HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

This verse in II Samuel 11:4 gives us to know that it has been at least ONE WEEK since David first saw Bathsheba, for she was required to wait SEVEN DAYS BEYOND the cessation of her flow before being able to engage in sexual contact.  Like most women would tend to be, Bathsheba is, undoubtedly, at a point of high sexual yearning during this time of the month, for she is ovulating, and whether it is known to him, or not, David wastes no time in availing himself of this situation: he lies with her in an ADULTEROUS union.  David and she have SINNED! Yes, both of them sinned with their bodies. She could have resisted but did not so the blame must be shared equally.

II Samuel 11:5  “And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, ‘I am with child.’”

Now the anguish begins: Bathsheba finds that she is pregnant with David’s child.  As you read these words, do you get the sense that David and Bathsheba ARE NOT continuing to engage in an on-going sexual liaison and relationship?  Beloved, this appears to have been but a momentary fling of the flesh!  David’s eyes and fleshly desires have been allowed to take him where he should not really have gone.  Once their desires have been satiated, and they have experienced each other, he and Bathsheba are likely done with the matter.  After all, they do not want to be “found out” at some later point.  But, the situation HAS already “caught” them.  What is to be done?!?  David constructs a plan.

6  “And David sent to Joab, saying, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite.’  And Joab [David’s General] sent Uriah to David.”

7  “And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded [inquired] of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.”

David begins an attempt to be disarming with Uriah and starts to engage in small talk.  It is certain that, as the king, David has Generals who keep him abreast of all the first-hand information from the war’s front on a regular basis.  Uriah can provide no information to which David is not already privy.  Undoubtedly, Uriah is in a quandary regarding the reason that the king has called him, an ordinary soldier, to an audience.  Finally, David arrives at a point in which he has nothing more that he can pretend to discuss with Uriah and brings the audience to a close.

8  “And David said to Uriah, ‘Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet.’  And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess [a variety] of meat [foods] from the king.”

David says to Uriah, “Thanks for coming!  I don’t desire to keep you any longer, and I know that you must be very hungry and extremely tired from your journey.  Your appearance is quite dishevelled.  Go home and take it easy; wash the dirt and filth of the war from your flesh.  Enjoy your brief stay.”  Uriah stands, bows, and leaves, still in a quandary as to why the king chose to see him: he is befuddled.  He was totally unable to tell the king anything that was of substantive value, and they discussed nothing of such a nature.  Questions continue to engage his thoughts as he exits from the king’s presence, followed by the servants of the king bearing gifts of various foods.  At this point, Uriah does a very unusual thing: he refuses to go home.

And now, today’s Study will be CONTINUED TOMORROW …