Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 11:16
Observed the city - In the sense of besieging it closely. read more
Observed the city - In the sense of besieging it closely. read more
The men of the city went out - i. e. they made a sally and attacked the troops which were blockading the city on that side, chiefly to entice them to pursue them, and so come within shot of the archers who lined the wall 2 Samuel 11:20, 2 Samuel 11:24.There fell some of the people ... - They, too, as well as the brave and faithful Uriah, were victims of David’s cruel artifice. read more
2 Samuel 11:16-17. Where he knew that valiant men were He ordered him, with others, to attack a part of the city which he knew would be valiantly defended; or out of which he knew the best men they had in the city would issue forth against them. Joab also was herein very guilty in complying with David’s wicked command; unless he supposed that Uriah had committed some great crime, for which David consulting his honour, chose to punish him in this manner, rather than openly. The men of the... read more
11:1-20:26 CONFLICTS IN DAVID’S FAMILYDavid takes Bathsheba as wife (11:1-12:31)While the Israelite army was out fighting another battle against Ammon, David, back in Jerusalem, committed a series of sins that brought him sorrow and trouble for the rest of his life. To begin with, he was guilty of sexual immorality with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, one of David’s top soldiers (11:1-5; cf. 23:39).On discovering that Bathsheba was pregnant, David thought of a plan to cover up his sin. He recalled... read more
men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 . read more
David’s murder of Uriah 11:6-25David compounded his sin by trying to cover it up rather than confessing it. He tried three cover-ups: a "clean" one (2 Samuel 11:6-11), a "dirty" one (2 Samuel 11:12-13), and a "criminal" one (2 Samuel 11:14-17). [Note: Walter Vogels, "David’s Greatness in His Sin and Repentance," The Way 15:4 (1975):246.] David’s suggestion that Uriah go home and "wash his feet" (2 Samuel 11:8) may have been an encouragement to enjoy his wife sexually since "feet" in the Old... read more
David and BathshebaThis narrative is of the greatest value. It shows the faithfulness and the high morality of the historian, who relates, without a single attempt at palliation, this scandalous chapter in the great king’s history. Further, the position of the prophet, even in these early days, as the ’conscience’ of the individual or the nation, is clearly described. What Nathan is to David, Elijah (with equal courage) is to Ahab. In other nations, even in much later times, such an act if... read more
(16) Observed the city.—The word means watched, or blockaded. In the operations of the siege Joab so arranged some of his forces as to invite a sally from the city under circumstances in which it would be successful. It appears from 2 Samuel 11:24 that Uriah’s party had been sent so near as to come within reach of the archers on the wall. read more
CHAPTER XIV.DAVID AND URIAH.2 Samuel 11:1-27.HOW ardently would most, if not all readers, of the life of David have wished that it had ended before this chapter! Its golden era has passed away, and what remains is little else than a chequered tale of crime and punishment. On former occasions, under the influence of strong and long-continued temptations, we have seen his faith give way and a spirit of dissimulation appear; but these were like spots on the sun, not greatly obscuring his general... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:18-27
Complicity in evil. The facts are: 1 . Joab, having executed the wicked commission, sends word to David as to the progress of the war. 2 . He furnishes the messenger with a means of appeasing the probable wrath of David on his learning that the conflict was more serious than either he or Joab looked for, namely, an announcement of Uriah's death. 3 . The messenger carefully describes the seriousness of the engagement with the enemy, and concludes by referring to the death of... read more