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.
13. Then David called Uriah to come and see him. Uriah ate and drank with David. David got him drunk, but Uriah still did not go home. That evening, Uriah again slept at the palace with the rest of the king’s servants.
14. The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and made Uriah carry the letter.
15. In the letter David wrote: “Put Uriah on the front lines where the fighting is the hardest. Then leave him there alone, and let him be killed in battle.”
16. Joab watched the city and saw where the bravest Ammonites were. He chose Uriah to go to that place.
17. The men of the city came out to fight against Joab. Some of David’s men were killed. Uriah the Hittite was one of them.