Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Samuel 11:2

"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)

In the late afternoon. —Late in the afternoon, when David had taken the siesta customary in Eastern countries, he rose from his couch and walked on the roof of his palace. In the cool of the day, this was the pleasantest part of an eastern house. This palace was on the height of Mount Zion and looked down upon the open courts of the houses in the lower city. In one of these, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. It was common to have a basin of water in the courts of these houses, and the place was probably entirely concealed from every other viewpoint except the roof of the palace, from which no harm was suspected.

David’s grievous fall resulted from his long course of uninterrupted prosperity and power, which had somewhat intoxicated him and thrown him off his guard. It is not the plan of Scripture to cover up or excuse the sins of even its greatest heroes and saints. This sin was followed by the deepest repentance and by Divine forgiveness; nevertheless, its punishment overclouded all the remaining years of David’s life. His fall, as St. Augustine has said, should put those who have not fallen on guard, and save from despair those who have.