2 Samuel 11 - Printer Friendly

What does 2 Samuel 11 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Second Samuel 11 tells one of the most infamous and controversial stories in the Bible: the affair of David with Bathsheba, leading to the planned death of her husband Uriah. The story lands with an unexpected shock: so far, David has been portrayed as nearly perfect. His sins against Bathsheba and Uriah seem greatly out of character. Succeeding stories are also scandalous; the order of events in 2 Samuel makes it seem that David spent the first half of his reign only doing right and the second half only in sin and misery. In truth, the stories seem to be arranged by theme, not order. Like all of us, David's life is a mix of good and bad.

Traditional teaching has been quick to condemn Bathsheba for seducing David. More recently, greater sensitivity towards coercion from authority figures has emerged. Her motives are never stated, and it's important to note that God never condemns her. In a parable, she's compared to an innocent lamb who is helplessly taken (2 Samuel 12:1–4). Just as important is how Scripture charges David with serious sin but doesn't discard him in condemnation. His heartfelt repentance is proof that God loves to give us grace when we sin. Solomon's birth from this relationship proves He loves to make good out of bad situations. Instead of disparaging Bathsheba, we should recognize her vulnerability and resolve to protect people in similar situations. Instead of rejecting David entirely, we should thank God for His willingness to forgive our worst sin.

The setting is the continuation of the war in 2 Samuel 10. The Ammonites disrespected the honor of Israel. When Joab and the Israelite army arrived, the Ammonites locked themselves in their walled city, Rabbah. David now wants them destroyed and sends Joab to finish the job. As he did at the beginning of the previous war, David remains in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 11:1).

Late one afternoon, David goes to his roof. From that uniquely tall position, he can see into the courtyards and windows of the homes nearby. At one home, David sees Bathsheba bathing. She is performing a Mikvah: a ceremonial bath performed seven days after menstruation (Leviticus 15:28). David finds her beautiful, sends servants to bring her to his house, and has sex with her. A few weeks later, she sends word that she's pregnant (2 Samuel 11:2–5).

Bathsheba is married to Uriah, one of David's "mighty men," who is with Joab fighting the Ammonites (2 Samuel 23:39). David commands Uriah to return to Jerusalem, expecting he'll sleep with his wife. But Uriah refuses, following David's own policy of abstaining from sex during a mission (1 Samuel 21:4–5). Even when David gets Uriah drunk, he will not leave David's house (2 Samuel 11:6–13).

Out of options to cover his adultery the easiest way, David chooses murder. He sends Uriah back to the battle with a note for Joab. Joab is to send Uriah into the heaviest fighting and then withdraw his support so the Ammonite army can kill him. Joab does as the king orders. Several men are killed along with Uriah. When David receives the report, he sends back encouragement to Joab to overthrow the Ammonites for good (2 Samuel 11:14–25).

After the required period of mourning for a lost spouse, David marries Bathsheba. He wants it to appear that the baby is legitimate. The king has apparently succeeded in both the crime and the cover-up, except for one fact: God knows. The Lord is displeased with David (2 Samuel 11:26–27). In judgment, God orders the prophet Nathan to confront David and announce that the baby will die (2 Samuel 12).

The purpose of First and Second Chronicles was to remind the Jews returning from Babylon to Jerusalem of their heritage as God's chosen people and warn them against idolatry. Except for a note about the battle (1 Chronicles 20:1), this story isn't included.

Second Samuel 11:1–5 describes David's sin against Bathsheba. Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, is at war against the Ammonites with Joab and Israel's army. David sees Bathsheba bathing from the uncleanness of her menstruation and has her brought to him. He has sex with her, and she becomes pregnant. To hide his sin, David first tries to trick Uriah into sleeping with his wife. When Uriah refuses, David has Uriah murdered (2 Samuel 11:6–25). We aren't told the story from Bathsheba's point of view, but the text never faults her or condemns her of sin. First Chronicles 20:1 describes the battle.

In 2 Samuel 11:6–13, David plans a cover-up. While Uriah the Hittite was fighting the Ammonites at David's command, David slept with Uriah's wife Bathsheba. Now, Bathsheba is pregnant, and there's no way to pretend Uriah is the father. David recalls Uriah from the front line, thinking Uriah will visit home and have sex with his wife. Thinking about his comrades, sleeping in tents, Uriah refuses. So, David takes things a step further. He sends Uriah back with orders for Joab to arrange for Uriah's death in battle (2 Samuel 11:14–15).

In 2 Samuel 11:14–21, David completes his greatest sin. While the army is away, David has sex with one of his greatest warriors' wives. She's now pregnant. David calls him back to Jerusalem, intending him to sleep with his wife and claim the child, but he refuses (2 Samuel 11:1–13). To hide his sin, David sends the man back to the battle with instructions for the general to have him die in battle. David's secret is safe until God tells Nathan, the prophet. Nathan confronts David, and God judges David by taking his son (2 Samuel 12).

In 2 Samuel 11:22–27, David learns his plan worked. While the army was off at war against the Ammonites, David slept with one of his generals' wives and got her pregnant. To cover up his sin, David ordered Uriah home, so he'd sleep with his wife and think the baby was his. When that didn't work, David ordered his commander, Joab, to have Uriah killed in battle (2 Samuel 11:1–21). Now, David learns his plan worked. He can marry Bathsheba and claim his son. What David doesn't plan for is that God sees all and demands justice (2 Samuel 12).

In 2 Samuel 11:26–27, David completes his deception. While his army fought the Ammonites, he slept with his general Uriah's wife and got her pregnant. David tried to get Uriah to sleep with her, so he'd assume the baby was his. When he refused, David had him murdered on the battlefield (2 Samuel 11:1–17). Now, after Bathsheba mourns her husband, David can marry her, and everyone will think the baby was conceived after the wedding. But God is not mocked. He sends Nathan the prophet to confront David. Then He takes the life of the baby (2 Samuel 12).

Chapter Summary:

In 2 Samuel 11, David commits grievous sins. Joab and the Israelite army, including the warrior Uriah, are finishing the battle against the Ammonites. Back in Jerusalem, David takes notice of Uriah's wife and impregnates her. When she informs David of the pregnancy, David recalls Uriah. The king expects the soldier to sleep with his wife and claim the child. Uriah's intense loyalty and integrity prevent him from even visiting his house while the others are still at war. David tells Joab to have Uriah killed in battle. God sends Nathan to confront David. David sincerely repents, but God takes the child (2 Samuel 12).

Chapter Context:

Second Samuel 11 begins the account of David's greatest sins. David sleeps with and impregnates a soldier's wife, Bathsheba. To hide his sin, David has the soldier killed in battle. God tells Nathan to rebuke David, and David repents fully. But God still takes the life of the baby boy (2 Samuel 12; Psalm 51). The story reveals two things about God. First, He is willing to restore His relationship with us when we repent from even the most horrible sin. And second, He has no interest in shaming vulnerable victims of powerful people.

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 12/22/2025 12:09:35 PM