2 Samuel 11 8

2 Samuel 11:8 kjv

And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

2 Samuel 11:8 nkjv

And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah departed from the king's house, and a gift of food from the king followed him.

2 Samuel 11:8 niv

Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him.

2 Samuel 11:8 esv

Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king.

2 Samuel 11:8 nlt

Then he told Uriah, "Go on home and relax. " David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.

2 Samuel 11 verses

2 Samuel 11 8 Meaning

This verse captures David's cunning and calculated first step in covering up his adultery with Bathsheba. By sending Uriah home with the pretense of a simple break and a royal gift, David intended for Uriah to sleep with his wife, thus making it appear as if Bathsheba's unborn child was Uriah's. It reveals David's attempt to use deception and manipulation to hide his sin and avoid accountability, betraying the trust of a loyal soldier.

2 Samuel 11 8 Context

This verse immediately follows David's egregious sin of adultery with Bathsheba and her subsequent conception. It marks the king's first deliberate act of deception in an attempt to conceal his wrongdoing. David, the once righteous king "after God's own heart," is now consumed by efforts to manipulate events. The chapter begins by noting David's absence from the battlefield, where kings were expected to lead (2 Sam 11:1), already hinting at his detachment and vulnerability to temptation. His actions here set in motion a devastating chain of events—further deceit, the murder of a loyal soldier, the death of a child, and ongoing strife within his own household, culminating in public humiliation and familial betrayals that echo through the rest of his reign (2 Sam 12:7-12). This immediate context highlights the rapid escalation from one sin to another in David's life.

2 Samuel 11 8 Word analysis

• And David said to Uriah: Signifies a direct command and initiation of a deliberate act by the king. It underscores David's active role in formulating the deceptive plan.
• 'Go down' (רֵד - rêḏ): An imperative command, signifying David's authority. "Go down" suggests moving from the royal palace, typically situated on a height, to the more common, lower residences of citizens, indicating Uriah's private quarters.
• 'to your house' (בֵּיתֶךָ - bêt̲ekā): Literally "to your home." This phrase emphasizes the desired domestic setting where Uriah might naturally have sexual relations with his wife. David's intention is explicitly tied to Uriah's marital chamber.
• 'and wash your feet' (רְחַץ רַגְלֶיךָ - rĕḥaṣ raḡleyḵā): This phrase is a cultural idiom for refreshing oneself after a journey or preparing for rest and intimacy. In this context, it carries a double meaning. Superficially, it's an act of hospitality and rest; fundamentally, it is a veiled command or strong suggestion for Uriah to perform a marital duty and subsequently, if David's plan works, legitimate the conception. It's a key manipulative detail in David's scheme.
• 'And Uriah went out of the king's house': This phrase confirms Uriah's immediate obedience to the king's command, demonstrating his deep loyalty and lack of suspicion, making David's subsequent actions even more reprehensible.
• 'and there followed him a present' (מַשְׂאֵת - maś’ēṯ): This Hebrew term can denote a portion, a gift, or an elevation. Here, it functions as a mark of royal favor, adding an illusion of genuine care and honor from the king. This gift, meant to look like an act of grace or appreciation for Uriah's service, further facilitates the deception by ensuring Uriah had provisions for staying at home, encouraging him to comply with David’s unspoken intention for marital relations. It reinforces the perceived normalcy of David's gesture.
• 'from the king': Explicitly attributes the gift's origin to David himself, reinforcing the facade of royal benevolence.

2 Samuel 11 8 Bonus section

The narrative contrast between David, the deceitful king, and Uriah, the loyal soldier, is a profound element often highlighted in studies of 2 Samuel 11. Uriah, a Hittite and thus a foreigner to Israel, ironically exemplifies true Israelite devotion (specifically devotion to his military oath and communal purity norms, as shown in 2 Sam 11:11) far better than the King of Israel. The detailed depiction of David's careful orchestration, from the seemingly innocuous command to the calculated gift, underscores the deep corruption that takes root when sin is not confessed but covered. This detailed unfolding of the deception by the narrator is a polemic against superficial appearances and unholy leadership, showing that even revered figures can fall to immense depravity, serving as a cautionary tale for all who hold positions of authority and trust.

2 Samuel 11 8 Commentary

2 Samuel 11:8 serves as the pivotal moment where David transitions from the initial sin of lust and adultery to calculated deception and cover-up. David, instead of repenting or facing the consequences, immediately engages in damage control. The simple command to "go down to your house and wash your feet" is loaded with sinister intent; it is a direct attempt to engineer a narrative that exonerates him from paternity. The subsequent "present from the king" is a manipulative token, an attempt to solidify Uriah’s obedience and provide all comforts for him to do exactly what David needed him to do – sleep with his wife. This verse tragically reveals the quick downward spiral of a once righteous leader, illustrating how unconfessed sin begets further sin, often involving the exploitation of the innocent. It foreshadows the even darker steps David will take to achieve his nefarious goal, highlighting the perilous path of a king who prioritizes his own reputation over justice and righteousness.