Keraia
2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11:2

David and Bathsheba · 2 Samuel 11:1–13
Read 2 Samuel 11

Translations

Modern
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And it came to pass at the time of the evening, that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the house of the king. And he saw from the roof a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful of appearance.
Latin
Dum hæc agerentur, accidit ut surgeret David de strato suo post meridiem, et deambularet in solario domus regiæ: viditque mulierem se lavantem ex adverso super solarium suum: erat autem mulier pulchra valde.

Original

Hebrew
English
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.

Notes

2 Samuel 11:2

  • strolled around on the roof: The roofs of houses were flat and often used for different activities, like drying and storing food (Joshua 2:6), walking and socializing, and sleeping in warm weather.

  • Bathsheba was bathing in clear view from the roof of the king’s palace. She might have thought everyone was inside, escaping the heat or taking a midday rest.

2 Samuel 11:1–27

David’s affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah show that David was capable of serious moral failure. These actions deeply damaged David’s life and leadership.

These failures took place during a period when David was enjoying major military success against the Ammonites (2 Samuel 10:1–11:1; 12:26–31).

Events

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Bathsheba Battlement Beauty David Hittites Jerusalem Joab Kings, Books of First and Second Nathan Palace Psalms, Book of Samuel, Books of First and Second Uriah

Topics

Adultery: David Bastard: David's Child by Bath-Sheba Bath-Sheba (Bathsheba): Adultery of Beauty: Bath-Sheba Beds used for Reclining on by Day Chastity: Temptation to Deviate From, Dangerous Covetousness: David, of Bath-Sheba David: King of Israel: Commits Adultery with Bath-Sheba House: Architecture of Roofs, Flat Houses: The Flat Roofs of Used for Exercise Instability: David, in Yielding to Lust Lasciviousness: David Temptation: David Temptation: Yielding to David, to Commit Adultery The Evening: A Season For: Exercise Uriah: One of David's Mighty Men: David's Adultery with the Wife of Wife: Bath-Sheba