Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 11
The Bible urges us to confess our evil deeds and to turn from them (Proverbs 28:13; Ezekiel 18:30-32; 1 John 1:9-10). However, David was afraid. By Leviticus 20:10 the punishment for what he had done was death. So, David tried to pretend that he had done nothing wrong.
David had slept with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his best soldiers, Uriah. Some weeks later, Bathsheba sent a message to David that she was expecting a baby. That baby was due to be born in a few months’ time. Uriah was clearly not the father - for many months, he had been away from home, because he was fighting in the army.
David’s plan was to make Uriah believe that he (Uriah) was in fact the father. So David sent a message to the army commander to order Uriah’s return to Jerusalem. Uriah had been at Rabbah, which was about 40 miles (65 kilometres) from Jerusalem. So, Uriah came back to see David.
David pretended that he simply wanted a report on the progress of the war. Probably, David requested such reports often. It was important for him, as the king, to know what was happening to his army. However, that was not, of course, the real reason why David had requested Uriah’s return.
At the end of their meeting, David urged Uriah to go back home and to relax. Soon, Uriah would have to return to the battle - but in the meantime, David wanted Uriah to enjoy himself with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife. David even sent a gift - perhaps food and wine - for them to enjoy. That evening, David thought that he had succeeded in his plan. Uriah would never realise who was the baby’s father.
Next part: Uriah chooses not to return home (2 Samuel 11:9)
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