And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the timewhenkings go forth to battle, thatDavidsentJoab, and his servantswith him, and all Israel; and theydestroyed the children of Ammon, and besiegedRabbah. But Davidtarriedstill at Jerusalem.
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, thatDavidarosefrom off his bed, and walkedupon the roof of the king’shouse: and from the roof he saw a womanwashingherself; and the woman was verybeautiful to lookupon.
And Davidsentmessengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purifiedfrom her uncleanness: and she returnedunto her house.
And Davidsaid to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriahdeparted out of the king’shouse, and therefollowed him a mess of meatfrom the king.
And whenthey had toldDavid, saying, Uriahwent not downunto his house, DavidsaiduntoUriah, Camestthou not from thy journey? why thendidstthou not go downuntothinehouse?
And UriahsaiduntoDavid, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lordJoab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the openfields; shall I then go intominehouse, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thoulivest, and as thy soulliveth, I will not do thisthing.
And whenDavid had called him, he did eat and drinkbefore him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
And if so be that the king’swratharise, and he say untothee, Whereforeapproached ye so nighunto the citywhen ye did fight? knew ye not thattheywouldshootfrom the wall?
Who smoteAbimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a womancast a piece of a millstoneupon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servantUriah the Hittite is deadalso.
And the messengersaiduntoDavid, Surely the men prevailedagainst us, and came out unto us into the field, and we wereuponthemevenunto the entering of the gate.
ThenDavidsaidunto the messenger, Thusshaltthou say untoJoab, Let not thisthingdispleasethee, for the sworddevoureth one as well as another: make thy battlemorestrongagainst the city, and overthrow it: and encouragethou him.
And when the mourning was past, Davidsent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thingthatDavid had donedispleased the LORD.