2 Samuel 11:2-4
11:2 a walking on the roof: The roofs of houses were flat and were regularly used for a variety of purposes, such as drying and storing produce (Josh 2:6 b), strolling and socializing, and sleeping in warm weather.• Bathsheba was taking a bath in plain view of the roof of the king’s palace, but perhaps she assumed everyone would be inside, seeking refuge from the heat or having a midday rest.
11:3 c Bathsheba means “daughter of seven” or “daughter of oath.” Her father Eliam was the son of Ahithophel (see 23:34 d), an adviser sought by David and then by Absalom (15:12 e; 16:23 f). Much to David’s chagrin (15:31 g), Ahithophel later shifted his allegiance from David to Absalom (17:1-4 h, 14 i) and advised Absalom to sleep with David’s concubines on a rooftop, in open view (16:20-22 j).
• Uriah is a Hebrew name (meaning “Yahweh [is] my light”); either he was a foreign mercenary, a convert to Israelite religion, or an Israelite of Hittite heritage. Uriah might also have been a member of the non-Israelite aristocracy in Jerusalem that predated David’s conquest of the city. He was one of the Thirty—David’s mightiest warriors (23:39 k).
11:4 l It is not clear whether Bathsheba came to David’s palace voluntarily. That no protestations are recorded (cp. 13:12-13 m) and that she married David, bore him another child, and persuaded him to designate their child as heir (1 Kgs 1:11-21 n) suggest that she might have been a willing partner. However, Bathsheba mourned for her husband (2 Sam 11:26-27 o), and only David was condemned for this act (11:27 p), so she might have been violated against her will.
• The phrase after having her menstrual period (see Lev 15:19-24 q) is included to show that the child Bathsheba conceived could not possibly have been Uriah’s.
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