Chapter 3: The Loyal Soldier

Joab received the order and sent Uriah to Jerusalem. The soldier arrived straight from the battlefield, still carrying the dust of the siege on him.

David received him in the palace and asked about the war. He had no idea why the king had summoned him.

Then David told him to go home.

DAVID“Go down to your house and wash your feet.”— 2 Samuel 11:8

In that culture, telling a soldier to wash his feet meant: rest, relax, enjoy your wife. David even sent a gift of food after him. The plan was simple. If Uriah slept with Bathsheba, everyone would assume the child was his.

But Uriah did not go home. He lay down that night at the entrance of the palace with the king's servants. When David found out the next morning, he called Uriah back and asked him why.

URIAH“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 lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”— 2 Samuel 11:11

So David tried again. The next evening, he invited Uriah to eat and drink with him at the palace. He kept the wine flowing until Uriah was drunk. Surely now, with his judgment clouded, Uriah would stumble home to his wife.

He did not. Even drunk, Uriah went out and slept with the king's servants again.

Two attempts. David could not break this man's integrity. David would need something worse.