Back to 2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11:1-5

At the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. At evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at. David sent and inquired after the woman. One said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, Uriah the Hittite’s wife?”

David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    At the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.

    At evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at.

    David sent and inquired after the woman. One said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, Uriah the Hittite’s wife?”

    David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned to her house.

    The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”

  • KJV King James Version

    And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

    And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

    And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

    And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

    And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem.

    And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house; and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

    And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said: 'Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?'

    And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness; and she returned unto her house.

    And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said: 'I am with child.'

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Cross-references (48)

  • 1 Chronicles 20:1 (v1) At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, Joab led out the army, and wasted the country of the children of…
  • Matthew 5:28 (v2) but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
  • James 1:14-15 (vv3–4) But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when…
  • Leviticus 18:19 (v4) “ ‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
  • 1 Kings 20:26 (v1) At the return of the year, Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
Show all 47 cross-references
  • Psalms 119:37 (v2) Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.
  • 2 Samuel 23:39 (v3) and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
  • 1 Kings 20:22 (v1) The prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you do; for at the return of…
  • Deuteronomy 22:22 (v5) If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both die, the man who lay with the woman and the woman. So you…
  • 1 Chronicles 3:5 (v3) and these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel;
  • Job 31:1 (v2) “I made a covenant with my eyes, how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?
  • Proverbs 6:25 (v2) Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
  • Acts 10:9 (v2) Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.
  • 1 John 2:16 (v2) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:10 (v1) At the return of the year, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of Yahweh’s house, and made…
  • Psalms 51:1-19 (v4) Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.…
  • Ecclesiastes 3:8 (v1) a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
  • Genesis 3:6 (v2) When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one…
  • Leviticus 12:2-5 (v4) “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the…
  • Deuteronomy 3:11 (v1) (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Isn’t it in Rabbah of the…
  • Deuteronomy 22:8 (v2) When you build a new house, then you shall make a railing around your roof, so that you don’t bring blood on your house if anyone falls…
  • Proverbs 6:34 (v5) For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance.
  • Proverbs 30:20 (v4) “So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
  • Proverbs 31:30 (v2) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
  • Jeremiah 5:8 (v3) They were as fed horses roaming at large. Everyone neighed after his neighbor’s wife.
  • Ezekiel 21:20 (v1) You shall appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:6-7 (v2) so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are…
  • 1 Peter 4:7 (v2) But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
  • Genesis 6:2 (v2) God’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives.
  • Genesis 34:2 (v2) Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her.
  • Genesis 39:7 (v4) After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
  • Leviticus 15:19-33 (v4) “ ‘If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days. Whoever touches her shall…
  • 2 Samuel 4:7 (v2) Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him, killed him, beheaded him, and took his head, and…
  • 2 Samuel 12:26-28 (v1) Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought…
  • 1 Chronicles 11:41 (v3) Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
  • Job 31:9-11 (v4) “If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door, then let my wife grind for another, and let others…
  • Psalms 50:18 (v4) When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.
  • Proverbs 19:15 (v2) Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
  • Proverbs 24:33-34 (v2) a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed…
  • Jeremiah 19:13 (v2) The houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, which are defiled, will be as the place of Topheth, even all the houses on…
  • Hosea 7:6-7 (v3) For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all the night. In the morning it burns as a…
  • Matthew 10:27 (v2) What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
  • Matthew 26:40-41 (v2) He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray, that…
  • Genesis 39:6 (v2) He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built…
  • 1 Samuel 9:25 (v2) When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
  • 2 Samuel 4:5 (v2) The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, as he took his…
  • Zechariah 14:3 (v1) Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

47 distinct cross-references across this passage (48 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (25 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 5 The year following about the spring time.

The year following about the spring time.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv1–5 2Sa 11:1 And it came to pass, after the…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv1–5 After the year was expired; when that year ended,…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v1 Here is, I. David's glory, in pursuing the war…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv1–5 And it came to pass, that after the year…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv1–4 David commits adultery with Bathsheba, ver. 1-5. endeavours to…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv1–5 David sends Joab against the Ammonites, who besieges the…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv1–5 2Sa 11:1. After the year was expired — Hebrew,…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv1–3 After the year was expired - The next spring…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv1–4 Year. Hebrew, "at the end of the year," (Chaldean;…
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures 1864 · Public Domain On v1 The beglooming of David’s royal rule by the sins…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv2–5 DAVID COMMITS ADULTERY WITH BATH-SHEBA. (Sa2 11:2-12)
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv1–5 SIEGE OF RABBAH, 2Sa_11:1.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv1–5 Ch. 2Sa_11:1. The siege of Rabbah
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv1–5 (1) After the year was expired.—Literally, as in margin,…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv1–5 After the year was expired; Hebrew and Revised Version,…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv1–2 The year was expired.
The Expositor's Bible 1887 · Public Domain On v1
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v1 2Sa_11:1. “After the year,” etc., rather, at the return…
The Sermon Bible 1900 · Public Domain On v1 2Sa 11:27
J. R. Dummelow 1909 · Public Domain On v1 David and Bathsheba
Arno C. Gaebelein 1922 · Public Domain On v1 1. David’s Great Sin
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v1 David’s Adultery
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 2, 4 It came about in the springtime
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1–4 11:1-27 David’s affair with Bathsheba and the murder of…
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