1. In the spring, when kings go out to war, David sent Joab, his officers, and all the Israelites out to destroy the Ammonites. Joab’s army surrounded their capital city, Rabbah. David stayed in Jerusalem.
2. One evening he got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his house. From there he saw a woman bathing. She was very beautiful,
3. so David sent for his officers and asked them who she was. An officer answered, “That is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam. She is the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”
4. David sent messengers to go and bring Bathsheba to him. She had just purified herself after her monthly time of bleeding. She went to David, he had sexual relations with her, and then she went back to her house.
5. Later, Bathsheba became pregnant. She sent word to him saying, “I am pregnant.”
6. David sent a message to Joab. “Send Uriah the Hittite to me.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.
7. When Uriah came, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were, and how the war was going.
8. Then David said to Uriah, “Go home and relax.” So Uriah left the king’s palace. The king also sent a gift to Uriah.
9. But Uriah did not go home. He slept outside the door of the king’s palace, as the rest of the king’s servants did.
10. The servants told David, “Uriah did not go home.” Then David said to Uriah, “You came from a long trip. Why did you not go home?”
11. Uriah said to David, “The Holy Box and the soldiers of Israel and Judah are staying in tents. My lord Joab and my lord’s officers are camping out in the field. So it is not right for me to go home to eat and drink and sleep with my wife. As surely as you live, I will not do this.”
12. David said to Uriah, “Stay here today. Tomorrow I will send you back to the battle.” Uriah stayed in Jerusalem until the next morning.