David and Bathsheba

1  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass) לִתְשׁוּבַ֨ת (at the return) הַשָּׁנָ֜ה (of the year), לְעֵ֣ת׀ (at the time) צֵ֣את (of the going out) הַמַּלְאֿכִ֗ים (of the kings), וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (that sent) דָּוִ֡ד (David) אֶת־ (-) יוֹאָב֩ (Joab) וְאֶת־ (and) עֲבָדָ֨יו (his servants) עִמּ֜וֹ (with him) וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (Israel), וַיַּשְׁחִ֙תוּ֙ (and they destroyed) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) עַמּ֔וֹן (of Ammon) וַיָּצֻ֖רוּ (and lay siege) עַל־ (against) רַבָּ֑ה (Rabbah). וְדָוִ֖ד (And David) יוֹשֵׁ֥ב (remained) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס (at Jerusalem).

2  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) לְעֵ֣ת (at the time) הָעֶ֗רֶב (of the evening), וַיָּ֨קָם (that arose) דָּוִ֜ד (David) מֵעַ֤ל (from) מִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙ (his bed) וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ (and walked) עַל־ (on) גַּ֣ג (the roof) בֵּית־ (of house) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king). וַיַּ֥רְא (And he saw) אִשָּׁ֛ה (a woman) רֹחֶ֖צֶת (bathing) מֵעַ֣ל (from) הַגָּ֑ג (the roof), וְהָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה (and the woman was) טוֹבַ֥ת (beautiful) מַרְאֶ֖ה (of appearance) מְאֹֽד׃ (very). 3  וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (And sent) דָּוִ֔ד (David) וַיִּדְרֹ֖שׁ (and inquired) לָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה (about the woman). וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And one said), הֲלוֹא־ (Is not) זֹאת֙ (this) בַּת־ (Bath-) שֶׁ֣בַע (sheba), בַּת־ (the daughter) אֱלִיעָ֔ם (of Eliam), אֵ֖שֶׁת (the wife) אוּרִיָּ֥ה (of Uriah) הַחִתִּֽי׃ (the Hittite)?

4  וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (And sent) דָּוִ֨ד (David) מַלְאָכִ֜ים (messengers) וַיִּקָּחֶ֗הָ (and took her), וַתָּב֤וֹא (and she came) אֵלָיו֙ (to him), וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב (and he lay) עִמָּ֔הּ (with her) וְהִ֥יא (and she) מִתְקַדֶּ֖שֶׁת (had cleansed herself) מִטֻּמְאָתָ֑הּ (from her uncleanness). וַתָּ֖שָׁב (And she returned) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתָֽהּ׃ (her house). 5  וַתַּ֖הַר (And conceived) הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה (the woman). וַתִּשְׁלַח֙ (And she sent) וַתַּגֵּ֣ד (and told) לְדָוִ֔ד (David) וַתֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), הָרָ֥ה (Pregnant) אָנֹֽכִי׃ (I am).

6  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) דָּוִד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab): שְׁלַ֣ח (Send) אֵלַ֔י (to me) אֶת־ (-) אֽוּרִיָּ֖ה (Uriah) הַחִתִּ֑י (the Hittite). וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (And sent) יוֹאָ֛ב (Joab) אֶת־ (-) אֽוּרִיָּ֖ה (Uriah) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִֽד׃ (David).

7  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And had come) אוּרִיָּ֖ה (Uriah) אֵלָ֑יו (to him) וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל (and asked) דָּוִ֗ד (David) לִשְׁל֤וֹם (of the welfare) יוֹאָב֙ (of Joab) וְלִשְׁל֣וֹם (and of the welfare) הָעָ֔ם (of the people), וְלִשְׁל֖וֹם (and of the welfare) הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (of the war). 8  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דָּוִד֙ (David) לְא֣וּרִיָּ֔ה (to Uriah), רֵ֥ד (Go down) לְבֵיתְךָ֖ (to your house) וּרְחַ֣ץ (and wash) רַגְלֶ֑יךָ (your feet).

וַיֵּצֵ֤א (And departed) אֽוּרִיָּה֙ (Uriah) מִבֵּ֣ית (from the house) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king). וַתֵּצֵ֥א (And went out) אַחֲרָ֖יו (after him) מַשְׂאַ֥ת (a gift) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (from the king). 9  וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב (And slept) אוּרִיָּ֗ה (Uriah) פֶּ֚תַח (at the door) בֵּ֣ית (of the house) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king) אֵ֖ת (with) כָּל־ (all) עַבְדֵ֣י (the servants) אֲדֹנָ֑יו (of his lord), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָרַ֖ד (he did go down) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ (his house).

10  וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ (And they declared) לְדָוִד֙ (to David), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֹֽא־ (Not) יָרַ֥ד (did go down) אוּרִיָּ֖ה (Uriah) אֶל־ (to) בֵּית֑וֹ (his house).

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֜ד (David) אֶל־ (to) אוּרִיָּ֗ה (Uriah), הֲל֤וֹא (Is it not) מִדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (from a journey) אַתָּ֣ה (that you) בָ֔א (have come)? מַדּ֖וּעַ (Why) לֹֽא־ (did not) יָרַ֥דְתָּ (you go down) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃ (your house)?

11  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אוּרִיָּ֜ה (Uriah) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֗ד (David), הָ֠אָרוֹן (The ark) וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל (and Israel) וִֽיהוּדָ֜ה (and Judah) יֹשְׁבִ֣ים (are dwelling) בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת (in tents), וַאדֹנִ֨י (and my lord) יוֹאָ֜ב (Joab) וְעַבְדֵ֤י (and the servants) אֲדֹנִ֨י (of my lord) עַל־ (on) פְּנֵ֤י (the face) הַשָּׂדֶה֙ (of the field) חֹנִ֔ים (are encamped), וַאֲנִ֞י (and I) אָב֧וֹא (shall go) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתִ֛י (my house) לֶאֱכֹ֥ל (to eat) וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת (and drink) וְלִשְׁכַּ֣ב (and to lie) עִם־ (with) אִשְׁתִּ֑י (my wife)? חַיֶּ֙ךָ֙ (As you live), וְחֵ֣י (and as lives) נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ (your soul), אִֽם־ (not) אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה (I will do) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֥ר (thing) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

12  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֜ד (David) אֶל־ (to) אוּרִיָּ֗ה (Uriah), שֵׁ֥ב (Wait) בָּזֶ֛ה (in this place) גַּם־ (also) הַיּ֖וֹם (today), וּמָחָ֣ר (and tomorrow) אֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ (I will let you depart). וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב (And remained) אוּרִיָּ֧ה (Uriah) בִירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (in Jerusalem) בַּיּ֥וֹם (day) הַה֖וּא (that) וּמִֽמָּחֳרָֽת׃ (and the next).

13  וַיִּקְרָא־ (And called) ל֣וֹ (to him) דָוִ֗ד (David), וַיֹּ֧אכַל (and he ate) לְפָנָ֛יו (before his face) וַיֵּ֖שְׁתְּ (and drank), וַֽיְשַׁכְּרֵ֑הוּ (and he made him drunk). וַיֵּצֵ֣א (And he went out) בָעֶ֗רֶב (at the evening) לִשְׁכַּ֤ב (to lie) בְּמִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙ (on his bed) עִם־ (with) עַבְדֵ֣י (the servants) אֲדֹנָ֔יו (of his lord); וְאֶל־ (and to) בֵּית֖וֹ (his house) לֹ֥א (not) יָרָֽד׃ (he did go down).

David Arranges Uriah’s Death

14  וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass) בַבֹּ֔קֶר (in the morning) וַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב (that wrote) דָּוִ֛ד (David) סֵ֖פֶר (a letter) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֑ב (Joab), וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח (and he sent it) בְּיַ֥ד (by the hand) אוּרִיָּֽה׃ (of Uriah). 15  וַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב (And he wrote) בַּסֵּ֖פֶר (in the letter), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הָב֣וּ (Set) אֶת־ (-) אֽוּרִיָּ֗ה (Uriah) אֶל־ (at) מוּל֙ (-) פְּנֵ֤י (the front) הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ (the battle) הַֽחֲזָקָ֔ה (of strongest), וְשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם (and retreat) מֵאַחֲרָ֖יו (from him), וְנִכָּ֥ה (that he may be struck down) וָמֵֽת׃ס (and die).

16  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass), בִּשְׁמ֥וֹר (in watching) יוֹאָ֖ב (Joab) אֶל־ (unto) הָעִ֑יר (the city), וַיִּתֵּן֙ (that he assigned) אֶת־ (-) א֣וּרִיָּ֔ה (Uriah) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּקוֹם֙ (a place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) יָדַ֔ע (he knew) כִּ֥י (that were) אַנְשֵׁי־ (men) חַ֖יִל (valiant) שָֽׁם׃ (there). 17  וַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּ (And came out) אַנְשֵׁ֤י (the men) הָעִיר֙ (of the city) וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ (and fought) אֶת־ (with) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), וַיִּפֹּ֥ל (and fell) מִן־ (some of) הָעָ֖ם (the people) מֵעַבְדֵ֣י (of the servants) דָוִ֑ד (of David). וַיָּ֕מָת (And died) גַּ֖ם (also) אוּרִיָּ֥ה (Uriah) הַחִתִּֽי׃ (the Hittite).

18  וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח (And sent) יוֹאָ֑ב (Joab) וַיַּגֵּ֣ד (and told) לְדָוִ֔ד (David) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) דִּבְרֵ֖י (the matters) הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (of the war). 19  וַיְצַ֥ו (And he commanded) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ (the messenger), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), כְּכַלּוֹתְךָ֗ (When you have finished) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the matters) הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (of the war) לְדַבֵּ֥ר (telling) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king), 20  וְהָיָ֗ה (and it comes to pass that) אִֽם־ (if) תַּעֲלֶה֙ (rises) חֲמַ֣ת (the wrath) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king) וְאָמַ֣ר (and he says) לְךָ֔ (to you), מַדּ֛וּעַ (Why) נִגַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם (did you⁺ approach so near) אֶל־ (to) הָעִ֖יר (the city) לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם (when you fought)? הֲל֣וֹא (Did not) יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם (you⁺ know) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יֹר֖וּ (they would shoot) מֵעַ֥ל (from) הַחוֹמָֽה׃ (the wall)? 21  מִֽי־ (Who) הִכָּ֞ה (struck) אֶת־ (-) אֲבִימֶ֣לֶךְ (Abimelech) בֶּן־ (son) יְרֻבֶּ֗שֶׁת (of Jerubbesheth)? הֲלֽוֹא־ (Was it not) אִשָּׁ֡ה (a woman) הִשְׁלִ֣יכָה (who cast) עָלָיו֩ (on him) פֶּ֨לַח (a piece) רֶ֜כֶב (of a millstone) מֵעַ֤ל (from) הַֽחוֹמָה֙ (the wall), וַיָּ֣מָת (so that he died) בְּתֵבֵ֔ץ (in Thebez)? לָ֥מָּה (Why) נִגַּשְׁתֶּ֖ם (did you⁺ go) אֶל־ (near) הַֽחוֹמָ֑ה (the wall)?

וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ (Then you shall say) גַּ֗ם (Also) עַבְדְּךָ֛ (your servant) אוּרִיָּ֥ה (Uriah) הַחִתִּ֖י (the Hittite) מֵֽת׃ (is dead).

22  וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (And went), הַמַּלְאָ֑ךְ (the messenger) וַיָּבֹא֙ (and came in) וַיַּגֵּ֣ד (and told) לְדָוִ֔ד (David) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שְׁלָח֖וֹ (had sent him) יוֹאָֽב׃ (Joab). 23  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ (the messenger) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David), כִּֽי־ (Indeed) גָבְר֤וּ (prevailed) עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (against us) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men) וַיֵּצְא֥וּ (and they came out) אֵלֵ֖ינוּ (against us) הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה (to the field), וַנִּהְיֶ֥ה (and we were) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (against them) עַד־ (as far as) פֶּ֥תַח (the entrance) הַשָּֽׁעַר׃ (of the gate). 24  וַיֹּרְאוּ (And those shooting) הַמּוֹרְאִים (shot) אֶל־ (at) עֲבָדֶ֙ךָ֙ (your servants) מֵעַ֣ל (from) הַחוֹמָ֔ה (the wall), וַיָּמ֖וּתוּ (and some are dead) מֵעַבְדֵ֣י (of servants) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king), וְגַ֗ם (and also) עַבְדְּךָ֛ (your servant) אוּרִיָּ֥ה (Uriah) הַחִתִּ֖י (the Hittite) מֵֽת׃ס (is dead).

25  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֜ד (David) אֶל־ (to) הַמַּלְאָ֗ךְ (the messenger), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) תֹאמַ֤ר (you shall say) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab), אַל־ (Not) יֵרַ֤ע (do let displease) בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (you) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (thing) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), כִּֽי־ (for) כָזֹ֥ה (as this) וְכָזֶ֖ה (and as this) תֹּאכַ֣ל (devours) הֶחָ֑רֶב (the sword). הַחֲזֵ֨ק (Strengthen) מִלְחַמְתְּךָ֧ (your attack) אֶל־ (against) הָעִ֛יר (the city) וְהָרְסָ֖הּ (and overthrow it), וְחַזְּקֵֽהוּ׃ (and encourage him).

David Marries Bathsheba

26  וַתִּשְׁמַע֙ (And heard) אֵ֣שֶׁת (the wife) אֽוּרִיָּ֔ה (of Uriah) כִּי־ (that) מֵ֖ת (was dead) אוּרִיָּ֣ה (Uriah) אִישָׁ֑הּ (her husband), וַתִּסְפֹּ֖ד (and she mourned) עַל־ (for) בַּעְלָֽהּ׃ (her husband). 27  וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר (And was over) הָאֵ֗בֶל (her mourning), וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (and sent) דָּוִ֜ד (David) וַיַּאַסְפָ֤הּ (and brought her) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתוֹ֙ (his house), וַתְּהִי־ (and she became) ל֣וֹ (his) לְאִשָּׁ֔ה (wife) וַתֵּ֥לֶד (and bore) ל֖וֹ (to him) בֵּ֑ן (a son).

וַיֵּ֧רַע (And was evil) הַדָּבָ֛ר (the thing) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֥ה (had done) דָוִ֖ד (David) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH).