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the antiquities of the jews-1-第118章

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Joab; the captain of his host; to fight against the Ammonites;
who overran all their country; and laid it waste; and shut them
up in their metropolis Rabbah; and besieged them therein。

CHAPTER 7。

How David Fell In Love With Bathsheba; And Slew Her Husband
Uriah; For Which He Is Reproved By Nathan。

1。 But David fell now into a very grievous sin; though he were
otherwise naturally a righteous and a religious man; and one that
firmly observed the laws of our fathers; for when late in an
evening he took a view round him from the roof of his royal
palace; where he used to walk at that hour; he saw a woman
washing herself in her own house: she was one of extraordinary
beauty; and therein surpassed all other women; her name was
Bathsheba。 So he was overcome by that woman's beauty; and was not
able to restrain his desires; but sent for her; and lay with her。
Hereupon she conceived with child; and sent to the king; that he
should contrive some way for concealing her sin (for; according
to the laws of their fathers; she who had been guilty of adultery
ought to be put to death)。 So the king sent for Joab's
armor…bearer from the siege; who was the woman's husband; and his
name was Uriah。 And when he was come; the king inquired of him
about the army; and about the siege; and when he had made answer
that all their affairs went according to their wishes; the king
took some portions of meat from his supper; and gave them to him;
and bade him go home to his wife; and take his rest with her。
Uriah did not do so; but slept near the king with the rest of his
armor…bearers。 When the king was informed of this; he asked him
why he did not go home to his house; and to his wife; after so
long an absence; which is the natural custom of all men; when
they come from a long journey。 He replied; that it was not right;
while his fellow soldiers; and the general of the army; slept
upon the ground; in the camp; and in an enemy's country; that he
should go and take his rest; and solace himself with his wife。 So
when he had thus replied; the king ordered him to stay there that
night; that he might dismiss him the next day to the general。 So
the king invited Uriah to supper; and after a cunning and
dexterous manlier plied him with drink at supper; till he was
thereby disordered; yet did he nevertheless sleep at the king's
gates without any inclination to go to his wife。 Upon this the
king was very angry at him; and wrote to Joab; and commanded him
to punish Uriah; for he told him that he had offended him; and he
suggested to him the manner in which he would have him punished;
that it might not be discovered that he was himself the author of
this his punishment; for he charged him to set him over against
that part of the enemy's army where the attack would be most
hazardous; and where he might be deserted; and be in the greatest
jeopardy; for he bade him order his fellow soldiers to retire out
of the fight。 When he had written thus to him; and sealed the
letter with his own seal; he gave it to Uriah to carry to Joab。
When Joab had received it; and upon reading it understood the
king's purpose; he set Uriah in that place where he knew the
enemy would be most troublesome to them; and gave him for his
partners some of the best soldiers in the army; and said that he
would also come to their assistance with the whole army; that if
possible they might break down some part of the wall; and enter
the city。 And he desired him to be glad of the opportunity of
exposing himself to such great pains; and not to be displeased at
it; since he was a valiant soldier; and had a great reputation
for his valor; both with the king and with his countrymen。 And
when Uriah undertook the work he was set upon with alacrity; he
gave private orders to those who were to be his companions; that
when they saw the enemy make a sally; they should leave him。
When; therefore; the Hebrews made an attack upon the city; the
Ammonites were afraid that the enemy might prevent them; and get
up into the city; and this at the very place whither Uriah was
ordered; so they exposed their best soldiers to be in the
forefront; and opened their gates suddenly; and fell upon the
enemy with great vehemence; and ran violently upon them。 When
those that were with Uriah saw this; they all retreated backward;
as Joab had directed them beforehand; but Uriah; as ashamed to
run away and leave his post; sustained the enemy; and receiving
the violence of their onset; he slew many of them; but being
encompassed round; and caught in the midst of them; he was slain;
and some other of his companions were slain with him。

2。 When this was done; Joab sent messengers to the king; and
ordered them to tell him that he did what he could to take the
city soon; but that; as they made an assault on the wall; they
had been forced to retire with great loss; and bade them; if they
saw the king was angry at it; to add this; that Uriah was slain
also。 When the king had heard this of the messengers; he took it
heinously; and said that they did wrong when they assaulted the
wall; whereas they ought; by undermining and other stratagems of
war; to endeavor the taking of rite city; especially when they
had before their eyes the example of Abimelech; the son of
Gideon; who would needs take the tower in Thebes by force; and
was killed by a large stone thrown at him by an old woman; and
although he was a man of great prowess; he died ignominiously by
the dangerous manner of his assault: that they should remember
this accident; and not come near the enemy's wall; for that the
best method of making war with success was to call to mind the
accidents of former wars; and what good or bad success had
attended them in the like dangerous cases; that so they might
imitate the one; and avoid the other。 But when the king was in
this disposition; the messenger told him that Uriah was slain
also; whereupon he was pacified。 So he bade the messenger go back
to Joab and tell him that this misfortune is no other than what
is common among mankind; and that such is the nature; and such
the accidents of war; insomuch that sometimes the enemy will have
success therein; and sometimes others; but that he ordered him to
go on still in his care about the siege; that no ill accident
might befall him in it hereafter; that they should raise bulwarks
and use machines in besieging the city; and when they have gotten
it; to overturn its very foundations; and to destroy all those
that are in it。 Accordingly the messenger carried the king's
message with which he was charged; and made haste to Joab。 But
Bathsheba; the wife of Uriah; when she was informed of the death
of her husband; mourned for his death many days; and when her
mourning was over; and the tears which she shed for Uriah were
dried up; the king took her to wife presently; and a son was born
to him by her。

3。 With this marriage God was not well pleased; but was thereupon
angry at David; and he appeared to Nathan the prophet in his
sleep; and complained of the king。 Now Nathan was a fair and
prudent man; and considering that kings; when they fall into a
passion; are guided more by that passion than they
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