2One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing — a very beautiful woman.

3So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba,11:3 2Sm 12:24; Ps 51 daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah11:3 Mt 1:6 the Hethite?” 11:3 DSS add Joab’s armor-bearer

4David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness.11:4 Lv 15:18–30; 18:19 Afterward, she returned home.

5The woman conceived and sent word to inform David, “I am pregnant.”

6David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hethite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.

7When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going.

8Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

9But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.

10When it was reported to David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David questioned Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?”

11Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers11:11 Lit servants are camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and by your life, I will not do this!” 11:11 1Sm 21:5

12“Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

13Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

18Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle.

19He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle — 

20if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall?

21At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth?11:21 LXX reads Jerubbaal11:21 = Gideon Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died?11:21 Jdg 9:50–54 Why did you get so close to the wall? ’ — then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hethite is dead also.’”

22Then the messenger left.

23The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the city gate.

24However, the archers shot down on your servants from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s servants died. Your servant Uriah the Hethite is also dead.”

25David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.”

26When Uriah’s11:26 Mt 1:6 wife heard that her husband, Uriah, had died, she mourned for him.11:26 Lit her husband

27When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the Lord considered what David had done to be evil.11:27 2Sm 12:9; 15:19