uriah

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= **Uriah** =

Uriah was a soldier in King David’s army. He was married to Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam. By the time of David, the great Hittite empire in Asia Minor was no more but its remnants survived in Neo-Hittite in Syria. Uriah’s own name is a good Yahwistic name, meaning “Yahweh is my light.” This many imply that he was born in Israel unless he changed his original name.1

= **Military** =

Uriah the Hittite was a warrior in David’s elite force of the “Thirty”. This group consisted of the best and loyal fighters that stayed with David through the straying from Saul. Uriah served in the army besieging Rabbah, the Ammonite capital side by side with King David.

= **Marriage** =

While Uriah was fighting on the battlefield King David committed adultery with his wife Bathsheba. David sent for Uriah because he wanted to cover up the sin so he brought Uriah into the kingdom to question the status of the war. He wanted to charm Uriah with gifts and time away from the war to be with his wife. Uriah the great soldier he was denied the gifts, didn’t go home, and fought bravely for his nation. David was becoming frustrated so he told Joab, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die” (2 Samuel 11:4).

= **Aftermath** =

Uriah’s denial to sleep in his house and sleep with his wife caused his unnecessary death. David’s messenger Joab not only sees his king’s lack of decision making but he starts to see David’s decline as king. The decision to kill Uriah started the downfall of King David. David’s sin contravened the law of God, which he was bound to keep as a man and to uphold as the God-appointed king. It also should be noted that the penalty of God’s law for adultery in the Old Testament was death (Leviticus 20:10). David denied the Lord who had saved him and brought him through many trials. The Lord wanted to show his people that sin kills people and a nation. He wanted David to point to the glory of the grace through him and not himself.

1. A. A Anderson, //2 Samuel// (Dallas, Tex: Word Books, 1989) 67 2. Robert Althaan, //The Anchor Bible Dictionary//, 1st ed. (New York: Doubleday, 1992).767

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