2 Samuel 11:3, commentary and pictures

David remained at ease in Jerusalem while Joab conducted the war, and his inquiry identified the woman as Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his bravest and most faithful officers. Her beauty proved a fatal snare, for in desire for her he yielded to appetite and lustful passion until Satan overcame one specially favored by God and brought him under divine displeasure. In idleness and self-security he had let go his hold upon God, leaving his mind open to the tempter, when close connection with God should have kept his character unblemished. Already guilty and unrepentant, he sought to extricate himself by arranging Uriah's death in battle to take Bath-sheba as his wife and preserve his honor, misusing God-given authority in heinous crime against Uriah and Bath-sheba. His fall shows how sensual temptation can overcome even a strong, faithful person entrusted with great responsibility, and the record stands as a warning to later generations, yet when Nathan reproved him he confessed with sincere repentance and God forgave and spared his life, though punishment still followed because his conduct gave the Lord's enemies occasion to blaspheme.

Setting and Identities

David remained at ease in Jerusalem, unguarded and self-secure near the end of the war with the Ammonites, after the Syrians had submitted and the complete overthrow of the Ammonites seemed certain. He had left the conduct of the army to Joab while he himself was surrounded by the fruits of victory and the honors of his wise and able rule. The answer to his inquiry after the woman identified her as Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Her beauty proved a fatal snare to the king.

Uriah was one of David's bravest and most faithful officers, a faithful soldier whom David's adultery shamefully wronged. The verse belongs to the account that continues with Uriah's death, for David ordered Uriah's death in battle. In doing so he misused the authority God had given him, and Joab gave sinful obedience to the king's command.

Already guilty and unrepentant, David sought to extricate himself from the dangers in which sin had involved him instead of asking help and guidance from Heaven. He arranged Uriah's death in battle, reasoning that this would leave Bath-sheba free to become his wife, avert suspicion, and preserve his royal honor. Discovery of the crime could bring death or revolt, because God's law pronounced the adulterer guilty of death. The shamefully wronged, proud-spirited soldier might avenge himself by taking the king's life or by exciting the nation to revolt.

Sin, Judgment, and Warning

The inquiry after the woman marks the moment of yielding to appetite and passion through desire for Bath-sheba. It was gratification of lustful passions by which Satan overcame a man specially favored by God and brought him under God's displeasure. His fall shows how sensual temptation can overcome even a strong and faithful person. It stands as an example of how a person favored by God and entrusted with great responsibility can be overcome by temptation.

David's idleness left him open to temptation and led to grave sin, including adultery with Bath-sheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. Useful, sustained, purposeful work would have helped guard his mind against foolish thoughts that give rise to evil actions and would have helped keep him from the murder of Uriah. In ease and self-security the tempter seized the opportunity to occupy his mind, and letting go his hold upon God David yielded to Satan and brought the stain of guilt upon his soul. Close connection with God and the great favor shown him should have kept his character unblemished, but as the Heaven-appointed leader of the nation chosen to execute God's law he trampled its precepts and by his own act strengthened the hands of evil-doers whom he should have terrified. Having been steadfast while keeping God's Word beside him as king, he turned from its teaching and stained one of the fairest reputations.

The episode was a heinous crime against Uriah and Bath-sheba. David's sin was not justified or excused by his former favor with God, for he had departed from God and one wrong step led to further sin. Nathan reproved and rebuked him, and David acknowledged his guilt with remorse and sincere, humble confession rather than excusing it. Because he repented, God forgave him and pities the repentant sinner, averted part of the threatened calamity, and spared his life. Yet David still faced punishment because sin brings punishment and his conduct gave the Lord's enemies occasion to blaspheme.

The record of David's sin and the failings of even faithful people is laid bare and preserved as a warning and lesson for later generations. Their struggles and falls, followed by renewed courage and victory through God's grace, encourage others to renew the struggle against sin and to overcome temptation.