The Second Book Of Samuel. Day 33, David's Plans Fail To Make Uriah Think He Is The Father Of Bathsheba's Unborn Child

David committed adultery with Bathsheba and now she is pregnant. It's impossible for the child to be her husband Uriah's, for he has been away with the army besieging the Ammonite city of Rabbah. Uriah has no idea anything inappropriate has gone on between David and his wife but he soon will know his wife has been unfaithful if he cannot be fooled into thinking the child is his. David quickly sends for Uriah on the pretext of asking how the fight is going but his real intention is that Uriah would spend a night at home and sleep with Bathsheba. She is probably no more than four or five weeks pregnant and can still get away with making Uriah think he's the father, especially if she pretends the baby is a little bit early when its born. This is how David wants things to go. This is not how they will go. 

"So David sent this word to Joab: 'Send me Uriah the Hittite.' And Joab sent him to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, 'Go down to your house and wash your feet.' So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants and did not go down to his own house." (2 Samuel 11:6-9) Uriah is not an Israelite but is a convert to the God of Israel, as we shall see shortly, and he is a faithful soldier in the army of Israel. David encourages him to go home and be comfortable, knowing the pleasures of home will include enjoying Bathsheba's company in the bedroom. But Uriah doesn't do as David expected. He sleeps in his bedroll in the same area where David's servants who are "on call" are sleeping that night.

It's hard to imagine that at least some of these servants don't know about Bathsheba's visit to the palace. One or more of them may have been involved in summoning her there on David's instructions. Several of them probably saw her arrive in the night and leave in the morning. As the saying goes, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what was going on. The message that one or more of them sends to David indicates they were aware he wanted Uriah to go home and that he will be unhappy to learn Uriah didn't go home. "David was told, 'Uriah did not go home.' So he asked Uriah, 'Haven't you just come from a military campaign? Why didn't you go home?'" (2 Samuel 11:10) I picture him trying to maintain the appearance of calmness while concealing his anxiety and exasperation with this situation. It makes no sense to him that a man on furlough from the army would not go straight home as soon as he could, especially when that home contains a young and beautiful wife.

Uriah reveals a heart dedicated to the Lord and dedicated to his fellow soldiers. He states that he could not, in good conscience, enjoy the pleasures of marriage while his men are camped far from their wives. He could not, in good conscience, enjoy the comforts of his nice home while his fellow soldiers and the Ark of the Covenant are housed in tents. "Uriah said to David, 'The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!'" (2 Samuel 11:11) Uriah's reply suggests that the army has taken the ark to their camp with them, for although the ark does have a tent in the city of Jerusalem, his words indicate that the tent it currently occupies is in the army camp of Israel. He speaks of the ark as if it is with the soldiers. So he's saying something like, "How can I go home when the ark is not at home? How can I avail myself of my marital rights when my commander Joab and all my fellow soldiers cannot be with their wives at this time? There's no way I could enjoy being in my house, eating a homecooked meal, and sleeping in my own bed with my beautiful wife while knowing these other men are sleeping in tents, eating army rations, and missing their wives."

David makes one more attempt to get Uriah home with Bathsheba. In a moment he's going to insist that Uriah dine with him at a meal where the wine will flow freely. If Uriah is under the influence of alcohol, perhaps he will lose his steely resolve to continue enduring hardships like the other men of the army. David hopes the wine will mellow Uriah enough that he will say to himself, "Oh, what can it hurt if I go home and sleep with my wife? Wouldn't most men on leave from the army do the same? Why should I feel guilty for enjoying a few comforts before going back to the battle? Suppose I get killed in battle and never see my wife again! Wouldn't it be a shame if I didn't take this opportunity to see her one last time?" 

"Then David said to him, 'Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.' So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. At David's invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master's servants; he did not go home." (2 Samuel 11:12-13) It is a high honor to be invited to eat and drink with the king. Even if Uriah wanted to refuse the invitation in order to get back to his regiment, he could hardly do so without offending the king. During the meal I picture David repeatedly filling Uriah's cup, perhaps filling it far fuller than his own cup. David may have made numerous toasts in which Uriah was expected to participate. While the drinking is going on he may have made many references to how nice it must be for Uriah to be back in Jerusalem, eating fine food and drinking good wine, and how nice it must be to know he has a wife waiting for him at home. I wouldn't be at all surprised if David repeatedly made references to how lonely Uriah must be when he's with the army and away from his wife.

But none of this works. Uriah sleeps in the servants' area yet again and David has no legitimate reason to keep holding him in Jerusalem. He must send him on his way, and he does, but in tomorrow's text he'll send him on his way with a sealed message to Joab that seals Uriah's doom. David will actually cause Uriah to carry what amounts to his own execution orders, though Uriah will be unaware of the contents of the message. David's nephew and army commander Joab will unquestioningly do exactly what David wants. And, sadly, what David wants is the death of a man who has proven himself trustworthy, honorable, and brave.