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2 Shamu'al 11

2 Shamu'al chapter 11 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.

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11:1

The Breach of the Anointed and the Fall of Uriyah

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that Dawid sent Yoab, and his servants with him, and all Yashar'al; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But Dawid tarried still at Yarushalayim.
11:2

The Sight on the Roof

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that Dawid arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
11:3
And Dawid sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriyah the Hittite?"
11:4

The Act of Adultery

And Dawid sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
11:5
And the woman conceived, and sent and told Dawid, and said, "I am with child."
11:6

The Summons of Uriyah

And Dawid sent to Yoab, saying, "Send me Uriyah the Hittite." And Yoab sent Uriyah to Dawid.
11:7
And when Uriyah was come unto him, Dawid demanded of him how Yoab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
11:8

The Failed Cover-Up

And Dawid said to Uriyah, "Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet." And Uriyah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
11:9
But Uriyah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his adun, and went not down to his house.
11:10
And when they had told Dawid, saying, "Uriyah went not down unto his house," Dawid said unto Uriyah, "Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?"
11:11

The Integrity of the Warrior

And Uriyah said unto Dawid, "The ark, and Yashar'al, and Yahudah, abide in tents; and my adun Yoab, and the servants of my adun, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing."
11:12

The Intoxication Strategy

And Dawid said to Uriyah, "Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let thee depart." So Uriyah abode in Yarushalayim that day, and the morrow.
11:13
And when Dawid had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his adun, but went not down to his house.
11:14

The Death Warrant

And it came to pass in the morning, that Dawid wrote a letter to Yoab, and sent it by the hand of Uriyah.
11:15
And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set ye Uriyah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die."
11:16

The Execution at Rabbah

And it came to pass, when Yoab observed the city, that he assigned Uriyah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
11:17
And the men of the city went out, and fought with Yoab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of Dawid; and Uriyah the Hittite died also.
11:18

The Report to the King

Then Yoab sent and told Dawid all the things concerning the war;
11:19
And charged the messenger, saying, "When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,"
11:20
"And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?"
11:21
"Who smote Abimelech the son of Yerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriyah the Hittite is dead also."
11:22

The Messenger's Account

So the messenger went, and came and showed Dawid all that Yoab had sent him for.
11:23
And the messenger said unto Dawid, "Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate."
11:24
"And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriyah the Hittite is dead also."
11:25

The King's Callous Response

Then Dawid said unto the messenger, "Thus shalt thou say unto Yoab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him."
11:26

The Marriage of the Widow

And when the wife of Uriyah heard that Uriyah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
11:27

The Judicial Displeasure of Yahuwah

And when the mourning was past, Dawid sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that Dawid had done displeased 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.