Keraia
2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11:3

David and Bathsheba · 2 Samuel 11:1–13
Read 2 Samuel 11

Translations

Modern
So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”
Traditional
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath–sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
Literal
And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
Latin
Misit ergo rex, et requisivit quæ esset mulier. Nuntiatumque est ei quod ipsa esset Bethsabee filia Eliam, uxor Uriæ Hethæi.

Original

Hebrew
English
So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

Notes

2 Samuel 11:3

  • Bathsheba means "daughter of seven" or "daughter of oath." Her father, Eliam, was the son of Ahithophel (see 2 Samuel 23:34), an adviser first to David and then to Absalom (2 Samuel 15:12; 16:23). Ahithophel later switched his support from David to Absalom (2 Samuel 17:1–4, 14), which upset David. He advised Absalom to sleep with David's concubines on a rooftop, where everyone could see (2 Samuel 16:20–22).

  • Uriah is a Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh is my light." He might have been a foreign soldier, a convert to the Israelite religion, or an Israelite with Hittite ancestry. Uriah could also have been part of the non-Israelite nobility in Jerusalem before David conquered the city. He was one of David's 30 mightiest warriors (2 Samuel 23:39).

2 Samuel 11:1–27

David’s affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah show that David was capable of serious moral failure. These actions deeply damaged David’s life and leadership.

These failures took place during a period when David was enjoying major military success against the Ammonites (2 Samuel 10:1–11:1; 12:26–31).

Events

People

Bathsheba: Wife of Uriah, later married David and bore Solomon David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Eliam: Father of Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite Heth: Son of Canaan and ancestor of the Hittites Uriah: Hittite soldier; husband of Bathsheba

Glossary

Ammiel Archaeology and the Bible Bathsheba David Eliam Hittites Jerusalem Joab Kings, Books of First and Second Mixed Marriage Nathan Palace Psalms, Book of Samuel, Books of First and Second Uriah

Topics

Adultery: David Ammiel: Father of Bath-Sheba: Also Called Eliam Bastard: David's Child by Bath-Sheba Bath-Sheba (Bathsheba): Adultery of Chastity: Temptation to Deviate From, Dangerous Covetousness: David, of Bath-Sheba David: King of Israel: Commits Adultery with Bath-Sheba Eliam: Father of Bath-Sheba Hittites: Officers From, in David's Army Instability: David, in Yielding to Lust Lasciviousness: David Temptation: Yielding to David, to Commit Adultery Uriah: One of David's Mighty Men: David's Adultery with the Wife of Wife: Bath-Sheba