.

The chapter begins by setting the scene in the springtime, when kings usually went out to battle. However, David chose to stay in Jerusalem while his army went to fight against the Ammonites. One evening, David saw a beautiful woman bathing on a rooftop and inquired about her. He was told that she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of David's loyal soldiers.

Despite knowing that Bathsheba was married, David sent for her and had sexual relations with her. This act was not only a sin against God, but also a betrayal of Uriah's trust and loyalty. When Bathsheba informed David that she was pregnant, he attempted to cover up his sin by bringing Uriah back from the battlefield and trying to convince him to sleep with his wife. However, Uriah refused, saying that he could not enjoy the comforts of home while his fellow soldiers were still fighting on the battlefield.

Frustrated by Uriah's refusal, David sent him back to the battlefield with a letter to Joab, the commander of the army, instructing him to put Uriah in the front line of the battle and withdraw from him so that he would be killed. Sadly, Uriah was killed in battle, and David took Bathsheba as his wife.

The Consequences of David's Actions

Although David may have thought that he had successfully covered up his sin, God was not pleased with his actions. The Lord sent Nathan, a prophet, to confront David and expose his sin. Nathan told David a parable about a rich man who took a poor man's only lamb to feed a guest, instead of using one of his own many sheep. When David became angry at this injustice, Nathan revealed that he was the rich man in the story, and that he had taken Uriah's wife for his own.

Nathan then pronounced God's judgment on David, saying, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife" (2 Samuel 12:10). The Lord also declared that the child conceived by David and Bathsheba would die as a result of their sin.

David was immediately convicted of his sin and repented before the Lord. He said, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13). However, despite his repentance, David still had to face the consequences of his actions. The child conceived by David and Bathsheba became sick and died after seven days, despite David's desperate prayers and fasting. This event deeply grieved David, but it also served as a reminder of the gravity of his sin and the consequences of disobeying God's commandments.

The Meaning of Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of 2 Samuel is a cautionary tale about the dangers of temptation and the consequences of giving in to sin. It shows how even the greatest and most beloved of leaders can fall into temptation and commit grievous sins, and how those sins can have far-reaching consequences.

One of the main themes of this chapter is the abuse of power. As king, David had the authority and the resources to do whatever he wanted, and he used that power to take advantage of a vulnerable woman. This abuse of power not only affected Bathsheba and Uriah, but also had a ripple effect on David's family and his kingdom.

Another theme is the consequences of sin. Despite David's attempts to cover up his sin, he could not escape the judgment of God. This chapter serves as a reminder that no one is above God's law and that sin always has consequences, no matter how powerful or influential a person may be. It also shows the importance of true repentance and seeking forgiveness from God, even when facing the consequences of our actions.

Chapter 11 also highlights the importance of accountability and the role of prophets in speaking truth to power. Nathan's confrontation of David was a brave and necessary act, as it exposed the king's sin and called him to repentance. This serves as a reminder that we all need people in our lives who are willing to speak truth to us, even when it may be difficult to hear.

Finally, this chapter also reveals the character of God as a just and merciful God. Despite David's sin, God did not abandon him completely. He still showed mercy and forgiveness when David repented. This chapter serves as a reminder that no matter how great our sins may be, God is always ready to forgive us when we come to Him with a contrite heart.

In Conclusion

Chapter 11 of 2 Samuel is a powerful and poignant story of temptation, sin, and the consequences of our actions. It serves as a warning against the abuse of power and the importance of accountability and repentance. It also reveals the character of God as a just and merciful God who is always ready to forgive us when we turn to Him. This chapter is a reminder that no one is immune to temptation and that we must always be vigilant in guarding our hearts and seeking God's forgiveness when we fall.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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