2 Samuel 11 10

2 Samuel 11:10 kjv

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 11:10 nkjv

So when they told David, saying, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?"

2 Samuel 11:10 niv

David was told, "Uriah did not go home." So he asked Uriah, "Haven't you just come from a military campaign? Why didn't you go home?"

2 Samuel 11:10 esv

When they told David, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?"

2 Samuel 11:10 nlt

When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, "What's the matter? Why didn't you go home last night after being away for so long?"

2 Samuel 11 verses

2 Samuel 11 10 Meaning

2 Samuel 11:10 describes David's surprised reaction upon learning that Uriah the Hittite did not return home after being summoned from the battlefield. David, who had arranged for Uriah to come home so that Uriah would cohabit with Bathsheba, thereby legitimizing the illegitimate pregnancy, confronts Uriah, questioning his unusual decision not to spend the night at his own house despite having just completed a journey from the battlefront. This verse underscores Uriah's unwavering dedication and loyalty to the ongoing war and his comrades, even as David attempts to manipulate him into unknowingly covering the king's sin.

2 Samuel 11 10 Context

This verse is a crucial point within the narrative of David's sin with Bathsheba, as recorded in 2 Samuel 11. David had seen Bathsheba bathing, committed adultery with her, and she subsequently became pregnant. To cover his sin and prevent exposure, David recalled Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, from the battle against the Ammonites. The expectation was that Uriah would go home, sleep with Bathsheba, and assume the child was his. Verse 10 depicts David's surprise and initial verbal confrontation when his initial plan fails due to Uriah's exceptional character and adherence to soldierly principles. The larger chapter context demonstrates David's spiraling moral descent: from lust to adultery, then to deceit, and ultimately to murder. Historically, Israel was engaged in continuous warfare against its enemies. Soldiers often took vows or maintained specific rituals of purity while in the field, including abstinence from sexual relations, especially when the Ark of the Covenant was with them or they considered themselves consecrated to the Lord for battle. Uriah's actions reflect an adherence to this deeper understanding of consecration and solidarity with his fellow soldiers who remained on the battlefield. The passage indirectly critiques the self-indulgent nature of a king who, unlike his dedicated soldier, stayed home from war (2 Sam 11:1), prioritising his desires over his sacred duties and the well-being of his kingdom and army.

2 Samuel 11 10 Word analysis

• When they told David: Indicates information being conveyed, implying surveillance or observation by David's servants. It highlights David's indirect awareness of Uriah's movements, revealing a manipulative stance where he is observing the outcome of his scheme.

• “Uriah did not go down to his house,”: "Go down" (Heb. yarad - יָרַד): signifies descending, often from a higher place (Jerusalem was built on hills) to a lower place, which would be one's home in the city. More profoundly, it signifies moving away from the "field" of battle or duty towards personal comfort or civilian life. Uriah's refusal to yarad implies a spiritual refusal to descend from his state of consecration. "House" (Heb. bayit - בַּיִת): refers to a physical dwelling, a family unit. For Uriah, his house and wife represent personal comfort and privilege, which he explicitly denies himself out of loyalty.

• David said to Uriah: Signifies a direct confrontation, as David tries to understand and counteract Uriah's unexpected fidelity. This direct address shows David's increasing involvement in orchestrating his cover-up.

• “Have you not come from a journey? (Heb. derek - דֶּרֶךְ): "Journey" specifically refers to coming from the battle campaign. David highlights the expected tiredness and desire for rest, framing Uriah's action as illogical given normal human inclination. It sets up the implied contrast between ordinary comfort and Uriah's extraordinary dedication.

• Why did you not go down to your house?”: A direct rhetorical question intended to prompt Uriah for an explanation. It reveals David's exasperation and attempts to nudge Uriah towards the "normal" and desired action, which would validate David's scheme.

• "Uriah did not go down to his house": This phrase marks a turning point in David's plan. Uriah's actions highlight a profound loyalty and dedication, not merely to David, but to the collective army and perhaps to the spiritual purity required of a warrior (e.g., Deut 23:9-14 regarding holiness in the camp). His refusal stands in stark contrast to David's self-indulgence and moral failure. Uriah chose solidarity and consecrated hardship over personal comfort and domestic ease.

• "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?": This couplet reveals David's immediate problem: Uriah's righteous character has foiled his cover-up attempt. David’s question, while seemingly logical, is laced with his sinful agenda. He is baffled by Uriah's exceptional integrity, an integrity that mirrors the very leadership David himself ought to display but fails to. This verbal interaction serves to deepen the contrast between David’s depravity and Uriah’s exemplary conduct.

2 Samuel 11 10 Bonus section

• The irony in this verse is palpable: David, "a man after God's own heart," acts deceitfully, while Uriah, a non-Israelite, exhibits profound dedication and faithfulness akin to what Israelite law would ideally prescribe for a consecrated soldier. This highlights that true righteousness is not bound by ethnicity but by adherence to God's principles.
• Uriah's decision, though seemingly minor, forces David to escalate his sin, leading to further moral deterioration and eventually Uriah's death. This demonstrates how even a small act of integrity can expose significant corruption in another.
• Some scholars note that Uriah's behavior hints at the "camp of the Lord" theology (Deut 23:9-14), where the military camp was considered holy and personal comforts like conjugal relations were put aside for the sake of the Lord's presence and victory. Uriah embodied this dedication, surpassing his king.

2 Samuel 11 10 Commentary

2 Samuel 11:10 showcases the stark contrast between David's spiraling deception and Uriah's unwavering integrity. David, a king entrusted by God, has abandoned his post and fallen into adultery, now desperate to conceal his sin. His simple expectation that Uriah would behave like any returning soldier – seeking comfort in his home and wife – is fundamentally challenged by Uriah's extraordinary character. Uriah's subsequent explanation (v. 11) reveals a deeply principled man who holds the sanctity of war and solidarity with his comrades above personal indulgence. This commitment likely stemmed from an understanding of ancient Israelite military ethics, which often involved periods of ritual purity and abstinence. Uriah, the loyal outsider (a Hittite), serves as a moral mirror reflecting David's profound spiritual failure. This interaction demonstrates that God's ways are not the world's, and His true servants exhibit faithfulness even when others, including their leaders, stumble. The divine judgment would ultimately expose this attempt to "go down to his house" and the murderous plot that followed.