KING DAVID’S CRIME

KING DAVID’S CRIME

Source: Bible, Samuel ll, Chapter 11

 

AND it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Jo’ab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rab'bah. But David tartied still at Jerusalem.

     2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's houses and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself, und the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

       3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-she-ba, the daughter of Eli’am, the wife of U-ri'ah the Hittite?

       4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

       5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. 

       6 And David sent to Jo'ab. saying, Send me U-ri'ah the Hittite. And Jo'ab sent U-ri'ah to David.

       7 And when U-ri'ah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Jo'ab did, and how the pepole did, and how the war prospered.

       8 And David said to U-ri'ah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And U-ri'ah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

       9 But U-ri'ah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

       10 And when they lid told David, saying, U-ri'ah wen w down unto his fouse, David said unto Uriah, Camest tho nr front Thy joumey? why then didst thou not go down tio thine house?

       11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, ad Judah, abide in tents: and my lord Jorah, and the servas my lord, are encamped in the open fields: shall 1 then go ine mine house, to cat and to drink, and to lie with my wilet as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth. I will not do this thing.

       12 And David said to U-ri'ah, Tarry here to day also, and to monow 1 will let thee depart. So U-ri'ah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.

       13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him, and he made him drunk: and at cven he went on to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

       14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of U-ri'ah.

       15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye U-ri'ah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten and die.

       16 And it came to pass, when Jo'ab-ebserved the city, tha the assigned U-ri'ah unto a place where he knew that Valiant men were.

       17 And the men of the city went out and fought with Jo'ab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and U-ri'ah the Hittite died also.

       18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war.

       19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king.

       20 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee. Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

       21 Who smote A-bim'e-lech the son of Je-rubbe-sheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in The'bez? why went ye nigh the wall then say thou. Thy servant U-ri'ah the Hittite is dead also.

       22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all what Jo'ab had sent him for.

       23. And the messenger said unto David. Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.

       24. And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant U-ri'ah the Hittite is dead also. 

       25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Jo'ab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it and encourage thou him.

       26 And when the wife of U-ri'ah heard that U-ri'ah her husband was dead, she moumed for her husband.

       27 And when the mourning was past. David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.