Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Samuel 11
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Samuel 11
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Samuel 11
"And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem." — 2 Samuel 11:1 (ASV)
After the year was expired - This refers to the following spring, after the Ammonites had escaped into their city (2 Samuel 10:14).
The children of Ammon - A marginal reference indicates that the text should be read as "the land of the children of Ammon," which is the correct meaning.
David tarried at Jerusalem - With the Syrians subdued, the war against the Ammonites was not important enough to require David’s personal presence. The entire section concerning David’s adultery and Uriah’s death, from this verse to 2 Samuel 12:26, is omitted in the Book of Chronicles.
"And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king`s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon." — 2 Samuel 11:2 (ASV)
An evening - The evening began at three o’clock in the afternoon.
"And David send and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" — 2 Samuel 11:3 (ASV)
Eliam - Also called Ammiel in 1 Chronicles 3:5, with the component words of the name in reverse order. Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 23:34).
"And when Uriah was come unto him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered." — 2 Samuel 11:7 (ASV)
David was forced to stoop to falsehood and deception in the vain hope of hiding his sin.
"And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king`s house, and there followed him a mess [of food] from the king." — 2 Samuel 11:8 (ASV)
A mess of meat - . The word denotes the honorable portion given by the host to his chief guest.
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