2 Samuel 11

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

2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that Dawid 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 Dawid sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bat-Sheva, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriyah the Hittite?”

4 And Dawid 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 Dawid, and said, “I am with child.”

6 And Dawid sent to Yoav, saying, “Send me Uriyah the Hittite.” And Yoav sent Uriyah to Dawid.

7 And when Uriyah was come unto him, Dawid demanded of him how Yoav did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

8 And Dawid said to Uriyah Uriyah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriyah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

9 But Uriyah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord (adon), and went not down to his house.

10 And when they had told Dawid, saying, “Uriyah went not down unto his house,” Dawid said unto Uriyah, “Camest you not from your journey? Why then didst you not go down unto your house?”

11 And Uriyah said unto Dawid, “The ark, and Yisrael, and Judah (Yehudah), abide in tents; and my lord (adoni) Yoav, and the servants of my lord (adoni), 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 you livest, and as your soul liveth, I will not do this thing.”

12 And Dawid said to Uriyah, “Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriyah abode in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) that day, and the next day.

13 And when Dawid 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 (adon), but went not down to his house.

14 And it came to pass in the morning, that Dawid wrote a letter to Yoav, and sent it by the hand of Uriyah.

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

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

17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Yoav; and there fell some of the people of the servants of Dawid; and Uriyah the Hittite died also.

18 Then Yoav sent and told Dawid all the things concerning the war;

19 And charged the messenger, saying, “When you have made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,

20 And if so be that the king’s wrath arises, and he say unto you: ‘Wherefore approached you so near unto the city when you did fight? Knew you not that they would shoot from the wall?

21 Who smote Abimelech (Avimelekh) the son of Yerubeshet? Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? Why went you near the wall?’ Then say you, ‘Your servant Uriyah the Hittite is dead also.’”

22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed Dawid all that Yoav had sent him for.

23 And the messenger said unto Dawid, “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 your servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and your servant Uriyah the Hittite is dead also.”

25 Then Dawid said unto the messenger, “Thus shalt you say unto Yoav: ‘Let not this thing displease you, for the sword devoureth one as well as another; make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage you him.”

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

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