2 Samuel 11:20, commentary and pictures

The verse is Joab's direction to his messenger for how to report the battle to the king, that if the king's wrath rises and he demands why the army went so near the city in fighting, the messenger is to answer that those on the wall would shoot, and then to add that Uriah is dead, a carefully framed report that hid the king's own part in bringing about that death. It belongs to David's command to set Uriah where the battle was hottest and then withdraw support so he would be left to be killed, and Uriah was in fact slain in battle when Joab carried out that command. The setting exposes David misusing royal authority to order murder and Joab obeying an unlawful order, showing that obedience to a ruler becomes sin when the ruler commands what breaks God's law.

The verse belongs to the account of David's grave and grievous sin concerning Uriah and Bath-sheba, a sin God did not excuse or justify. Even a king especially favored by God could be led by appetite and passion until he incurred God's displeasure. David's failure to keep himself usefully employed in work led to the murder of Uriah, and had he been busily occupied in useful work he would not have committed it. Leaving mind and time unused is therefore dangerous, because idleness leaves room for temptation and evil deeds.

The account records David's departure from God and the consequences of his wrongdoing, and his turning from God's teaching stained his formerly fair reputation, showing that violating God's will brings retribution. His wrongs brought Nathan's rebuke and punishment even though he repented and humbly confessed and was in part forgiven, and his course gave the enemies of the Lord occasion to blaspheme. The record stands among the sins of leaders favored by God and entrusted with great responsibility, serving both as a warning against sin and as encouragement that those who have fallen can take heart again and overcome through God's grace.