URIAH, celebrated for his Misfortune; a Hittite originally, and Husband to Bathsheba. After Bathsheba had consented to commit Adultery with David, she found herself with Child by him, and gave notice of it to David, that he might provide for her Reputation.a Then David wrote to Joab, to send him Uriah the Hittite. Joab sent him, and when he was come, David asked him News concerning the Army, and bid him go home, and wash his Feet, and rest himself; he also sent him Meat from his own Table. Uriah went away from the Palace, but did not go home to his own House, chusing rather to pass the Night with the Officers of the Kings Guard. David being informed of this, asked him, saying, why did you not go home to refresh yourself after your Journey? Uriah made answer, While the Ark of the Lord, while Israel and Judah are under Tents, and while my Lord Joab and his Servants are lying upon the Ground, should I go to my House, to eat and drink, and sleep with my Wife? No, by the Life of the King, I will not do it. David bid him stay a Day longer, and he would send him away to the Army the Day following. David made him come this Day, and eat with him at his Table, making him drink plentifully: Yet when he went from him, he went, as before, to sleep with the Officers of the Guards, out of the Palace.
The Day following David sent him back to the Camp, with a Letter written to Joab to this Purpose. ” Place Uriah in ” the Front of the Battel, and contrive to ” have him left by himself, that he may ” die by the Hand of the Enemy.” Joab punctually executed these Orders, and the Inhabitants of Rabbah making a vigorous Salley, Uriah was exposed to all the Heat of the Battel, and was there killed. Joab soon gave David notice of it; who sent word back again to Joab that he should persist in the Siege till he should be able to carry the Place. When Bathsheba knew the Death of Uriah, she lamented for him; and after the time of her Mourning was over, David took her to his own House, and married her. The Rabbins undertake to justify David and Bathsheba, by saying, that it was a Law in Israel, that when a Man went to the Wars, he left a Bill of Divorce with his Wife, that she might freely marry whom she pleased in his absence: That Bathsheba took the Advantage of this Liberty, and married David. But why should they excuse a Crime, which the Scripture condemns in so many Places, and which David himself confessed, and bewailed with so many bitter Tears? This happened in the Year of the World 2969, before Christ 1031, before the Vulgar Æra 1035.