2 Samuel 11:5-27 – Warning Against Covering Up Sin

Translation & Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ The Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 15 May 2022

Introduction

vs.1-5 David Tries To Ignore His Sin

vs. 6-9 David Attempts to Cover Up His Sin By Tricking Uriah

vs. 10-13 David Attempts to Cover Up His Sin By Getting Uriah Drunk

vs. 14-17 David Attempts To Cover His Sin By Killing Uriah

vs.18-25 David Attempts to Cover Up His Sin By Quieting His Accomplice

vs. 26-27 David Tries To Cover Up His Sin By Marrying Bathsheba

Conclusion

APPENDIX: Translation of Anoshey chiyl אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל (v.16)


Incidences*

KJV

NKJ

NASB

NIV

NLT

ESV

Genesis 47:6
(cattle managers)

men of activity

competent men

capable men

any with special ability

those with special skills

able men

Exodus 18:21
(civil judges)

able men

able men

able men

capable men

capable men

able men

Exodus 18:25
(civil judges)

able men

able men

able men

capable men

capable men

able men

Judges 20:44
(fallen soldiers)

men of valour

men of valor

valiant warriors

valiant fighters

strongest warriors

men of valor

Judges 20:46
(fallen soldiers)

men of valour

men of valor

valiant warriors

valiant fighters

strong warriors

men of valor

2 Sam 11:16
(Ammonite soldiers)

valiant men

valiant men

valiant men

strongest defenders

strongest men

valiant men

Nehemiah 11:6
(tribal representatives in the capitol)

valiant men

valiant men

able men

men of standing

outstanding men

valiant men

Psalm 76:6
(hostile foreigners)

men of might

mighty men

warriors

warriors

warrior

men of war

Nahum 2:4
(enemy soldiers)

valiant men

valiant men

warriors

warriors

valiant troops

soldiers

* There are about 28 more instances of these two root words, mostly in historical literature, but not with this same spelling or word order.


SUMMARY of the 54 translations

37% = valiant/men of valor

31% = capable/able/active/competent

13% = warriors/soldiers

9% = [out]standing/strongest5/special

9% = strong/mighty


KJV, NAU and ESV each use three of the different meanings, but none of them used the meaning of “special/outstanding/strongest.” NIV used 4 of the meanings, and NLT used all 5.


I would like to propose an additional translation in an attempt to combine all five meanings in one word, and that is the English word “veteran,” denoting experience in fighting by which they proved themselves to be soldier material, courageous enough to fight, and strong and competent enough at fighting to survive.

2 Samuel 11Side-by side comparison of versionsA

LXX

Brenton

DRB

KJV

NAW

MT

1 Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐπιστρέψαντος τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τῆς ἐξοδίας τῶν βασιλέων καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ τὸν Ιωαβ καὶ τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν πάντα Ισραηλ, καὶ διέφθειραν τοὺς υἱοὺς Αμμων καὶ διεκάθισαν ἐπὶ Ραββαθ· καὶ Δαυιδ ἐκάθισεν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ.

1 And it came to pass when the time of the year for kings going out [to battle] had come round, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbath: but David remained at Jerusalem.

1 And it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth [to war], that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they spoiled the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabba: but David remained in Jerusalem.

1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried [still] at Jerusalem.

1 Then, when the year began to turn to the time that kings go campaigning, David sent Joab - and his servants with him - along with all of Israel, and they laid waste to the descendents of Ammon, then laid seige to Rabbah. Meanwhile David sat in Jerusalem.

1B וַיְהִי לִתְשׁוּבַת הַשָּׁנָה לְעֵת צֵאת הַמַּלְאכִיםC וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד אֶת- יוֹאָב וְאֶת-עֲבָדָיו עִמּוֹ וְאֶת-כָּל- יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּשְׁחִתוּ אֶת- בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן וַיָּצֻרוּ עַל-רַבָּה וְדָוִד יוֹשֵׁב בִּירוּשָׁלִָם: ס

2 Καὶ ἐγένετο πρὸς ἑσπέραν καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ ἀπὸ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ καὶ περιεπάτει ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ εἶδεν γυναῖκα λουομένην ἀπὸ τοῦ δώματος, καὶ ἡ γυνὴ καλὴ τῷ εἴδει σφόδρα.

2 And it came to pass toward X evening, that David arose off his couch, and walked on the roof of the king's house, and saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

2 In the mean time it happened that Dav­id arose from his bed after X noon, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: And he saw from the roof [of his house] a woman washing herself, [over against him]: and the woman was very beautiful X.

2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

2 So it was at the time of the evening that David got up from his bed and walked around on the housetop of the palace of the king, and he saw from the housetop a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful-looking.

2 וַיְהִי לְעֵת הָעֶרֶב וַיָּקָם דָּוִד מֵעַל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ עַל-גַּג בֵּית-הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיַּרְא אִשָּׁה רֹחֶצֶת מֵעַל הַגָּגD וְהָאִשָּׁה טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה מְאֹד:

3 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ καὶ ἐζήτησεν τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ εἶπεν Οὐχὶ αὕτη Βηρσαβεε θυγάτηρ Ελιαβ γυνὴ Ουριου τοῦ Χετταίου;

3 And David sent and enquired about the woman: and one said, Is not this Bersabee the daughter of Eliab, the wife of Urias the Chettite?

3 And the king sent, and inquired who the woman was. And it [was] told [him], that she was Beth­sabee the dau­ghter of Eliam, the wife of Urias the Hethite.

3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

3 So David sent someone and sought out information about the woman, and the man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

3 וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד וַיִּדְרֹשׁ לָאִשָּׁה וַיֹּאמֶר הֲלוֹא- זֹאת בַּת-שֶׁבַעE בַּת-אֱלִיעָם אֵשֶׁת אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּיF:

4 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ ἀγγέλους καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτήν, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ ἐκοιμήθη μετ᾿ αὐτῆς, καὶ αὐτὴ ἁγιαζομένη ἀπὸ ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς.

4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and X went in to her, and he lay with her: and she was purified from her uncleanness, and returned to her house.

4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her: and [presently] she was purified from her uncleanness: 5 And she returned to her house

4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

4 Nevertheless, David sent messengers and took her, and she went to him, and he laid down with her, then she sanctified herself from her uncleanness and went back to her house.

4 וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד מַלְאָכִים וַיִּקָּחֶהָ וַתָּבוֹא אֵלָיו וַיִּשְׁכַּב עִמָּהּ וְהִיא מִתְקַדֶּשֶׁתG מִטֻּמְאָתָהּ וַתָּשָׁבH אֶל-בֵּיתָהּ:

5 καὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβεν ἡ γυνή· καὶ ἀποστείλασα ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν Ἐγώ [εἰμι] ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχω.

5 And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

X X having conceived. And she sent and told David, and said: I have conceived.

5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

5 The woman, however, was pregnant, so she sent someone and had it communicated to David and said, “I am pregnant.”

5 וַתַּהַר הָאִשָּׁה וַתִּשְׁלַח וַתַּגֵּד לְדָוִד וַתֹּאמֶר הָרָה אָנֹכִיI:

6 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ιωαβ [λέγων] Ἀπόστει­λον πρός με τὸν Ουριαν τὸν Χετ­ταῖον· καὶ ἀπέ­στειλεν Ιωαβ τὸν Ουριαν πρὸς Δαυιδ.

6 And David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Urias the Chettite; and Joab sent Urias to David.

6 And David sent to Joab, [sayingJ]: Send me Urias the Hethite. And Joab sent Urias to David.

6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

6 David then sent someone to Joab {and said}, “Send Uriah the Hittite to me.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.

6 וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד אֶל-יוֹאָבK שְׁלַח אֵלַי אֶת-אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּי וַיִּשְׁלַח יוֹאָב אֶת-אוּרִיָּה אֶל-דָּוִדL:

7 [καὶ παραγίν­εται] Ουριας καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ ἐπ­ηρώτησεν Δαυιδ εἰς εἰρήνην Ιωαβ καὶ εἰς εἰρήνην τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ εἰς εἰρήνην τοῦ πολέμου.

7 And Urias [arrived and] went in to him, and David asked him how Joab was, and how the people were, and how the war went on.

7 And Urias came to David. And David asked how Joab did, and the people,X X and how the war was carried on.

7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

7 And Uriah came to him, and David asked about the welfare of Joab and about the welfare of the people and about the welfare of the battle.

7 וַיָּבֹא אוּרִיָּה אֵלָיוM וַיִּשְׁאַל דָּוִד לִשְׁלוֹם יוֹאָב וְלִשְׁלוֹם הָעָם וְלִשְׁלוֹם הַמִּלְחָמָה:

8 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τῷ Ουρια Κατάβηθι εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ νίψαι τοὺς πόδας σου· καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ουριας ἐξ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ἄρσις τοῦ βασιλέως.

8 And David said to Urias, Go to thy house, and wash thy feet: and Urias departed from the house of the king, and a portion of meat from the king X followed him.

8 And David said to Urias: Go into thy house, and wash thy feet. And Urias went out from the king's house, and there went out after him a mess of meat from the king.

8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and X there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet!” Then Uriah went out from the palace of the king, and a food-basket from the king went out after him.

8 וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד Nלְאוּרִיָּה רֵד לְבֵיתְךָ וּרְחַץ רַגְלֶיךָO וַיֵּצֵא אוּרִיָּה מִבֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ וַתֵּצֵא אַחֲרָיו מַשְׂאַתP הַמֶּלֶךְ:

9 καὶ ἐκοιμήθη Ουριας [παρὰ] τῇ θύρᾳ τοῦ X X βασιλέως μετὰ X τῶν δούλων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ κατέβη εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ.

9 And Urias slept at the door of the X X king with X the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

9 But Urias slept [beforeQ] the gate of the king's house, with the other servants of his lord, and went not down to his own house.

9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

9 But Uriah laid down by the door of the king’s palace with {} the servants of his master, and he did not go down to his house.

9 וַיִּשְׁכַּב אוּרִיָּה פֶּתַח בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵת כָּלR-עַבְדֵי אֲדֹנָיו וְלֹא יָרַד אֶל-בֵּיתוֹ:

10 καὶ ἀνήγγει­λαν τῷ Δαυιδ λέγοντες ὅτι Οὐ κατέβη Ουριας εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ. καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ουριαν Οὐχὶ ἐξ ὁδοῦ σὺ ἔρχῃ; τί ὅτι οὐ κατέβης εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου;

10 And they brought David word, saying, Urias has not gone down to his house. And David said to Urias, Art thou not come from a journey? why hast thou not gone down to thy house?

10 And it was told David by some that said: Urias went not to his house. And David said to Urias: Didst thou not come from [thy] journey? why didst thou not go down to thy house?

10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?

10 So they communicated this to David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house!” Then David said to Uriah, “Is it not from the road that you have come? Why don’t you go down to your home?

10 וַיַּגִּדוּS לְדָוִד לֵאמֹר לֹא-יָרַד אוּרִיָּה אֶל-בֵּיתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל- אוּרִיָּה הֲלוֹא מִדֶּרֶךְ אַתָּה בָא מַדּוּעַ לֹא-יָרַדְתָּ אֶל-בֵּיתֶךָ:

11 καὶ εἶπεν Ουρ­ιας πρὸς Δαυιδ Ἡ κιβωτὸς καὶ Ισραηλ καὶ Ιουδας κατοικ­οῦσιν ἐν σκηναῖς, καὶ ὁ κύριός μου Ιωαβ καὶ οἱ δοῦλοι τοῦ κυρίου μου ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ ἀγροῦ παρεμβάλ­λουσιν· καὶ ἐγὼ εἰσελεύσομαι εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν καὶ κοιμηθῆναι μετὰ τῆς γυναικός μου; πῶςT; X ζῇ ἡ ψυχή σου, εἰ ποιήσω τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.

11 And Urias said to David, The ark, and Israel, and Juda dwell in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; and X shall I go into my house to eat and drink, and lie with my wife? how [should I do this? as] thy soul lives, I will not do this thing.

11 And Urias said to David: The ark [of God] and Israel and Juda dwell in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord abide upon the face of the earth: and X shall I go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to sleep with my wife? [By] thy welfare and [by] the welfare of thy soul I will not do this thing.

11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; X shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

11 And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are residing in bivouacs, and my master Joab and the servants of my master are taking up positions on the ground of the field, and I, shall I go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie down with my wife? [Cursed] be your life and the life of your soul if I do such thing!”

11 וַיֹּאמֶר אוּרִיָּה אֶל-דָּוִד הָאָרוֹןU וְיִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוּדָה יֹשְׁבִים בַּסֻּכּוֹת וַאדֹנִי יוֹאָבV וְעַבְדֵי אֲדֹנִי עַל-פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה חֹנִים וַאֲנִי אָבוֹא אֶל-בֵּיתִי לֶאֱכֹל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת וְלִשְׁכַּב עִם-אִשְׁתִּי חַיֶּךָ וְחֵי נַפְשֶׁךָ Wאִם- אֶעֱשֶׂה אֶת- הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה:

12 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ουριαν Κάθισον ἐνταῦθα καί γε σήμερον, καὶ αὔριον ἐξαπο­στελῶ σε· καὶ ἐκάθισεν Ουριας ἐν Ιερουσαλημ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ τῇ ἐπαύριον.

12 And David said to Urias, Remain X here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee go. So Urias remained in Jerusalem X that day and the day following.

12 Then David said to Urias: Tarry X here to day X, and to morrow I will send thee away. Urias tarried in Jerusalem X that day and the next X.

12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry X here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem X that day, and the morrow.

12 Then David said to Uriah, sit in here today as well, and tomorrow I will send you off.” So Uriah sat in Jerusalem during that day and the next day.

12 וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-אוּרִיָּה שֵׁב בָּזֶה גַּם-הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר אֲשַׁלְּחֶךָּ וַיֵּשֶׁב אוּרִיָּה בִירוּשָׁלִַם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וּמִמָּחֳרָת:

13 καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν Δαυιδ, καὶ ἔφαγεν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔπιεν, καὶ ἐμέθυσεν αὐτόν· καὶ ἐξῆλ­θεν ἑσπέρας τοῦ κοιμηθῆναι ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν δού­λων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ οὐ κατέβη.

13 And David called him, and he ate before him and drank, and he made him drunk: and he went out in the evening to lie upon his bed with the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

13 And David called him X to eat and to drink before him, and he made him drunk: and he went out in the evening, and slept on his couch with the servants of his lord, and went not down into his house.

13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before 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.

13 Meanwhile, David called for him, and he ate before his presence and drank and got him drunk. Then he went out in the evening to lie down at his bed with the servants of his master, and he did not go down to his house.

13 וַיִּקְרָא-לוֹ דָוִד וַיֹּאכַל לְפָנָיו וַיֵּשְׁתְּ וַיְשַׁכְּרֵהוּ וַיֵּצֵא בָעֶרֶב לִשְׁכַּב בְּמִשְׁכָּבוֹ עִם-עַבְדֵי אֲדֹנָיו וְאֶל-בֵּיתוֹ לֹא יָרָד:

14 καὶ ἐγένετο πρωὶ καὶ ἔγρα­ψεν Δαυιδ βιβ­λίον πρὸς Ιωαβ καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐν χειρὶ Ουριου.

14 And X the morning came, and David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Urias.

14 And when the morning was come, X David wrote a letter to Joab: and sent it by the hand of Urias,

14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

14 So it was, in the morning, that David wrote a note to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

14 וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר וַיִּכְתֹּב דָּוִד סֵפֶר אֶל-יוֹאָב וַיִּשְׁלַח בְּיַד אוּרִיָּה:

15 καὶ ἔγραψεν ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ λέγων Εἰσάγαγε τὸν Ουριαν X ἐξ ἐναντίας τοῦ πολέμου τοῦ κραταιοῦ, καὶ ἀποστραφήσεσθε ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πληγήσεται καὶ ἀποθανεῖται.

15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Station Urias in X front of the severe part of the fight, and retreat from behind him, so shall he be wounded and die.

15 X Writing in the letter X: Set ye Urias in X the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave ye X X him, that he may be wound­ed and die.

15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from X him, that he may be smitten, and die.

15 Now he wrote in the note to say, “Y’all render Uriah to the forefront of the of the fiercest battle front, then turn back from being behind him so that he will be struck down and will die.”

15 וַיִּכְתֹּב בַּסֵּפֶר לֵאמֹרX הָבוּY אֶת-אוּרִיָּה אֶל-מוּל פְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה הַחֲזָקָה וְשַׁבְתֶּם מֵאַחֲרָיו וְנִכָּה וָמֵת: ס

16 καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν τῷ φυλάσσειν Ιωαβ ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν καὶ ἔθηκεν τὸν Ουριαν εἰς τὸν τόπον, οὗ ᾔδει ὅτι ἄνδρες δυνάμεως ἐκεῖ.

16 And it came to pass while Joab was watching against the city, that he set Urias in a place where he knew that valiant men were X.

16 Wherefore as Joab was besieging X the city, he put Urias in the place where he knew the bravest men were X.

16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed X the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that vali­ant men were X.

16 So it came about while Joab was laying seige to the city that he promoted Uriah to the place where he knew that men who were veterans would be there.

16 וַיְהִי בִּשְׁמוֹרZ יוֹאָב אֶל-הָעִיר וַיִּתֵּן אֶת-אוּרִיָּה אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יָדַע כִּי אַנְשֵׁי- חַיִלAA שָׁם:

17 καὶ ἐξῆλθον οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἐπολέμουν μετὰ Ιωαβ, καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ ἐκ τῶν δούλων Δαυιδ, καὶ ἀπέθανεν καί γε Ουριας ὁ Χετταῖος.

17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and some of the people of the servants of David fell, and Urias the Chettite died also.

17 And the men coming out of the city, fought against Joab, and there fell some of the people of the servants of David, and Urias the Hethite was killed also.

17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

17 Then the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, and some of the people – some of the servants of David – fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.

17 וַיֵּצְאוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר וַיִּלָּחֲמוּ אֶת-יוֹאָב וַיִּפֹּל מִן-הָעָםAB מֵעַבְדֵי דָוִד וַיָּמָת גַּם אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּיAC:

18 καὶ ἀπέστει­λεν Ιωαβ καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ βασιλεῖ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τοῦ πολέμου

18 And Joab sent, and reported to David all the events of the war[, so as to tell them to the king].

18 Then Joab sent, and told David all X things concerning the battle.

18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;

18 Then Joab sent a commission and communicated to David all the issues of the war,

18 וַיִּשְׁלַח יוֹאָב וַיַּגֵּד לְדָוִד אֶת-כָּל-דִּבְרֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה:

19 καὶ ἐνετείλ­ατο τῷ ἀγγέλῳ λέγων Ἐν τῷ συντελέσαι σε πάντας τοὺς λόγους τοῦ πολέμου λαλῆσαι πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα

19 And he charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast finished reporting all the events of the war to the king,

19 And he charged the messenger, saying: When thou hast X told all the words of the battle to the king,

19 And charg­ed the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling X the matters of the war unto the king,

19 and he commanded the messenger, saying, “When you are finished with telling all the issues of the war to the king,

19 וַיְצַו אֶת-הַמַּלְאָךְ לֵאמֹר כְּכַלּוֹתְךָ אֵת כָּל-דִּבְרֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה לְדַבֵּר אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ:

20 καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν ἀναβῇ ὁ θυμὸς τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ εἴπῃ σοι Τί ὅτι ἠγγίσατε πρὸς τὴν πόλιν πολεμῆσαι; οὐκ ᾔδειτε ὅτι τοξεύσουσιν ἀπάνωθεν τοῦ τείχους;

20 then it shall come to pass if the anger of the king shall arise, and he shall say to thee, Why did ye draw nigh to the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from off the wall?

20 X If thou see him to be angry, and he shall say X X: Why did you approach [so near] to the wall to fight? knew you not that [many darts] are thrown from above [off] the wall?

20 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye [so nigh] unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

20 then, if the fury of the king happens to rise and he says to you, ‘Why did you let yourselves get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t y’all know that they might shoot from over the wall?!

20 וְהָיָה אִם- תַּעֲלֶה חֲמַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאָמַר לְךָ מַדּוּעַ נִגַּשְׁתֶּם אֶל-הָעִיר לְהִלָּחֵם הֲלוֹא יְדַעְתֶּם אֵת אֲשֶׁר-יֹרוּ מֵעַל הַחוֹמָה:

21 τίς ἐπάταξεν τὸν Αβιμελεχ υἱὸν Ιεροβααλ; οὐχὶ γυνὴ ἔρριψεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν κλάσμα μύλου ἐπάνωθεν τοῦ τείχους καὶ ἀπέθανεν ἐν Θαμασι; ἵνα τί προσηγάγετε πρὸς τὸ τεῖχος; καὶ ἐρεῖς Καί γε Ουριας ὁ δοῦλός σου ὁ Χετταῖος ἀπέθανεν.

21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerobaal [son of NerAD]? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from above the wall, and he died in Thamasi? why did ye draw near to the wall? then thou shalt say, Thy servant Urias the Chettite is also dead.

21 Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerobaal? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall and slew him in Thebes? Why did you go near the wall? X Thou shalt say: Thy servant Urias the Hethite is also slain.

21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerub­besheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

21 Who struck down Abi­melek, son of Jerubbesheth? Wasn’t it a woman who launched an upper millstone onto him from over the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you let yourselves get so close to the wall?!’ Then you shall say, ‘Also your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”

21 מִי-הִכָּה אֶת-אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן-יְרֻבֶּשֶׁת הֲלוֹא-אִשָּׁה הִשְׁלִיכָה עָלָיו פֶּלַח רֶכֶב מֵעַל הַחוֹמָה וַיָּמָת בְּתֵבֵץ לָמָּה נִגַּשְׁתֶּם אֶל-הַחוֹמָה וְאָמַרְתָּ גַּם עַבְדְּךָ אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּי מֵת:

22 καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὁ ἄγγελος [Ιωαβ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα εἰς Ιερουσα­λημ] καὶ παρεγένετο καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ Δαυιδ πάντα, ὅσα ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ Ιωαβ[, πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ πολέμου. καὶ ἐθυμώθη Δαυιδ πρὸς Ιωαβ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον Ἵνα τί προσηγάγετε πρὸς τὴν πόλιν τοῦ πολεμῆσαι; οὐκ ᾔδειτε ὅτι πληγή­σεσθε ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους; τίς ἐπάταξεν τὸν Αβι­μελεχ υἱὸν Ιεροβααλ; οὐχὶ γυνὴ ἔρριψεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν κλάσμα μύλου ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους καὶ ἀπέθανεν ἐν Θαμασι; ἵνα τί προσηγάγετε πρὸς τὸ τεῖχος;]

22 And the messenger [of Joab] went [to the king to Jerusa­lem], and he came and reported to David all that Joab told him[, all the affairs of the war. And David was very angry with Joab, and said to the messenger, Why did ye draw nigh to the wall to fight? knew ye not that ye would be wounded from off the wall? Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerobaal? did not a woman cast upon him a piece of millstone from the wall, and he died in Tham­asi? why did ye draw near to the wall?]

22 So the messenger departed, and came and told David all that Joab had commanded him.

22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.

22 So the messenger went, and when he arrived, he communicated to David all that Joab had sent him for.

22 וַיֵּלֶךְ הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיָּבֹא וַיַּגֵּד לְדָוִד אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר AEשְׁלָחוֹ יוֹאָב:

23 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος πρὸς Δαυιδ Ὅτι ἐκραταίωσαν ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς οἱ ἄνδρες καὶ ἐξῆλθαν ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς εἰς τὸν ἀγρόν, καὶ ἐγενήθημεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἕως τῆς θύρας τῆς πύλης,

23 And the messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and they came out against us into the field, and we came upon them even to the door of the gate.

23 And the messenger said to David: The men prevailed against us, and they came out to us into the field: and we vigorously [charged and] pursued them even to the gate of the city.

23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.

23 And the messenger said to David, “The men were strong­er than us when they came out against us on the field, then we foughtAF against them back to the opening of the gate.

23 וַיֹּאמֶר הַמַּלְאָךְ אֶל-דָּוִד AGכִּי-גָבְרוּ עָלֵינוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיֵּצְאוּ אֵלֵינוּ הַשָּׂדֶה וַנִּהְיֶה עֲלֵיהֶם עַד-פֶּתַח הַשָּׁעַר:

24 καὶ ἐτόξευσαν οἱ τοξεύοντες πρὸς τοὺς παῖδάς σου ἀπάνωθεν τοῦ τείχους, καὶ ἀπέθαναν τῶν παίδων τοῦ βασιλέως, καί γε ὁ δοῦλός σου Ουριας ὁ Χετ­ταῖος ἀπέθανεν.

24 And the archers shot at thy servants from off the wall, and someAH of the king's servants died, and thy servant Urias the Chettite is dead also.

24 And the archers shot [their arrows] at thy servants from off the wall [above]: and some of the king's servants are slain, and thy servant Urias the Hethite is also dead.

24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

24 But their archers shot from over the wall at your servants, and some of the servants of the king died. And also your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”

24 וַיֹּרְאוּAI הַמּוֹרְאִים אֶל- עֲבָדֶךָ מֵעַל הַחוֹמָה וַיָּמוּתוּ מֵעַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְגַם עַבְדְּךָ אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּי מֵת: ס

25 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον Τάδε ἐρεῖς πρὸς Ιωαβ Μὴ πονηρὸν ἔστω ἐν ὀφθαλ­μοῖς σου τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, ὅτι ποτὲ μὲν οὕτως καὶ ποτὲ οὕτως φάγ­εται ἡ μάχαιρα· κραταίωσον τὸν πόλεμόν σου πρὸς τὴν πόλιν καὶ κατάσπασον αὐτὴν καὶ κραταί­ωσον αὐτόν.

25 And David said to the messenger, Thus shalt thou say to Joab, Let not the matter be grievous in thine eyes, for the sword devours one way [at one time] and another way [at another]: strengthen thine array against the city, and destroy it, and strengthen him.

25 And David said to the messenger: Thus shalt thou say to Joab: Let not this thing discourage X thee X: for [various is the event of war: and] sometimes one, sometimes another [is] consumed by the sword: encourage thy warriors against the city, and exhort them that thou mayest overthrow it.

25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease X X thee, for the sword devoureth X one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

25 Then David said to the messenger, “Tell this to Joab: ‘Do not let this be a bad thing in your eyes, for the sword devours this way as well as that way. Strengthen your assault against the city and demolish it.’ And so strengthen him.”

25 וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-הַמַּלְאָךְ כֹּה- תֹאמַר אֶל-יוֹאָב אַל-יֵרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה כִּי-כָזֹה וְכָזֶה תֹּאכַל הֶחָרֶב הַחֲזֵק מִלְחַמְתְּךָ אֶל-הָעִיר וְהָרְסָהּ וְחַזְּקֵהוּ:

26 καὶ ἤκουσεν ἡ γυνὴ Ουριου ὅτι ἀπέθανεν Ουριας ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐκόψατο τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς.

26 And the wife of Urias heard that Urias her husband was dead, and she mourned for her husband.

26 And the wife of Urias heard that Urias her husband was dead, and she mourned for X him.

26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

26 Presently, the wife of Uriah heard that her man Uriah was dead, and she mourned over her husband.

26 וַתִּשְׁמַע אֵשֶׁת אוּרִיָּה כִּי-מֵת אוּרִיָּה AJאִישָׁהּ וַתִּסְפֹּד עַל-בַּעְלָהּ:

27 καὶ διῆλθεν τὸ πένθος, καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ καὶ συνήγαγεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα καὶ ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ υἱόν. Καὶ πονηρὸν ἐφάνη τὸ ῥῆμα, ὃ ἐποίησεν Δαυιδ, ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου.

27 And the time of mourning expired, and David sent and took her into his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son: but the thing which David did was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

27 And the mourning being over, X David sent and brought her into his house, and she became his wife, and she bore him a son: and this thing which David had done, was displeasing to the X X Lord.

27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased X X the LORD.

27 Then, when the mourning-period had passed, David sent a commission and gathered her into his household, and she became a wife of his, and she gave birth to his son. But, in the eyes of Yahweh, it was an evil thing that David had done.

27 וַיַּעֲבֹר הָאֵבֶל וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד וַיַּאַסְפָהּ אֶל-בֵּיתוֹ וַתְּהִי-לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַתֵּלֶד לוֹ בֵּן וַיֵּרַעAK הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה דָוִד בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה: פ


1Genesis 18:4, 19:2, 24:32, 43:24, Luke 7:44, John 13:5

2Jameison Faucett & Brown and Keil & Delitzsch also expressed the opinion that Uriah’s suspicions were aroused. Tsumura, on the other hand, claimed Uraiah was merely staying ritually pure for battle based on 1 Sam 21:5.

31 Chron 20:1 states that Joab did just that: he went on to “demolish/tear down/overthrow” Rabbah.”

4(Gen. 50:10, 1 Sam 31:13), but in special cases was drawn out to a month (Deut. 34:8, 2 Samuel 14:2)

5I put one of the two instances of “strongest” under the “strong” category and the other instance of “strongest” in the “outstanding” category since “strongest” carries both meanings.

AMy original chart includes the NASB and NIV, but their copyright restrictions have forced me to remove them from the publicly-available edition of this chart. I have included the ESV in footnotes when it employs a word not already used by the KJV, NASB, or NIV. (NAW is my translation.) When a translation adds words not in the Hebrew text, but does not indicate it has done so by the use of italics (or greyed-out text), I put the added words in [square brackets]. When one version chooses a wording which is different from all the other translations, I underline it. When a version chooses a translation which, in my opinion, either departs too far from the root meaning of the Hebrew word or departs too far from the grammar form of the original text, I use strikeout. And when a version omits a word which is in the original text, I insert an X. (I also place an X at the end of a word if the original word is plural but the English translation is singular.) I occasionally use colors to help the reader see correlations between the various editions and versions when there are more than two different translations of a given word. The only known Dead Sea Scroll containing 2 Samuel 11 is 4Q51Samuela, which contains fragments of vs. 2-20, and which has been dated between 50-25 B.C. Where the DSS is legible and in agreement with the MT, the MT is colored purple. Where the DSS supports the LXX (or Vulgate) with omissions or text not in the MT, I have highlighted with yellow the LXX and its translation into English, and where I have accepted that into my NAW translation, I have marked it with {pointed brackets}.

B1 Chronicles 20:1 parallels this verse, skipping the beginning, “At the time that kings go campaigning, Joab instead led the force of the army away, and laid waste to the land of the descendents of Ammon, then went and laid seige to Rabbah. Meanwhile David sat in Jerusalem, while Joab attacked Rabbah and did demolition on it.” (NAW, different wording in orange and inserted words in grey). It then skips over the story of Bathsheba and Uriah and continues in verse 2 with the same text that is at the end of 2 Sam. 12. (1 Chron 20:2 Then David took the crown of their king from his head, and he found it to be 75 pounds of gold with a precious stone in it, and it came to be upon the head of David. He also brought out a vast abundance of plunder from the city. NAW)

CThe extra aleph towards the end of this word reads like the Hebrew word for “messengers” instead of “kings.” Several Hebrew manuscripts (including the Cairo Geniza) support this, but none of the ancient versions do (Greek, Latin, Aramaic), nor does the parallel account in 1 Chronicles 20, all of which read “kings” (except for the Syriac which reads singular “king”). Notice that the vowel in that place in the word, in the MT of 1 Chronicles 20, is a long a-class vowel pointing, whereas in the MT of 2 Samuel 11, it is the matrice lexionis letter for the a-class vowel, so I don’t think this should be considered an actual variant.

DThe Vulgate (which see) and Syriac (‎חדא סשׁיא כד סחיא) vary from the MT, and the DSS had space for a few extra words in illegible parts of this verse, but the LXX supports the MT.

EDSS runs the two parts of her name together without a maqif/hyphen.

FDSS adds bawy ylk a?wn (“Joab’s armor-bearer”)

GThis Hitpael participle only ocurs one other time in the Hebrew O.T., referencing ceremonial rites conducted before a pagan garden orgy in Isa. 30:29. There are about 25 other instances of this verb in the Hitpael stem, and almost all of them refer to Israelites preparing themselves to be in the special presence of God (the Pentateuch instances being Exod. 19:22; Lev. 11:44; 20:7; Num. 11:18), washing themselves and staying away from anything that would make them unclean in order that fault would not be found in them when they had their interaction with God.

HDSS omits “from her uncleanness” and appears to read “went to her home” instead of “returned to her home.” The Syriac, Targums, Septuagint, and Vulgate all support the MT. These variants don’t change the meaning of the story, though.

ILXX (which implies an original reading of hrh htyh ykwna) and DSS hrh ykwna hnh and Syriac (לה דבטנא אנא) (“Behold I [am] pregnant”) all suggest that a word was dropped out of the MT, in all three cases, emphasizing the “I,” perhaps shading the meaning with a request to consider her best interests rather than merely informing him of the pregnancy.

Jdicens

KAlthough this part of the verse is illegible in the DSS, there is space for an extra 4-letter word, and that word ends with a letter not in the part of the verse in the MT. It is the letter resh, which is the last letter of the Hebrew word for “and he said,” which matches the extra word here in the LXX and Vulgate and makes for a smoother reading. The Syriac also has an extra phrase, but it is a repetition of “send” (ושׁלח) rather than “and he said.” DSS also adds a directional he suffix on to the next word, but this doesn’t change the meaning.

LAlthough the last word in the DSS is illegible, the word spacing would indicate a prepositional object with only one letter, such as “him” instead of the 3-letter word “David,” but this wouldn’t change the meaning at all.

MThe Latin and Syriac versions read “to David” instead of “to Him,” and this is supported by a few Hebrew manuscripts as well, but the DSS and LXX support the MT, and it doesn’t make a difference in the meaning.

NDSS uses the fuller form of this preposition אל, but there’s no difference in meaning.

OThe DSS is illegible at this point in the verse, but there is space for up to 15 extra letters and spaces between “David said to Uriah” and “Uriah went out from.” The ancient versions do not have any extra text, though.

PAbarbinel claimed it was “bread, wine, and flesh,” and he and Ben Gersom suggested that the word could also include “a torch to light him home to his house that night.” (Gill)

Qante

RMost ancient manuscripts read differently from “house with all” – Syriac (‎על גנב כולהון), Septuagint omits “house of” and “all” (although the Lucian rescription corrects to the MT), and Vulgate changes “all” to “other” (aliis). DSS is illegible, but the spacing between the legible sections suggests two letters and a space less than the MT, agreeing with the LXX omission of “all” (which is a 2-letter word in Hebrew).

SIt appears that the DSS omits the final sureq in this word, making the subject singular instead of plural (which may be why the NIV rendered it passive singular instead of the MT’s plural active), but no other ancient manuscript or version seems to support the DSS in this.

TLXX reads as though the Hebrew were א’ך instead of ח’ך.

UTsumura noted the irony that David had said a similar thing in 2 Sam. 7:1-2 that he felt guilty for residing in a house when the ark was in a tent (Cf. Psalm 132:3-5).

VIn the DSS, the text between “the ark” and “Joab my master” is illegible, but there is space for about 10 more characters and spaces than the MT has, but no other manuscript has extra words here. Joab was Uriah’s immediate commanding officer and thus “lord” and David was Joab’s authority, thus also his “lord.” David takes no offense at this title for Joab. (Gill)

WThis is not technically a negative; it is actually an oath/curse formula, akin to “over my dead body,” although the curse is taken out on David, “May you die if I do this.” This puts David in an awkward position; if the curse is legitimate, then if he forces Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba before the war is over, then he opens himself up to being struck dead by God.

XSyriac reads “my servant” instead of the MT “in a note saying”

YThis verb means “give/render.” Greek translates it “lead in,” Latin ponite, Syriac לה (“cause to go”? - notably this is singular instead of the plural imperative in the MT and LXX). Of the 33 instances in the OT, this is the only time that the NASB or the KJV translated this word with the meaning of “place/set.” (There are a couple of other Hebrew verbs which are more centered around the meaning of “place/put/set” than this verb.) The NASB translated it “come” 4x, “give” 15x, “ascribe” 10x, “Here” 1x, “choose” 1x, “provide” 1x. KJV: “go to” 4x, “come on” 1x, “give” 24x, “take” 1x, “bring” 2x, and “ascribe” 1x. Note that he synonym in v.16 is NTN, the more common Hebrew word for “gave.”

ZDSS omits the letter mem in the middle of this word, changing “during the keeping” to “during the striving,” which doesn’t effectively change the story.

AASee appendix on translating anoshey chiyl

ABSince “the people” is not in construct state, and the cantillation separates the phrases “from the people” and “from the servants of David,” it should not be interpreted as one long construct chain (e.g. “some of the people of the servants of David”) but rather as two synonymous phrases, the one specifying the other. A stronger set of disjunctive accents than the ones which set off these two phrases separates these two phrases from the end of the verse, so “some” is the subject of “fell” and “Uriah” is the subject of “died.”

ACThere is extra space in the DSS manuscript between the end of this verse and the beginning of the next. Perhaps this indicated a paragraph break that is not reflected in the MT.

AD“son of Ner” is only found in the Vaticanus, not in any other manuscript.

AEThe fact that the Septuagint (ἀπήγγειλεν = proclaimed), Syriac (דפקדה = held accountable), and Vulgate (praeceperat = commanded) all have a different verb from the MT makes me wonder what the original was. No DSS manuscript of this verse has been found to date.

AFLiterally “were” probably by ellipsis to be supplied with a repetition of “were stronger than” from earlier in the verse.

AGThe presence of this word “because” here seems to support the extra words in the LXX, indicating that the messenger was answering the question from David, “Why did you get so close to the wall?”

AHTsumura quotes McCarter as finding the number 18 in the LXX text, but I don’t see it there.

AIThe Qere of the MT suggests the alternate spelling וַיֹּרוּ הַמּוֹרִים, removing the alephs in the first two words to avoid confusion with the verb “they saw” [ירא], but this is just a vowel change, not a different meaning. K&D noted that the forms with alephs are Aramaic. Tsumura called it “historic” and said that there Qere was a “phonetic spelling” resulting from a “sandhi” loss of vowels. Could it be that Jerome saw this Qere note (which usually only suggests one word change) and mistook the second word for Kethib text, thus adding sagittarii (followed by the NIV’s “arrows”)?

AJTargums and Syriac render this word as well as the last word in the verse as ‎ בעלה, but the LXX and Vulgate use two different words like the MT does. The first literally translates “man” and the second literally translates “overlord,” but both can fairly be translated “husband.”

AK“The Hebrewes, to excuse Dauids sinne, haue deuised, that it was the vse, that they which went to battell gaue their wiues a bill of separation to marrie where they would. But this is their fiction: for if there had beene any such vse, to make it lawfull to marie such women so separated by bill of diuorce, what needed Dauid so to haue practised against Vriah? and why did the Prophet afterward reprooue him? But if they say such a bill was but to take place after the husbands death, then was it superfluous, for by death, without any such bill, the marriage was fully dissolued.” ~Andrew Willett

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