2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11:1

AFter the yeer was expired] Heb. at the return of the yeer; To wit, in which this battell was fought, and the winter of that yeer ended.

at the time] That is, in the spring and summer, when the earth yeelded her fruits, serving for forrage and provant, accessary to relieve an army. So 1 Kings 20:22. 2 Chronicles 36:10.

David sent Joab] 1 Chronicles 20:1.

servants] That is, his commanders and souldiers.

Rabbah] The metropolis or chief of the Ammonites, lying on the mountains of Gilead beyond Jordan, by the head of the river Jabbok, Chap. 12. 26, 27.

2 Samuel 11:2

his bed] On which he had taken his afternoons rest, as to this day is usuall in those hot countreyes. So Chap. 4. v. 5, 7.

roof] Which in those countreyes were flat, made in the manner of a terrace with battlements about them, Deuter. 22. 8.

washing] That she might be purified from legall uncleannesse, according to the law, Leviticus 15:19. 18. 19. So vers. 4.

2 Samuel 11:3

one said] That is, one of his servants

Is not this] That is, it is surely she. See Judges 4:6.

Bath-sheba] Called Bath-shua, 1 Chronicles 3:5.

Eliam] Named, Ammiel, 1 Chronicles 3:5.

Hittite] See 1 Samuel 26:6.

2 Samuel 11:4

took her] That is, caused her to be brought unto him.

for she was purified from her uncleannesse, and she returned unto her house] Or, and when she had purified her self, &c. she returned, Leviticus 15:19. and Leviticus 18:19. And thereby more apt to conceive.

2 Samuel 11:5

told David] To wit, fearing lest being found an adulteresse, she should be stoned according to the law.

2 Samuel 11:7

how Joab did] Heb. of the peace of, &c.

2 Samuel 11:8

to thy house] David thought, that if Uriah went home and lay with his wife, his fault might be cloaked.

wash thy feet] That is, as they used to do after a journey in those hot countreys; and it is as much, as if he had said, recreate and refresh thy self after thy travell.

followed him] Heb. went out after him.

amesse of meat] The which he did in shew of kindnesse, but with a purpose, That faring more daintily and plentifully, he might be the more apt to desire his wives company.

2 Samuel 11:10

told David] To wit, first enquiring what became of him, and how he carried himself.

why then] As if he had said, It is fit that thou shouldest take thy ease after so long a journey. For Rabbah was so far distant from Jerusalem (as some of the learned think) that it was a journey of thirty hours.

2 Samuel 11:11

The ark] Which it seemeth was now in the camp, that as need should be, they might ask counsell of God, which they used to do in great wars, 1 Samuel 4:4. and 1 Samuel 14:18.

my lord Joab] Generall of the army.

and as thy soul] Which is not a double oath, but a more patheticall expression of the same thing; as sure it is, that I will not do it, as it is sure that thou livest, or, that I desire that thou shouldest live now and for ever. All which pious care, and carriage in Uriah, did aggravate Davids sin in practising against him.

2 Samuel 11:13

made him drunk] Both to make him forget his oath, and also more apt to go home to his wife, to which he could not perswade him whilest he was sober.

at even] That is, notwithstanding all Davids devices and practices, he remained constant in his resolution.

2 Samuel 11:14

And it came] That is, when all his former policies failed for the effecting his designe; which was to hide his sin, and adultery.

a letter] Namely, That by his help he might take away Uriahs life, by such a means as might not come to light, and so he might have his wife.

2 Samuel 11:15

hottest] Heb. strong.

from him] Heb. from after him.

2 Samuel 11:16

observed the city] To finde out where the stoutest souldiers manned the walls.

2 Samuel 11:21

Abimelech] Judges 9. 53.

Jerubbsheth] That is, Gideon called Jerubbaal, Judges 7:1. For the Hebrews in detestation of idols, did expunge the word Baal out of their names, and put in place of it, Bosheth, or Besheth, signifying an infamous thing, as the idoll was, Hosea 9:10. See and compare, 1 Chronicles 8:33. with 1 Kings 2:8. 1 Chronicles 8:34. with 2 Samuel 4:4.

2 Samuel 11:23

the men] That is, of Rabbah that was besieged.

came out] That is, sallied out upon us.

and we were] Forced them to retire, pursuing them to the very gate; and so in heat of war came too neer the wall, and lost some of our men.

2 Samuel 11:25

Thus shalt thou] He dissembleth with the messenger, to the end, That neither his cruell commandment, nor Joabs wicked obedience might be discovered.

displease thee] Heb. be evil in thine eyes.

the sword] That is, the event of war is various; and sometimes these, and sometimes those are slain.

one as well as another] Heb. so and such.

encourage thou] That is, as my messenger encourage and comfort Joab from me.

2 Samuel 11:26

husband] Heb. her man. So Genesis 20:3.

2 Samuel 11:27

the mourning] Which as Josephus writeth, lasted the space of seven dayes, 1 Samuel 31:13. Ecclus. 22. 12.

but the thing] That is, Davids whole carriage in this businesse of Uriah.

displeased] Heb. was evill in the eyes of.