2 Samuel 11 1

2 Samuel 11:1 kjv

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 Samuel 11:1 nkjv

It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 niv

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 esv

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 nlt

In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11 verses

2 Samuel 11 1 Meaning

This verse sets the scene for one of the most pivotal and tragic events in King David's life. It details that at the traditional time when kings led their armies to war, David chose to delegate this duty to Joab and his forces, remaining in Jerusalem. This decision, seemingly minor, directly led to the circumstances surrounding David's grave sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, marking a critical turning point from his past military successes to a period of moral failure and its devastating consequences for his family and kingdom.

2 Samuel 11 1 Context

This verse opens the darkest chapter in David's life, a turning point from his remarkable victories and accomplishments documented in previous chapters (2 Sam 8, 10) to a narrative of moral failure and its severe, long-lasting consequences for his household and the nation. Historically and culturally, "the turn of the year" refers to the spring season (March/April), the traditional time when ancient Near Eastern kings initiated military campaigns after the winter rains made travel difficult. It was an expected duty for a king to personally lead his army. By remaining in Jerusalem while his forces, under Joab, went to battle against the Ammonites, David abandoned a crucial aspect of his royal responsibility, creating a vacuum that facilitated his subsequent sins with Bathsheba and Uriah. This action stands in stark contrast to his earlier courageous leadership and prefigures the decline of his golden era, setting the stage for divine judgment and family strife.

2 Samuel 11 1 Word analysis

• At the turn of the year (לִתְשׁוּבַת הַשָּׁנָה - li-th'shu-vath ha-sha-nah): Literally "at the return of the year." This phrase indicates a specific and recurring season, typically spring, when weather conditions became favorable for military operations. It was an established custom for armies to begin campaigns then. The phrase highlights that this was a known and anticipated period of activity.
• at the time when kings go out to battle (לְעֵת צֵאת הַמְּלָכִים - le-eht tzeyt ha-me-la-kheem): This clause emphasizes the customary role of kings. The plural "kings" underscores that it was a common and expected practice for rulers across the region to lead their armies in person. This establishes the norm that David intentionally deviates from, signaling his dereliction of duty.
• David sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד - wa-yish-lach Da-vid): The Hebrew verb shalach (שָׁלַח) means "to send" or "to dispatch." This is the pivotal action described. Instead of personally going forth ("go out" in the preceding phrase), David sends someone else. This act of delegation is presented as a significant departure from kingly responsibility.
• Joab (יוֹאָב - Yo'av): David's loyal, but often ruthless, military commander. Joab consistently executed David's commands, even questionable ones. His presence signifies a competent military operation already underway.
• and his servants with him, and all Israel (וְאֶת־עֲבָדָיו אִתּוֹ וְאֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל): This indicates a comprehensive military mobilization. It was not just Joab, but his personal retinue, and the entire armed forces of Israel, emphasizing the scale of the campaign and, by extension, the significance of David's absence.
• And they devastated the Ammonites (וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ אֶת־בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן - wa-yash-khee-too et b'ney Am-mon): The verb shachat (שָׁחַת) implies destruction or spoiling, denoting a military action to utterly defeat the enemy, including laying waste to their land and resources. The success of the army under Joab highlights David's physical dispensability on the field, though not his moral culpability for remaining.
• and besieged Rabbah (וַיָּצֻרוּ עַל־רַבָּה - wa-ya-tzu-roo al Rab-bah): Rabbah was the capital city of the Ammonites, indicating a major strategic objective. Siege warfare was prolonged and grueling.
• But David remained at Jerusalem (וְדָוִד יָשַׁב בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם - we-Da-vid ya-shav bi-Y'roo-sha-la-yim): The conjunction "but" (we), contrasting David's action with the actions of his army and the custom of kings, emphasizes David's distinct choice. The verb yashav (יָשַׁב) means "to sit," "to dwell," "to remain." It depicts David as settled and inactive in the safety and comfort of his capital city, rather than being on the field of battle where he should have been leading his troops. This state of ease and inaction directly precipitates the temptations that follow.

2 Samuel 11 1 Bonus section

• The placement of this verse, immediately following a triumphant account of David's victories in chapter 10, enhances its dramatic and tragic effect. It serves as a stark warning against complacency and pride that can follow success.
• From a theological perspective, David's action here foreshadows the prophetic indictment he receives from Nathan in chapter 12, highlighting the principle that leadership demands not just delegated authority but personal accountability and presence, especially during critical times.
• The "time when kings go out to battle" serves as a fixed calendar marker, implying a regular, annual expectation. David's choice not only violates his personal duty but goes against a broad, understood custom, underscoring his isolated decision.
• David's failure to go out can also be seen as a microcosm of human weakness: when not actively engaged in their rightful endeavors, individuals often fall prey to temptation.

2 Samuel 11 1 Commentary

2 Samuel 11:1 marks a sharp literary and theological turn in David's story, setting the stage for his catastrophic moral failure. By choosing to stay in Jerusalem when all kings, including himself historically, went to war, David neglected his royal and divinely appointed duty. This deliberate abandonment of responsibility created a spiritual and physical vulnerability that became an open door to temptation. His absence from the battlefield, where discipline and leadership were demanded, allowed for idleness in the comfort of his palace, leading directly to the illicit affair with Bathsheba and the subsequent cover-up involving Uriah's death. The verse subtly underscores that even the most godly and successful individuals are susceptible to sin when they deviate from their calling and responsibilities, demonstrating that inaction can be as detrimental as direct disobedience.