2 Samuel 23:39 closes the catalog of David's mighty men by naming Uriah the Hittite last among the thirty-seven, who were the officers of the king's guard. His honored place as an officer shows that a stranger could live in Jerusalem and hold an honored position in Israel. Uriah served in the same rank as Eliam the son of Ahithophel, so the two would have had close contact.
Eliam was Bath-sheba's father, making Bath-sheba Ahithophel's granddaughter by blood and making Uriah, by his marriage to Bath-sheba, Ahithophel's grandson by marriage. Together with other passages the verse thus helps link Uriah to Ahithophel, explaining Ahithophel's hostility toward David after David's treatment of Uriah and Bath-sheba. Ahithophel's counsel in Absalom's conspiracy was part of the natural and fitting consequences of David's sin against Uriah.
Uriah's name recalls David's great transgression and sin against God in Uriah's case, which gave the Lord's enemies occasion to blaspheme and was neither concealed nor excused. David was reproved and denounced by the prophet Nathan for that sin, and the judgments in David's later history displayed its consequences. David humbly confessed it with humility and sorrow.
2 Samuel 23:39 closes the catalog of David's mighty men by naming Uriah the Hittite last among the thirty-seven, who were the officers of the king's guard. His honored place as an officer shows that a stranger could live in Jerusalem and hold an honored position in Israel. Uriah served in the same rank as Eliam the son of Ahithophel, so the two would have had close contact.
Eliam was Bath-sheba's father, making Bath-sheba Ahithophel's granddaughter by blood and making Uriah, by his marriage to Bath-sheba, Ahithophel's grandson by marriage. Together with other passages the verse thus helps link Uriah to Ahithophel, explaining Ahithophel's hostility toward David after David's treatment of Uriah and Bath-sheba. Ahithophel's counsel in Absalom's conspiracy was part of the natural and fitting consequences of David's sin against Uriah.
Uriah's name recalls David's great transgression and sin against God in Uriah's case, which gave the Lord's enemies occasion to blaspheme and was neither concealed nor excused. David was reproved and denounced by the prophet Nathan for that sin, and the judgments in David's later history displayed its consequences. David humbly confessed it with humility and sorrow.