2 Samuel 11:14 kjv
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
2 Samuel 11:14 nkjv
In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
2 Samuel 11:14 niv
In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.
2 Samuel 11:14 esv
In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
2 Samuel 11:14 nlt
So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver.
2 Samuel 11 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jas 1:14-15 | But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire…brings forth sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. | Progression of sin from lust to death |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Consequence of sin |
| 2 Sam 12:9 | Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite…and have taken his wife… | Nathan's direct accusation of Uriah's murder |
| Exod 20:13 | "You shall not murder." | Violation of the Sixth Commandment |
| Deut 5:17 | "You shall not murder." | Reiterated command against murder |
| Prov 12:20 | Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. | The nature of David's deceitful plotting |
| Ps 5:6 | You destroy those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. | God's stance against the deceitful and murderous |
| Ps 32:3-4 | For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away…Your hand was heavy upon me… | David's experience of unconfessed sin's burden |
| Num 32:23 | …be sure your sin will find you out. | Inescapable consequences of hidden sin |
| Gen 4:8 | Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. | Early biblical example of premeditated murder |
| Gen 37:20 | Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a ferocious animal devoured him. | Deceptive plot to cover up a heinous act |
| 1 Kgs 21:8-13 | So [Jezebel] wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them…and sent them to the elders…instructing…to set Naboth in a prominent place among the people… | Abuse of royal authority to plot an innocent person's death |
| Deut 17:18-20 | …when he is seated on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law…that his heart may not be lifted up…or turn aside… | Kingly responsibilities, David fails here by exalting himself |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? | Human capacity for profound moral failing |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | God's all-seeing nature, David's actions are known to Him |
| Eccl 8:11 | Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. | The deceptive delay of consequences encouraging further sin |
| 1 Cor 10:11-12 | Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction…Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. | Warning to believers from biblical failures, including David's |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. | Principle of concealed sin vs. confession |
| 2 Sam 12:10 | Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. | Divine judgment on David's household for his sin |
| 2 Sam 11:6-13 | David's initial attempts to deceive Uriah. | Prior actions showing Uriah's loyalty and David's cunning |
| Ps 7:15-16 | He digs a pit and makes it deep, and falls into the pit that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head… | The plotter ensnared by his own evil design, fulfilled in David's life |
2 Samuel 11 verses
2 Samuel 11 14 Meaning
This verse describes David's calculated action of sending a letter to his commander, Joab, via the loyal Uriah. It reveals David's continuation of his scheme to cover up his sin with Bathsheba, progressing from adultery and deceit to plotting murder. The act signifies David's abuse of his royal authority and trust, making Uriah unknowingly carry his own death warrant. It marks a critical turning point in David's moral descent, where he actively orchestrates the demise of an innocent and devoted servant.
2 Samuel 11 14 Context
This verse is situated at a pivotal moment in David's moral collapse, following his adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:2-5) and his failed attempts to cover up the resulting pregnancy by making Uriah return home to sleep with his wife (2 Sam 11:6-13). Uriah's unwavering loyalty, refusal to indulge in comforts while his comrades faced war, and his subsequent refusal to go home to his wife, foiled David's initial, more subtle plans. Driven to desperation and seeking to conceal his grievous sin, David escalates his wicked intent. Historically, this occurs during a period of relative peace and prosperity for Israel under David's reign, leading to a situation where the king, instead of leading in battle, indulged in personal pleasures, setting the stage for his great transgression. Kings held immense power and authority, but this narrative emphasizes that even a king chosen by God is subject to God's moral law and subsequent judgment, a powerful statement contrasting with divine-king narratives prevalent in surrounding cultures that often glorified their rulers without critique.
2 Samuel 11 14 Word Analysis
In the morning: This temporal detail suggests a deliberate, calculated action, not a spontaneous one. It implies David had spent the night formulating his deadly plot, adding to the premeditation of his sin.
David: The central figure, God's chosen king, "a man after God's own heart," yet now a participant in grave sin. This highlights that no one is immune to temptation or the corrupting power of unchecked desire.
wrote: An active verb indicating intentionality. David personally crafted this communication, which carried his royal command. This wasn't merely a verbal instruction but a documented order.
a letter (Hebrew: סֵפֶר, sepher): This term denotes a scroll or official document. The "letter" here is a royal directive, bearing the full authority of the king, not a casual message. Its formal nature underscores David's use of his official position to execute his nefarious scheme.
to Joab: The letter's recipient. Joab was David's military commander, known for his pragmatic and often ruthless obedience. He served as the instrument for David's will, implicitly or explicitly understanding the king's underlying intentions despite the deceptive wording of the letter itself (as revealed in the next verses).
and sent it: The act of dispatching, finalizing the plan. It's the point of no return for David's scheme to murder Uriah.
by the hand of: Literally, "by means of the hand of." This signifies personal delivery. The tragic irony is profound: Uriah, completely unaware of its contents, carries the very document that will orchestrate his demise. This emphasizes Uriah's unquestioning loyalty and David's deep betrayal.
Uriah: Uriah the Hittite, one of David's thirty mighty men. He epitomizes unwavering loyalty, integrity, and martial dedication. His moral character stands in stark contrast to David's spiritual compromise and serves as a devastating illustration of innocence betrayed by power.
Words-group Analysis:
- "David wrote a letter to Joab": This phrase highlights David's proactive and strategic role in plotting Uriah's death. It demonstrates that the king was not merely passively letting events unfold, but was the author and architect of this wicked plan, leveraging his royal power.
- "and sent it by the hand of Uriah": This powerfully conveys the depth of David's treachery and Uriah's unsuspecting loyalty. It encapsulates the profound dramatic irony and moral repugnance of the situation: the loyal messenger unwittingly delivers his own death sentence, commanded by the very king he faithfully serves. This act epitomizes the ultimate abuse of trust and authority.
2 Samuel 11 14 Bonus section
This narrative detail emphasizes David's premeditation. He did not act in a fit of rage, but methodically conceived and executed his plan. The casual manner in which the divine chosen king arranges for the death of a loyal soldier serves as a shocking illustration of the extent to which David had departed from God's ways. The integrity and deep loyalty of Uriah, ironically, pushed David into a corner where his options to hide his sin dwindled, leading to this horrific act. This narrative, far from excusing David, condemns his actions by portraying them with stark and unvarnished realism, serving as a powerful testament to the Bible's uncompromising portrayal of human failure, even among its heroes. It reinforces that divine grace, though powerful in forgiveness, does not shield from the earthly consequences of profound sin.
2 Samuel 11 14 Commentary
2 Samuel 11:14 records David's decisive move from deceptive manipulation to active plotting of murder. After Uriah's integrity foiled his initial cover-up attempt, David resorted to an ultimate act of treachery: composing Uriah's death warrant and using Uriah himself to deliver it. This verse lays bare David's complete surrender to the downward spiral of sin, where lust (v.2) led to adultery (v.4), followed by deceit (vv.6-13), culminating in a meticulously planned murder. It demonstrates the dangerous progression of unaddressed sin, leading to an increasing disregard for life and moral law. The chilling efficiency of David's scheme underscores his moral blindness and the profound depth of his fall. It serves as a stark reminder that even those blessed by God are capable of horrific evil when they stray from His commands, and it sets the stage for God's impending judgment upon David and his household.
- Example: The verse tragically illustrates how power can corrupt and how unchecked desire can lead even a righteous person to commit unspeakable evil, transforming trust into a weapon for destruction.