Uriah’s Death Arranged
February 8, 2021
Commentary
When David’s scheme to have Uriah spend time with his wife failed he ordered Joab to send him to the front lines where he would be killed. The messenger reported to David the details of the battle (vv. 18-21). The Ammonites had pushed the Israelites back from the city. Joab, however, had been able to rally his forces and push the Ammonites back to the gates of their capital. There the Ammonite archers were able to pick off many Israelites including Uriah.
Hearing the news of Uriah’s death, David realized that his royal orders led to the irresponsible conduct of Joab in ordering the men so close to the walls. He sent word back to his general urging that he not be distraught over the losses or of his complicity in the death of Uriah. In a rather calloused comment the king said “the sword devours one as well as another.” It seems that David’s response to Uriah’s death was insensitive (vv. 22-25). Deliberate, repeated sinning had dulled David’s sensitivity to God’s laws and others rights. “
Bathsheba went through the motions of mourning for her dead husband. Whether this mourning was sincere or just part of the cover-up plot is not clear. In any case, following this time of mourning (usually seven days), David married Bathsheba. Soon after she brought forth the child which had been conceived in the adulterous union. How many, if any, suspected what had taken place is not indicated. David’s actions, however, were evil in the sight of God (vv. 26-27). The thing that David had done displeased the Lord,” and David did not get by with his sin. Whether it was known in Jerusalem or not, David’s secret sin and our “Secret sin on earth is open scandal in heaven.” God knows all about what we do.
Application
David’s sin dulled his sensitivity to God’s laws. It is my desire to always be sensitive to God’s Word and doing what pleases Him
2 Samuel 11:18– 27 (NET)
18 Then Joab sent a full battle report to David. 19 He instructed the messenger as follows: “When you finish giving the battle report to the king, 20 if the king becomes angry and asks you, ‘Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone down on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?’ just say to him, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”
22 So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him. 23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and attacked us in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way to the door of the city gate. 24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.” 25 David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage him with these words.”
26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him. 27 When the time of mourning passed, David had her brought to his palace. She became his wife and she bore him a son. But what David had done upset the Lord.