INTRODUCTION: In this chapter, one of the great men of God in the Bible falls deeply into sin. How could David do such a thing? We all wonder. But, the truth of the matter is, we could all do such a thing. Let us learn from David so that we will not do as he did.

1. THE SIN OF ADULTERY (2 Samuel 11:1-5 [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. [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. [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? [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. [5] And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
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1. The Occasion (2 Samuel 11:1-2 [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. [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.
   See All...)
1. A time of war (2 Samuel 11:1And 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.
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1. A time when kings go to battle
2. David sent Joab to battle.
1. With all Israel
2. To fight the Ammonites
3. To besiege Rabbah
3. David tarried at Jerusalem.
4. NOTE: We see the beginning of this trend in the previous chapter (2 Samuel 10:7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
   See All...). David’s first error was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
2. In the evening (2 Samuel 11:2And 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.
   See All...)
1. A time of darkness (John 3:19-20 [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
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2. A time when others sleep (Proverbs 4:16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
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3. In a place out of sight
1. In the dark (Isaiah 29:15Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
   See All...; Ezekiel 8:12Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
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2. On the rooftop (see Joshua 2:6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
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3. The temptation (2 Samuel 11:2And 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.
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1. He saw.
1. A woman
2. Washing herself
2. He looked.
1. He looked upon her.
2. He admired her beauty.
3. He lusted after her (Matthew 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
   See All...).
2. The Sin Committed (2 Samuel 11:3-4 [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? [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.
   See All...)
1. He was in the wrong place (2 Samuel 11:1And 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.
   See All...).
2. He allowed himself to lust (2 Samuel 11:2And 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.
   See All...; James 1:14-15 [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
   See All...).
3. He investigated the matter (2 Samuel 11:3And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
   See All...).
1. He sent and inquired.
2. He ignored the fact of her marriage – sin blinds.
4. He sent for her (2 Samuel 11:4And 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.
   See All...).
5. He committed adultery (2 Samuel 11:4And 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.
   See All...).
6. He sent her home (2 Samuel 11:4And 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.
   See All...); he evidently felt that the sin could be committed, put aside and forgotten. This is the same mistake that many others have made over the centuries.
3. The Sin Discovered (2 Samuel 11:5And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
   See All...)
1. Bathsheba sent unto David.
2. Bathsheba was with child (see Numbers 32:23But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
   See All...).
2. THE ATTEMPT TO COVER THE SIN (2 Samuel 11:6-13 [6] And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. [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. [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 there followed him a mess of meat from the king. [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. [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? [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; 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. [12] And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. [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.
   See All...)
1. David Sent for Uriah (2 Samuel 11:6-7 [6] And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. [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.
   See All...).
1. David had Joab send Uriah to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 11:6And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
   See All...).
2. David questioned Uriah about the war (2 Samuel 11:7And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
   See All...).
2. David Sought to Get Uriah to Go Home (2 Samuel 11:8And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
   See All...).
1. David gave leave to Uriah (2 Samuel 11:8And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
   See All...).
1. To go to his house
2. To wash his feet
3. In other words, to relax and spend the night with his wife
2. David sent a present of meat with Uriah (2 Samuel 11:8And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
   See All...).
3. Uriah Refused to Go Home (2 Samuel 11:9-11 [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. [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? [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; 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.
   See All...).
1. Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with the servants (2 Samuel 11:9But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
   See All...). NOTE: David had a problem that lay at his door (see Genesis 4:7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
   See All...).
2. David asked Uriah why he did not go home (2 Samuel 11:10And 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?
   See All...).
3. Uriah replied (2 Samuel 11:11And 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; 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.
   See All...).
1. The ark and armies of Israel abode in tents.
2. Joab his lord was encamped in open fields.
3. This was not a time to enjoy the pleasures of home.
4. He absolutely refused to do such a thing.
5. NOTE: What a reproof to David who is obviously enjoying the comforts of home in a time of war! David’s trap will work only if he is not working with a man of high convictions. Uriah is the wrong man.
4. David Made One More Attempt (2 Samuel 11:12-13 [12] And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. [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.
   See All...).
1. He asked Uriah to wait in Jerusalem two more days (2 Samuel 11:12And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
   See All...).
2. He got Uriah drunk (2 Samuel 11:13And 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.
   See All...).
3. Uriah still slept with David’s servants (2 Samuel 11:13And 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.
   See All...).
3. THE SIN OF MURDER (2 Samuel 11:14-17 [14] And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. [15] And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. [16] And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. [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.
   See All...)
1. David Sent a Letter to Joab (2 Samuel 11:14-15 [14] And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. [15] And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
   See All...).
1. He sent the letter by Uriah (2 Samuel 11:14And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
   See All...).
2. The letter instructed Joab (2 Samuel 11:15And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
   See All...).
1. To set Uriah in the heat of the battle
2. To back away from him at that time
3. To leave Uriah to be killed
2. Joab Fulfilled David’s Orders (2 Samuel 11:16-17 [16] And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. [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.
   See All...).
1. He assigned Uriah to fight the valiant men of the city (2 Samuel 11:16And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
   See All...).
2. Uriah died in the battle (2 Samuel 11:17And 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.
   See All...).
4. THE COVER-UP IS COMPLETE (2 Samuel 11:18-27 [18] Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; [19] And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, [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? [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. [22] So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for. [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. [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. [25] Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. [26] And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. [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 the LORD.
   See All...)
1. Joab Sent a Messenger to David (2 Samuel 11:18-21 [18] Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; [19] And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, [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? [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.
   See All...).
1. He was to tell of the matters of the war (2 Samuel 11:18-19 [18] Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; [19] And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
   See All...).
2. He was told to expect the king’s wrath (2 Samuel 11:20-21 [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? [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.
   See All...).
3. He was to announce the death of Uriah (2 Samuel 11:21Who 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.
   See All...).
2. David Received the Messenger (2 Samuel 11:22-25 [22] So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for. [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. [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. [25] Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
   See All...).
1. The messenger gave his report (2 Samuel 11:22-24 [22] So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for. [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. [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.
   See All...).
2. David sent word back to Joab (2 Samuel 11:25Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
   See All...).
1. Do not be displeased.
2. The sword devours one as well as another.
3. Make the battle strong and overthrow the city.
4. Be encouraged.
3. NOTE: When read in comparison with David’s fullness of heart in his many Psalms, this cynicism and hardness of heart is difficult to understand. But it shows how much sin can change a man. This should be a warning to us all.
3. David Took Bathsheba as His Wife (2 Samuel 11:26-27 [26] And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. [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 the LORD.
   See All...).
1. Bathsheba mourned for her husband (2 Samuel 11:26And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
   See All...).
2. David sent to take her as his wife (2 Samuel 11:27And 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 the LORD.
   See All...).
3. David displeased the Lord (2 Samuel 11:27And 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 the LORD.
   See All...).

CONCLUSION: It looks as if David has gotten away with murder and adultery. But God is not through with him. Be sure your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
See All...).