There are few Old Testament stories that make the kind of impact as that of David';s sin with Bathsheba. In that story we see a man — a man God had called “righteous” — fall into sin so deep and ugly that it';s easy to wonder how his name can still be mentioned in the Bible in any kind of positive light.

But the story of David';s sin with Bathsheba — which included adultery, murder, and the lies and deceptions it took to try to cover those crimes — is not just one of a man who had fallen but also one of a man God picked up from a self-imposed pit of despair.

This tragic story begins as David, just up from an afternoon nap, looks out from the roof of his palace and spies the very beautiful — but very married — Bathsheba. Without even thinking about it, David sent for Bathsheba, who he is told is married to a warrior named Uriah who is away fighting at the time (2 Samuel 11:1–4).

Bathsheba did the only thing she could when the king of Israel sends for her — she went to him. A short time later she sent him word that she was pregnant. In an attempt to cover up his sin, David sends for Uriah and invites him to go home to his wife for the night before going back to the battlefield. Being a man of amazing integrity and loyalty, Uriah refuses to go home to his wife while his men are still out fighting (2 Samuel 11:5–12).

Since David';s plan to cover up his sin has failed, he goes to plan B: have Uriah killed in battle so that no one will be the wiser to what has happened. David sends word to have Uriah placed where the fighting is fiercest so that it will be more likely that he is killed. That is exactly what happens, and when Bathsheba receives word of it, she is sent into a period of mourning over the death of her husband (2 Samuel 11:14–27).

Study Questions

Read 2 Samuel 11:2. What do you think was David';s first mistake when it came to being tempted to commit adultery with Bathsheba?

What character qualities of Uriah do you think helped lead to his death?