Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 2 Samuel · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
AFter the Syrians subdued, David sendeth Joab against the Ammonites, and he V. 1.is said so to have done at the time of the yeare, that Kings use to go forth to warre, that is, saith Lyra, and Martyr, in the Spring time, when there is Lyra. Peter Martyr. 1 Chron. 20.grasse for horses, although in these dayes, saith Martyr, any time is taken: Pope Iulius went against Mirandula in a deep snow: Callis was taken in January, and Francis the French King in February. But the Spring time is the aptest for the souldiers to lye abroad in the fields, the aire being more temperate, and the dayes growing long, and the time of the yeare continuing fittest for action five or six moneths together. This yeare is generally thought to have beene the 49. of Davids age, the 19. of his reigne, 1 Chron. 21. 1. hee had not yet taken revenge upon the Ammonites, and the former yeare was so farre spent in warring against the Syrians that hee wanted time then, wherefore in the rising of the yeare hee setteth forth against them, and having wasted the rest of the Countrey they came to the chiefe Citie Rabbah. He staying at home, when V. 2.his men went to battell, by chance saw faire Bethshebah washing herselfe from the Battlements of his house, where hee walked in the evening, and burning in lust towards her hee sent for her and lay with her, &c. Hee should as Pellican Pellican.saith, have gone forth himselfe with his men, and not have rested idlely at home: for it is the part of Kings, not to live in pleasure and idlenesse, but in warlike labours to goe before their subjects, and to encourage them, and because David now, and at some other times of late intermitted to doe so, hee is assaulted and shamefully overcome at home, that had alwayes beene so victorious abroad. And Peter Martyr aggravateth his fault further, in that hee Peter Martyr.gave himselfe to sleeping in the day time in the midst of those troubles, when the Commonwealth that hee should have watched over, was in hazzard, taking occasion hereupon to shew the evill that commeth of idlenesse. Hence Ovid sheweth, that Aegistus became an adulterer, quia desidiosus erat; and O…ia si tollas periere Cupidinis arcus; Ambrose saith, as the Oyster lying open against the Sunne quietly to bee refreshed therewith, the Crab commeth and casteth a little stone between, hindering it from closing againe, and so devoureth it: so when a man lyeth idlely, his soule is exposed to the devouring of the Devill, who casteth in filthy thoughts; and idlenesse was the sinne of Sodom, Ezek. 16. The woman whom David saw washing herselfe, dwelt as must needs bee gathered next unto the Kings Palace in Zion, wherein might well bee many other dwelling houses besides Davids, being in compasse, according to Willalpandus, ten furlongs, and so saith Adrichomius. Shee washed herselfe most Willalpandus. Adrichom.probably by reason of her legall uncleannesse in her garden, as Susanna is said afterwards to have done. The time of the day was in the afternoone, when David after dinner having slept, according to the manner of those hot countries rose up and went and walked upon the Battlements of his house, and the place must needs bee neare, or else hee could not have discerned her beautie. Having seene her hee sent, saith Lyra, to know whether shee were a maide or a wife, thinking, if shee had beene a maid, to take her to wife, Lyra.but although hee heard the contrary, lust being let in by the windowes of his eyes could not bee quenched, but burnt the more in him, as the saying is, per vetitum nesas ruimus Cupimusque negata.
Shee is said to bee the daughter of Eliam, and the wife of Vriah the Hittite, 1 Chron. 3. 5. she is said to bee the daughter of Amiel, but, as Jerom hath it, V 3. Hierom.here is no difference, but onelyonly a transposition of the Letters, both the names being of the same signification, for Eliam signifyeth my God the people, Amiel, the people my God. This Amiel or Eliam was the sonne of Abithophcl; 2 Sam. 23. 34. and was one of Davids worthies, as also Vriah was, Vers. 39. so that Bethshebah was of an honorable house and honorably married. The Hittite Vriah is called, saith Theodoret, and after him Procopius, because hee Theod. qu. 15. in 2. Reg.came of the children of Heth, but was a Proselyte, for hee saith, that Vriah a stranger being wronged, God who is gracious to all, tooke his part against an Israelite and punisht him therefore: But Tostatus saith, that hee Tostatus.was not of the Hittites of Canaan, who were appointed to bee destroyed, and with whom the Israelites might make no marriages, but that hee had the name Hethite or Hittite either from some exploit that hee did against the Hethites, or from his dwelling in a place so named And. Adrichomius saith, that Adrichom.there was a place in Judah, in Hebron, neare Abrahams Sepulcher called Heth, and because Ʋriah was borne there, hee was called an Hethite or Hittite, so likewise Jerom: thus Ishai from his Towne, was called the Bethlehemite, Achitophel the Guilonite, &c. Vatablus is indifferent for either, I rather subscribe to Theodoret, Hieronym.because the name doth so agree to those strangers, the Hittites. Whereas his marrying with an Israelite is objected, it was not unlawfull, seeing hee was a Proselyte and so a Jew in Religion, no more then for Salmon to marry Rahab, and Boaz Ruth. For the reason of interdicting such marriages, viz. lest they should bee insnared with Idolatry, ceased in him, and therefore hee might marry an Israelite. The woman being sent for commeth, and resisteth not Davids unchast motion, that wee read of, no not in word, as if shee thought that a King might doe what he would. Shee was not moved by the Covenant made with her valiant husband, nor with the odiousnesse of the sinne of adultery, or the punishment thereof, which by the Law of God was death, and Nebuchaduezzar hearing that one Achah and Hezekiah Jewes had defiled other mens wives, caused them therefore to bee broyled to death upon a Grid-yron.
David having lyen with her, shee is said to have been purged from her uncleannesse, V. 4.according to the common exposition, because shee now conceiving with child, her monethly flowers straight way ceased, which used to make a woman uncleane. Rupertus saith, that her barrennesse was her uncleannesse, Rupert: in Mat: 1.which now was done away. But this is no where so called. I rather thinke, that a Legall purging or sanctifying, as the vulgar Latine hath it, is here meant, according to Levit. 15. 18. where it is said, when a man lieth with a woman, they shall both bee uncleane untill even and wash themselves with water. For according to this it is said, that shee sanctified herselfe Hebr. and so Martyr rendreth it. Junius renders it, shee purged herselfe, and noteth upon it, that shee was the more apt to conceive, as if this purging had been, before she came to the King. But it was after, as the order sheweth, and if the ceasing of her uncleannesse by monethly flowers had been meant, it would not have beene said, shee sanctified herselfe, for this implyeth some act of sanctification done by her, and it is a very unfitting phrase to expresse this by the word sanctifying: for then Davids adulterous lying with her must bee granted to have availed to her sanctification, which is absurd.
The woman then conceived and signified it unto David, fearing doubtlesse the danger of the Law, if it were not prevented. Hereupon David sendeth for V. 5, 6, 7.Ʋriah to come home, &c. Hee added, as Pellican saith, one wickednesse to Pellican.another, for hee attempted the substituting of a Bastard to his faithfull servant Ʋriah to bee his heire. But hee by a singular providence of God ruling herein, that this foule sinne might not goe undiscovered, refused to goe and lie at his owne house, but kept watch with the Kings other servants about the Court. David seeing that this would not take effect, presently fleeth to another more pernicious, for hee wrote to Joab to set Ʋriah so in the battell, as that hee might bee slaine, yea and to the end that hee might bee slaine, hee would have some others of his most valiant men, whose lives hee should chiefly have tendered, exposed to the danger of death also, because in making an assault hee could not bee slaine alone. Josephus saith, that shee went to the King and told him, that shee had conceived, desiring him to provide some Josephus.way, that shee might bee preserved from the danger of death, which would follow, if it were discovered. And Chrysost. saith, that shee would not commit Chrysost.this secret to any other, but went herselfe unto the King, and said, O King, I am undone, I am with childe, the fruit of my sinne buddeth, I carry an accuser within mee, my betrayer is in my wombe, if my husband come and see mee, what shall I say, what excuse shall I pretend? Then he sending for Ʋriah to come home, and seeing, that the first night he would not go to his wife, yea, Ver. 11. hearing him sweare, as thy soule liveth, I will not do this thing, when as V. 11.the Arke, and Israel and Judah abide in Tents, and Ioab and the Kings servants lie in the open fields, I will not goe to my house to eate and drinke and lie with my wife, hee bad him stay another night, and then hee would shew more kindnesse unto him, for hee feasted him at his owne Table, and profered him in shew of extraordinary kindnesse so much wine, that hee made him drunken, thinking, V. 12, 13.that when hee was in that case hee would goe home to his wife, whatsoever he had sworne to the contrary. Thus to cover his owne foule sinne, he increased it more & more by making Ʋriah to sin by drunkennesse and seeking to make him forsworne. Touching Ʋriah, it was strange, that he having been now long from home, and having a faire young woman to his wife, could refraine himself from going in unto her, especially being also heat with wine and good cheare, of wch the saying is, sine Cerere & Baccho frigit Venus, & seeing both she and her friends might think, that he bare no love unto her for this great neglect whereby they might bee exasperated against him. But this must bee imputed to an higher power restraining him, that so great a sinne might not be smothered, unlesse that secretly by some man hee understood, what had passed, or some private discord had reigned before betwixt him and his wise for her seeming levitie. As for Ʋriah, it may bee conjectured, that hee was godly, and a true lover of his Countrey, because hee mentioned the Arke, and Israel, &c. vowing to sympathize with them, as Daniel and his fellows, when they might have fared daintily, refused it, and would live upon pulse, because their countrey-men being Captives lived generally in great misery. In that hee speaketh of the Arkes being in Tents; Lyra gathereth, that it was carried out to the Army for their Lyra. 1 Sam. 4.incouragement, and so hee gathereth, that it was in Sauls time, 1 Sam. 14. as it had been done in the time of Eli. They carryed the Arke into the field, saith Martyr for two causes. 1. That the souldiers might have a certaine symbole Peter Martyr.of Gods presence. 2. That the Captaine might have the oracle neare unto him to consult with, when need required. By Israel and Judah, hee meaneth the whole Army, and hee calleth Joab his Lord, because, as Josephus saith, hee was his armour-bearer. For his oath, as thy soule liveth, it was much like unto that of Joseph, by the life of Pharaoh, Gen: 42. 15. of which see upon that place.
Then David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Ʋriah, to this effect, Set Ʋriah V. 14.in the forefront of the hottest battle and retire from him, that hee may bee smitten and die: and Joab did accordingly, and so Ʋriah was slaine, and some others of Davids men also. David seeing that hee could not colour over his wickednesse, found himselfe to bee in a great straight; for Bathsheba, whom hee had abused, was in danger to bee stoned to death, and hee to bee made publickely ignominious and odious amongst the people for bringing her to such a miserable end. Wherefore hee now breaketh out into murther, and that not of one valiant and faithfull subject alone, but of others also with him. A strange alteration, hee that in times past had spared his enemy, Saul, and rusticall Nabal, by whom hee had beene so provoked, was now so degenerated, as that his pristine virtue seemed altogether to bee lost, hee spared not treacherously to destroy the innocent, that had well deserved of him. Thus hee that openeth a gap to sinne, hath a troope of sinnes breaking in upon him, and Note. differeth not from one mancipated to sinne and Satan. For his letter to Joab, Josephus saith, that hee wrote, that Ʋriah had deserved to dye, and therefore Iosephus.hee should provide that hee might bee slaine, yet so, as that it might not seeme to bee the Kings act, but by accident. Joab hereby might gather, that hee had some way offended David, for which hee was worthy to die, although hee knew not in particular what his offence was. Ʋriah in carrying this letter, carried the letters of Bellerophon, and put a sword, as it were, into Joabs hand to cut his owne throat, as Theod. hath it, abiit ferens gladium suae caedis. So Lysander Theodoret.carryed letters from Pharnabazus to the Ephori of Lacedemonia against himselfe.
Then Joab sent a messenger to certifie David of his proceedings, and that Ʋriah V. 18.was slaine, &c. Josephus saith, that Joab to execute the Kings command and to bring Ʋriah to his end, said unto him, that there was a piece of service Ioseph.to be done against Rabbab by the most valiant, amongst whom David counted him one, wherefore he exhorted him with all alacrity to goe about it, for the credit, wherein hee was with the King, and when hee and others of the most valiant had made a breach in the wall, he promised to come on with the whole Army to second them, but secretly hee spake to such as were to joyne with him, to retire in the time of danger, some few onelyonly excepted, to whom hee spake not. Then Ʋriah proceeded with courage, and so was slaine with the rest, which knew nothing of the policy, and therefore stucke to him in fighting against the Ammonites and slaying many of them before their death.
David hearing this, dissembleth his joy for the death of Ʋriah, and sendeth V. 25.a comfortable answer to Joab, whom, the messenger might conceive, that the King would thinke greatly troubled, because Vriah a man so much beloved, as it might seeme, by the King, and one of his worthies, was slaine by his oversight.
The wife of Vriah hearing that her husband was dead, mourned for him, V. 26.and when the time of mourning was past, David sent and tooke her to wife, &c. It is generally thought, that Bathsheba her mourning and putting on mourning apparell was faigned, for shee was doubtlesse glad to heare of his death, as being now out of the danger of death for her adultery, seeing, as R: R. Solomon.Solomon saith, her husband had returned from the warre about the time of her conception and shee was in hope now to bee made a Queene. For the time of her mourning, Lyra saith, it is uncertaine, Peter Martyr conjectureth, that amongst Hebrewes it was but one month, this being grounded upon the time Lyra. Peter Martyr. Deut. 21. 13.appointed in the law, for a captive woman to mourne, before that an Hebrew married her; neither could it bee much longer, because so the Adultery could not have been covered. Amongst the Romans a woman might not marry againe after her husbands decease till after ten moneths, and Theodosius increased this time to a yeare, before the expiration whereof if any married againe, he saith, that shee should be probrosis inusta notis, & nobilioris ac honestioris decore & jure privetur. Cajetan thinketh, that shee mourned long, after the manner Cajetan. Tostatus. Iosephus.of noble matrons, but Tostatus onelyonly seven dayes, according to the time set, Eccles. 22. 11, 12. Josephus saith, shee mourned many dayes, that is, as was said before, happily 30. dayes, according to the time, that they mourned for Jacob being dead, and for Moses. And this is most probable, because David would make haste, and might thinke to marry to advance her house so greatly, although sooner then ordinary, would bee no dishonour unto her. And Theodoret saith, there was little time given to mourning: and whereas Theodoret.Vers. 27. it is said, the thing that David did displeased the Lord, both hee and Precopius Illud quidem erat vehementis cupiditatis, quae rationi torporem induxerat, hoc autem etiam rationis assensum habuit.say, that this displeasure was chiefly against this marriage, for God was more offended at this then at the adultery, because that came from a most vehement lust, which stupified reason, but this had the assent of reason. But all are here put together, his adultery, murther and marriage, as one thing; yet that this marriage was more hainous then the adultery seemeth probable, Ch. 12. 9. where the marriage is spoken of, but the adultery not.