David and Bathsheba: A King's Grievous Sin
At the height of his power, David commits adultery with Bathsheba and murders her husband Uriah, leading to Nathan's prophetic confrontation and David's broken repentance.
2 Samuel 11:1-27, 2 Samuel 12:1-25
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The Story
In the spring, when kings go forth to battle, David remained in Jerusalem. One evening, walking upon his palace roof, he saw a woman bathing—Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty men who was away at war. Despite knowing she was married, David sent for her, lay with her, and she conceived. One sin spiraled into deeper darkness. To cover his adultery, David summoned Uriah from battle, expecting him to go home to his wife. But Uriah's integrity exceeded his king's: 'The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents... shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife?' Even when David made him drunk, Uriah would not compromise his soldier's oath. David's solution was murder by proxy. He sent Uriah back to battle carrying his own death warrant: a letter instructing Joab to place Uriah in the fiercest fighting, then withdraw support. Uriah died. After Bathsheba's mourning, David took her as his wife. 'But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.' God sent Nathan the prophet, who told a parable about a rich man with many flocks who stole a poor man's one beloved lamb to feed his guest. David's righteous anger flared: 'The man that hath done this thing shall surely die!' Nathan's response cut to the heart: 'Thou art the man.' The prophet recounted God's blessings to David, then pronounced judgment: the sword would never depart from his house, evil would rise from his own family, and the child born from adultery would die. David's repentance was immediate and genuine: 'I have sinned against the LORD.' Nathan assured him of forgiveness—he would not die—but consequences remained. The child died despite David's fasting and prayer. Yet God's grace triumphed: Bathsheba bore another son, Solomon, whom the LORD loved.
David Makes a Terrible Mistake
Kids Version
King David had always loved God and tried to obey Him. But one day, David made some very bad choices. It happened when David's army went to fight a war, but David stayed home at the palace. One evening, he was walking on his roof and saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. David found out she was married to Uriah, one of his best soldiers who was away fighting. Even though David knew it was wrong, he sent for Bathsheba and sinned with her. Soon Bathsheba sent David a message: she was going to have a baby. David got scared. He didn't want anyone to know what he had done. So he tried to trick Uriah by calling him home from the war, thinking Uriah would spend time with his wife. But Uriah was such a good and honest soldier that he wouldn't go home while his friends were still fighting. David's heart got even darker. He sent Uriah back to battle with a secret letter that told the army commander to put Uriah in the most dangerous place and then leave him there alone. Uriah was killed. David married Bathsheba, thinking his secret was safe. But God knew everything. God sent a prophet named Nathan to tell David a story about a rich man who stole a poor man's only lamb. David got angry and said, 'That man should be punished!' Nathan looked right at David and said, 'You are that man! You took Uriah's wife and had him killed.' David's heart broke. He cried out, 'I have sinned against the LORD!' He was truly sorry. God forgave David, but there were still sad consequences. The baby died, and David's family had many troubles after that. David learned that sin always hurts people, but God's forgiveness is real when we truly repent.
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Scripture — 2 Samuel 11:1-27 (KJV)
1And 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. after: Heb. at the return of the year
2And 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.
3And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4And 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. for she: or, and when she had purified herself, etc, she returned
5And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
6And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. how Joab: Heb. of the peace of, etc
8And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. followed: Heb. went out after him
9But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
13And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
14And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. hottest: Heb. strong from him: Heb. from after him
16And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
20And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
22So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
24And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
25Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. displease: Heb. be evil in thine eyes one: Heb. so and such
26And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. displeased: Heb. was evil in the eyes of
Memory Verse
“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. after: Heb. at the return of the year”
— 2 Samuel 11:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “David and Bathsheba: A King's Grievous Sin” in the Bible?
At the height of his power, David commits adultery with Bathsheba and murders her husband Uriah, leading to Nathan's prophetic confrontation and David's broken repentance. This story is found in 2 Samuel 11:1-27, 2 Samuel 12:1-25.
Where is “David and Bathsheba: A King's Grievous Sin” found in the Bible?
“David and Bathsheba: A King's Grievous Sin” is found in 2 Samuel 11:1-27, 2 Samuel 12:1-25, in the book of 2 Samuel.
What can children learn from “David and Bathsheba: A King's Grievous Sin”?
This story teaches children about The deceitfulness of sin, Consequences of sin, God's justice, Repentance and forgiveness, Prophetic courage. Even though David loved God, he made very bad choices that hurt many people. But when a prophet told him the truth, David was truly sorry.