2 Samuel 11:14-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:14-27

When David's project of fathering the child upon Uriah himself failed, so that, in process of time, Uriah would certainly know the wrong that had been done him, to prevent the fruits of his revenge, the devil put it into David's heart to take him off, and then neither he nor Bath-sheba would be in any danger (what prosecution could there be when there was no prosecutor?), suggesting further that, when Uriah was out of the way, Bath-sheba might, if he pleased, be his own for ever. Adulteries... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:14

And it came to pass in the morning ,.... When David was informed that Uriah did not go to his own house, but slept with his servants, Satan put it into his head and heart to take the following wicked and cruel method: that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah ; to have him cut off by the sword of the enemy. If Uriah suspected David's criminal conversation with his wife, he was so true and trusted a servant to him, that he would not open his letter to Joab,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:15

And he wrote in the letter, saying ,.... Giving the following orders to Joab: set ye Uriah is the forefront of the hottest battle : over against that part of the city where the enemy was strongest, and the battle the fiercest, and the stones and arrows were cast the thickest: and retire ye from him ; leave him to himself to combat the enemy alone; who seeing him deserted, would sally out upon him, and the few that might be with him, and slay him: that he may be smitten, and die ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:16

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city ,.... Where lay its greatest strength, and where it was best defended; or besieged it, as the Targum: that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were ; who would not easily give way, and when they saw an opportunity would sally out, Joab cannot be excused from sin, unless he thought that Uriah had been guilty of death, and that David took this way of dispatching him for some political reason; however David was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:17

And the men of the city went out ,.... Made a sally out, as Joab expected they would, when they appeared before them at that part of the city where valiant men were: and fought with Joab ; at least with part of his army posted with Uriah: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David : which made David's sin the more heinous, that several lives were lost through the stratagem he devised to procure the death of Uriah; who could not be placed in a dangerous post alone,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 11:14

David wrote a letter - This was the sum of treachery and villany. He made this most noble man the carrier of letters which prescribed the mode in which he was to be murdered. This case some have likened to that of Bellerophon, son of Glaucus, king of Ephyra, who being in the court of Proetus, king of the Argives, his queen Antia, or as others Sthenoboea, fell violently in love with him; but he, refusing to gratify her criminal passions, was in revenge accused by her to Proetus her... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 11:17

Uriah the Hittite died also - He was led to the attack of a place defended by valiant men; and in the heat of the assault, Joab and his men retired from this brave soldier, who cheerfully gave up his life for his king and his country. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:1-17

The facts are: 1 . During the prosecution of the war against Ammon in the spring, David remains in Jerusalem. 2 . Walking one evening on his house top, he sees a woman washing herself, and observes her beauty. 3 . Curiosity being awakened, he sends to inquire after her, and learns that she is the wife of Uriah. 4 . Sending a royal message to her, she, as a loyal subject, waits upon him, whereupon he commits adultery. 5 . Discovering in the course of a little time that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:5-15

( JERUSALEM , RABBAH .) Entanglements of sin. He who once leaves the right path little knows how far he may go astray or how great will be his perplexities and perils. Possibly he may never return; certainly he will not return without overcoming immense difficulties, and finding out by bitter experience his folly and perversity. "The gates of hell are open night and day; Smooth the descent, and easy is the way; But to return and view the cheerful skies, In this the task and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 11:14

David wrote a letter. David now uses the knowledge he had acquired in the schools of the prophets for vicious purposes. For it to be a blessing, knowledge must be sanctified to holy use. The letter would conceal from Joab the truth, and only let him know that Uriah, during his visit to Jerusalem, had incurred the king's serious displeasure; and we may be quite sure that Joab would be very indignant when he learned, as he certainly soon would, that David had made him his tool, and caused him... read more

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