2Sa 11:11 | TNotes | STEP | 11:11 in tents (Hebrew, sukkoth , the name behind Sukkot, “the Festival of Shelters,” Deut 16:13-17 ): These were temporary structures made of branches and foliage used by soldiers in the field, herdsmen protecting their cattle, or grape harvesters in the vineyard. • wine and dine and sleep with my wife? Uriah was willing to wine and dine with David (2 Sam 11:13 ), so it was not sharing the table with Bathsheba that Uriah wished to avoid but sharing the marriage bed. The Israelites considered the war camp a holy place because God was present to fight for his people. Thus, soldiers on duty avoided anything that caused impurity, such as sexual intercourse (Lev 15:18 ; see also 1 Sam 21:5-6 ).

bDeut 16:13-17►

c2 Sam 11:13►

dLev 15:18►

e1 Sam 21:5-6►

‏ 2 Samuel 11:11

11:11 ^a in tents (Hebrew, sukkoth, the name behind Sukkot, “the Festival of Shelters,” Deut 16:13-17 ^b): These were temporary structures made of branches and foliage used by soldiers in the field, herdsmen protecting their cattle, or grape harvesters in the vineyard.

• wine and dine and sleep with my wife? Uriah was willing to wine and dine with David (2 Sam 11:13 ^c), so it was not sharing the table with Bathsheba that Uriah wished to avoid but sharing the marriage bed. The Israelites considered the war camp a holy place because God was present to fight for his people. Thus, soldiers on duty avoided anything that caused impurity, such as sexual intercourse (Lev 15:18 ^d; see also 1 Sam 21:5-6 ^e).