📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 11 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, RTafter 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 Samuel 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David Rarose 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 Samuel 11:3 And David Rsent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this TBathsheba, the daughter of TEliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
2 Samuel 11:4 And David Rsent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; Tfor she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
2 Samuel 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, RI am with child.
2 Samuel 11:6 And David sent to Joab, saying, RSend me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
2 Samuel 11:7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him RThow Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
2 Samuel 11:8 And David said to Uriah, RGo down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there Tfollowed him a mess of meat from the king.
2 Samuel 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.
2 Samuel 11:10 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?
2 Samuel 11:11 And Uriah said unto David, RThe 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.
2 Samuel 11:12 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.
2 Samuel 11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he Rmade 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.
2 Samuel 11:14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David Rwrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
2 Samuel 11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, RSet ye Uriah in the forefront of the Thottest battle, and retire ye Tfrom him, that he may be smitten, and die.
2 Samuel 11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that Rhe assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
2 Samuel 11:17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and Rthere fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
2 Samuel 11:18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
2 Samuel 11:19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
2 Samuel 11:20 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?
2 Samuel 11:21 Who smote RAbimelech the son of TJerubbesheth? 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.
2 Samuel 11:22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
2 Samuel 11:23 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.
2 Samuel 11:24 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.
2 Samuel 11:25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing Tdisplease thee, Rfor the sword devoureth Tone as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
2 Samuel 11:26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, Rshe mourned for her husband.
2 Samuel 11:27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and Rfetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done Tdispleased the LORD.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 11:1–5 — David takes another man’s wife
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
While his army besieges Rabbah, David remains in Jerusalem. He sees Bathsheba, learns that she is Uriah’s wife, sends for her, and lies with her. She becomes pregnant. The account centers David’s decisions and royal power; it provides no basis for blaming Bathsheba for his wrongdoing or presenting this as a harmless romance.
Key Truth: Position and desire never excuse taking what belongs to another.
Check What You Remember
1. Where did David remain? (2 Samuel 11:1)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:1 (KJV).
2. Who was Bathsheba’s husband? (2 Samuel 11:3)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:3 (KJV).
3. What news did Bathsheba send David? (2 Samuel 11:5)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 11:6–13 — Attempts to conceal wrongdoing
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David summons Uriah and tries to send him home. Uriah refuses comforts while the ark and soldiers remain in tents and fields. Even after David makes him drunk, he does not go home. Uriah’s stated loyalty contrasts with the king’s effort to hide what he has done.
Key Truth: Concealment deepens wrongdoing rather than repairing it.
Check What You Remember
1. Whom did David tell Joab to send? (2 Samuel 11:6)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:6 (KJV).
2. Where did Uriah sleep instead of going home? (2 Samuel 11:9)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:9 (KJV).
3. Did Uriah go home after David made him drunk? (2 Samuel 11:13)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 11:14–27 — A deadly order and God’s judgment
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David sends Uriah carrying the letter that orders his exposure to lethal battle. Uriah and other servants die. David treats the news as routine warfare, then takes Bathsheba as his wife after her mourning. The narrator closes with the LORD’s disapproval: apparent concealment has not hidden David’s actions from God.
Key Truth: God sees wrongdoing that human power tries to conceal.
Check What You Remember
1. Who carried David’s letter to Joab? (2 Samuel 11:14)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:14 (KJV).
2. Who died along with other servants in the battle? (2 Samuel 11:17)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:17 (KJV).
3. Whom did David’s actions displease? (2 Samuel 11:27)
Find it in 2 Samuel 11:27 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Numbers 32:23 — This warning speaks of sin being found out.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where do you need to tell the truth instead of managing appearances? Consider how accountability can protect others from harm and interrupt the spread of wrongdoing.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What opening contrast places David apart from the campaign?
2. What knowledge does David receive before sending for Bathsheba?
3. What reason does Uriah give for not enjoying home comforts?
4. How does David’s letter make Uriah’s death deliberate?
5. What final evaluation governs the outward completion of David’s plan?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
Loading your notes…
Chapter Navigation