2 Samuel 11:13 kjv
And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
2 Samuel 11:13 nkjv
Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
2 Samuel 11:13 niv
At David's invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master's servants; he did not go home.
2 Samuel 11:13 esv
And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
2 Samuel 11:13 nlt
Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn't get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard.
2 Samuel 11 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:7 | If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door... | Sin's proximity when intentions are not right. |
| Gen 4:9 | And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not... | The futility of trying to cover sin from God. |
| Num 32:23 | But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. | Sin inevitably exposed; David's sin would find him out. |
| Deut 23:9-14 | When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. | Rules for a holy camp, violated by David but honored by Uriah. |
| Josh 2:1-21 | Rahab harbored the spies... "Our lives for yours, if ye utter not this our business." | Loyalty and integrity contrasting with David's actions. |
| 1 Sam 15:24 | And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD... | Attempts to rationalize or cover up sin, similar to David's behavior. |
| 2 Sam 12:7-12 | Thus saith the LORD, I anointed thee king over Israel... thou hast despised the commandment of the LORD... | Nathan's prophecy condemning David's actions and the public exposure of his sin. |
| Ps 51:3 | For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. | David's later confession, recognizing the futility of cover-up. |
| Pro 10:9 | He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that is perverse in his ways shall be known. | Uriah's uprightness vs. David's perversity. |
| Pro 23:20-21 | Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty... | Wisdom against drunkenness, highlighting David's use of it for ill. |
| Pro 28:13 | He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. | The principle David violates by trying to conceal his sin. |
| Eccl 8:11 | Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. | The deceptive delay in immediate consequences, enabling further sin. |
| Isa 5:11 | Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink... | Warning against intemperance, contextually related to David's forced drinking on Uriah. |
| Matt 25:21 | His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant... | Uriah's faithfulness to his duty, though not explicitly praised by God here. |
| Luke 16:10 | He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much... | Uriah's small act of loyalty reflects deeper integrity. |
| Rom 13:13 | Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness... | Christian ethic opposing drunkenness, in contrast to David's manipulation. |
| Eph 5:18 | And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; | Condemnation of drunkenness, here used as a tool for deceit by David. |
| 1 Thess 5:7-8 | For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. | Contrast between alertness (like Uriah's faithfulness) and drunkenness. |
| Heb 4:13 | Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. | God's complete knowledge, rendering cover-ups useless. |
| Jas 1:13-15 | But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed... Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin... | The progression of sin, from lust to deceit to murder in David's case. |
| Jas 4:17 | Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. | David knew to do good (e.g., justice) but failed, thus sinning. |
| 1 John 1:9-10 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins... If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar... | Confession is key; David's initial refusal to admit sin prolonged his plight. |
2 Samuel 11 verses
2 Samuel 11 13 Meaning
2 Samuel 11:13 describes King David's deliberate, calculated attempt to force Uriah the Hittite into a domestic situation that would cover David's sin with Bathsheba. David invited Uriah, dined with him, and plied him with alcohol to ensure he would be intoxicated enough to forget his resolve and return to his home and wife. However, despite David's cunning manipulation and making him drunk, Uriah remained steadfast in his soldierly vow, choosing to sleep among his lord's servants rather than returning to his own bed, thus thwarting David's plan.
2 Samuel 11 13 Context
2 Samuel chapter 11 opens with David remaining in Jerusalem during the spring when kings typically went to war, contrasting his leisure with his army's active duty. This sets the stage for his adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife. Upon learning of Bathsheba's pregnancy, David frantically devises a cover-up. His first attempt involves recalling Uriah from the battlefield and sending him home to Bathsheba, hoping Uriah would believe the child was his. Uriah, however, refused to go home, citing the loyalty he felt to his fellow soldiers and the Ark of the Covenant, choosing to sleep at the king's palace entrance with other servants and soldiers (2 Sam 11:8-12). This unexpected integrity foils David's initial plan, leading to the events of 2 Samuel 11:13, where David escalates his deception by attempting to incapacitate Uriah through intoxication, trying to weaken his resolve and send him home.
2 Samuel 11 13 Word analysis
- And when David had called him: Implies deliberate action. David is actively manipulating the situation, taking charge of his deception.
- he ate and drank before him: Suggests a kingly meal, seemingly gracious hospitality. However, it's a calculated setup by David.
- and he made him drunk: This is a strong Hiphil causative verb in Hebrew, וַיַּשְׁכְּרֵהוּ (vayashkerehu), from the root שׁכר (shakar), meaning "to be drunk." It's not a mere "got him a drink," but "caused him to become drunk," highlighting David's direct, purposeful action to incapacitate Uriah mentally and physically. This is a significant escalation of David's deceit.
- and at evening he went out to lie on his bed: David expected Uriah, now intoxicated, to naturally go to his own home and bed, fulfilling David's objective. This assumes Uriah's principles would weaken under the influence.
- with the servants of his lord: "Servants" (עַבְדֵי, ʿavdey) implies military attendants or personal staff. "His lord" (אֲדֹנָיו, ʾadonayv) refers to David. This group were also soldiers, or connected to the military camp. Uriah, as a faithful soldier, chose solidarity with them, reflecting his continued adherence to the military purity code that forbade marital relations during war campaigns.
- but lay not on his bed: (וְלֹא שָׁכַב עַל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ, v'lo shakhakh al mishkavoh) This phrase directly contradicts David's desired outcome. "Lay not" (וְלֹא שָׁכַב, v'lo shakhakh) powerfully reiterates Uriah's unwavering commitment to his vow. His loyalty transcends personal comfort and even intoxication. "On his bed" refers to his marital bed at home, the very place David desperately wanted him to be. This is the pivotal moment that exposes the depth of Uriah's integrity against David's treachery, forcing David to resort to a more desperate and horrific plan.
2 Samuel 11 13 Bonus section
The scene in 2 Samuel 11:13 creates an ironic tension. David, the King of Israel and commander-in-chief, is revealed as cowardly and scheming, staying home while his army fights, and using his power to commit grievous sin and then hide it. Uriah, a non-Israelite Hittite by birth, demonstrates superior loyalty, moral conviction, and self-discipline than the King. Uriah's adherence to the rigors of soldiering and potentially a personal or ritual vow related to his duty, puts David's moral failings into sharp relief. His refusal to enter his home, first sober and then drunk, reveals a consistent character of faithfulness that could not be swayed by royal persuasion or intoxication. This also hints at the tragic irony that Uriah's very virtue and loyalty were the ultimate cause of David's decision to have him killed, as his steadfastness foiled David's every attempt at a cover-up.
2 Samuel 11 13 Commentary
2 Samuel 11:13 stands as a stark contrast between King David's rapidly degenerating moral state and Uriah's unwavering integrity and commitment to duty. David, once hailed as a man after God's own heart, meticulously plans Uriah's intoxication not out of hospitality, but as a manipulative tactic to cover up his grave sin. The Hiphil causative verb for "made him drunk" underscores David's active, wicked intent to compromise Uriah's steadfastness. Despite David's efforts to lower Uriah's guard through a night of revelry, Uriah's disciplined resolve shines through. He remains committed to the self-imposed, warrior's vow of abstinence, choosing to sleep among his fellow soldiers and not returning to his own bed. This loyalty highlights the ancient Israelite military code where soldiers consecrated themselves for battle, and marital relations were often abstained from while on campaign. Uriah’s faithfulness, which should have been commendable, became a fatal impediment to David's sin, tragically leading to the next, even more heinous act of murder. This verse vividly portrays how one sin (adultery) leads to escalating attempts at concealment (deception, manipulation, drunkenness), each failed attempt driving the sinner to darker deeds.