Observations and Interpretations:
(1) The importance of the war with Ammonites
The war with Ammonites started in 10:6 when the Ammonites sent and hired a large number of the Arameans. Not only did David send Joab to fight with them and get their first victory v.7-14, David himself came to fight when the Arameans gathered more forces to fight with Israel v.15-17. Now, when the war was at its peak and Joab besieged the capital city of Ammonites, Rabbah, David stayed behind in Jerusalem 10:1.
11:1b ...They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
(NET) The disjunctive clause contrasts David’s inactivity with the army’s activity.
(NET) The disjunctive clause contrasts David’s inactivity with the army’s activity.
This is the beginning of the downslide of David.
Reflection: Are we absent from our own responsibility? Are we lazy and got away from where we were supposed to be?
(2) The king of Israel used the war as a scheme for his own interest
7 When Uriah came to him, David asked about how Joab and the army were doing and how the campaign was going.
David only cared about how to cover up his sins and therefore sent Uriah back and misled him that the child belonged to him. David did not really care about the war. The inquiring about the Joab and the army was only an excuse used by David.
11 Uriah replied to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah reside in temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and my lord’s soldiers are camping in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and go to bed with my wife? As surely as you are alive, I will not do this thing!”
Instead of the king of Israel, Uriah showed loyalty to his country.
15 In the letter he wrote: “Station Uriah at the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed.”
Supposingly the dying of own soldiers would have upset the king, but David was the mastermind behind this.
Supposingly the dying of own soldiers would have upset the king, but David was the mastermind behind this.
Not only did David stay behind and not care about the war, but he used the war to be part of his scheme. He was shameless, especially compared with Uriah, the one he killed.
Reflection: Are we ashamed when we compare ourselves with the faithful servant of Jesus?
Do we use any scheme to cover up our lies or any of our own evil desires?
(3) But what David had done upset the LORD.
Uriah did not know a thing before he died. No one knew why Uriah died except Joab and David. However the LORD knew and He was upset with David. From 11:27 on the LORD made David bear the consequences of his sins.
(EBC)Uriah did not know a thing before he died. No one knew why Uriah died except Joab and David. However the LORD knew and He was upset with David. From 11:27 on the LORD made David bear the consequences of his sins.
A. David sends Joab to besiege Rabbah (11:1).
B. David sleeps with Bathsheba, who becomes pregnant (11:2–5).
C. David has Uriah killed (11:6–17).
D. Joab sends David a message (11:18–27a).
E. The Lord is displeased with David (11:27b).
D′. The Lord sends David a messenger (12:1–14).
C′. The Lord strikes David’s infant son, who dies (12:15–23).
B′. David sleeps with Bathsheba, who becomes pregnant (12:24–25).
A′. Joab sends for David to besiege and capture Rabbah (12:26–31).
(EBC) [David disobeyed] three of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife”; “You shall not commit adultery”; “You shall not murder” (Exod 20:17, 14, 13). His execrable conduct in chapter 11 is a parade example of the truths expressed in James 1:14–15: “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Audrey
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