1. At the turn of the year, the time when kings go to war, David sent out Joab along with his officers and all Israel, and they laid waste the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David himself remained in Jerusalem.
2. One evening David rose from his bed and strolled about on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof he saw a woman bathing; she was very beautiful.
3. David sent people to inquire about the woman and was told, “She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of Uriah the Hittite, Joab’s armor-bearer.”
4. Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he took her to bed, at a time when she was just purified after her period; and she returned to her house.
5. But the woman had become pregnant; she sent a message to inform David, “I am pregnant.”
6. So David sent a message to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” Joab sent Uriah to David.
7. And when he came, David asked him how Joab was, how the army was, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well.