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David Commands Uriah’s Murder
2 Samuel 11:14-27
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Plot
In lesson one, we learn of David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba. Upon the discovery of a child being conceived from the adultery, David is devised a plot to make her husband Uriah appear to be the father of the child, and culminates in David's murder of Uriah and his marriage to Uriah's wife, Bathsheba.
As we take up where we left off in our last lesson, a few more bits of background information are vital to our understanding of this text.
- It seems likely that David and Uriah are hardly strangers, but that they know each other, to some degree at least. Uriah is listed among the mighty warriors of David (2 Samuel 23:39; 1 Chronicles 11:41). Some of the “mighty men” came to David early, while he was in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-2), and we suspect that among them were Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, the three brothers who were mighty men (see 2 Samuel 23:18, 24; 1 Chronicles 11:26).39 Others joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:1ff.), and still other great warriors joined with David at Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:38-40).40 We do not know when and where Uriah joined with David, but since his military career ends in 2 Samuel 12, his military feats must have been done earlier. It seems very unlikely that David and Uriah are strangers; rather, it would seem these two men know each other from fighting together, and perhaps even from fleeing Saul together.
- It seems unlikely that Uriah is ignorant of what David has done and of what he is trying to accomplish by calling him home to Jerusalem. Rumors must have been circulating around Jerusalem about David and Bathsheba, and could easily have reached the Israelite army which had besieged Rabbah. Uriah not only refuses to go to his house and sleep with his wife, he sleeps at the doorway of the king's house, in the midst of his servants. He has many witnesses to testify that any child borne by his wife during this time is not his child. It is clear that Uriah understands exactly what David wants him to do (to have sex with his wife), and that he refuses, even when the king virtually orders him to do so. This would be difficult to explain if Uriah is ignorant of what happened between David and Bathsheba. At least Uriah knows what David is trying to get him to do on this stay in Jerusalem.
The Lord’s Message for David
The Lord was angry at what David had done,
Kingdom Dynamics
Verses 14-27
When David’s scheme of fathering
the child upon Uriah himself failed, so that, in process of time, Uriah would
certainly know the wrong that had been done him, to prevent the fruits of his
revenge, the devil put it into David’s heart to have him murdered, and then
neither he nor Bath-sheba would be in any danger, (suggesting further that,
when Uriah was out of the way, Bath-sheba might, if he pleased, be his own
forever).
IN CLOSING
Dear Friends, oh, what a tangled web we
weave when first we practice to deceive. We must…we must understand that adulteries have often prompted murders, and one
wickedness must be covered and secured with another. The beginnings of sin are
therefore to be dreaded; for who knows where they will end?
Sin
will have shame. The whole matter of Uriah, the adultery, falsehood, murder,
and this marriage at last, it was all displeasing to the Lord. God sees and
hates sin in HIS own people. Indeed, the nearer any of us are to God in
profession the more displeasing to
him our sins are; for in them there is more ingratitude, treachery, and reprimand,
than in the sins of others. Let none of us therefore encourage ourselves in sin
by the example of David; for those of us that sin as he did will fall under the
displeasure of God as he did. Let us therefore stand in awe and sin not, not
sin after the similitude of his transgression.
… to be continued_
In Christ,
Janet
Irene Thomas
Playwright/Director/Screen
Writer
Producer/Gospel
Lyricist/Author
Founder/CEO
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