2 Samuel 11:13

KJV

And 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when David {H1732} had called {H7121} him, he did eat {H398} and drink {H8354} before {H6440} him; and he made him drunk {H7937}: and at even {H6153} he went out {H3318} to lie {H7901} on his bed {H4904} with the servants {H5650} of his lord {H113}, but went not down {H3381} to his house {H1004}.

Complete Jewish Bible

David summoned him, ate and drank with him, and got him drunk. But in the evening he went out and lay on his bed with his lord's servants and did not go down to his house.

Berean Standard Bible

Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he got Uriah drunk. And in the evening Uriah went out to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

American Standard Version

And 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Samuel 11:13 chronicles King David's escalating attempts to conceal his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and her subsequent pregnancy. After his initial plan to send Uriah home failed due to Uriah's unwavering loyalty, David resorts to manipulation, inviting Uriah to dine with him and making him drunk. Despite this calculated effort to compromise Uriah's resolve, Uriah's integrity remains steadfast, as he again refuses to go to his own house, choosing instead to sleep among the king's servants. This verse starkly highlights David's moral decline and the futility of trying to hide sin, setting the stage for even more heinous acts.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in the tragic narrative of David's sin, following his adultery with Bathsheba in [2 Samuel 11:4](/2_samuel/11-4 "2 Samuel 11:4 - David and Bathsheba") and his initial, failed attempt to cover the pregnancy by sending Uriah home from the battlefront in [2 Samuel 11:6-10](/2_samuel/11-6 "2 Samuel 11:6-10 - David's First Attempt to Deceive Uriah"). Uriah's remarkable integrity is powerfully articulated in [2 Samuel 11:11](/2_samuel/11-11 "2 Samuel 11:11 - Uriah's Loyalty"), where he declares his solidarity with the ark, Israel, and his fellow soldiers who remain in the field. Verse 13 describes David's second, more desperate and manipulative scheme to break Uriah's resolve, demonstrating the king's increasing moral degradation and setting the stage for the ultimate betrayal and murder of Uriah in [2 Samuel 11:14-17](/2_samuel/11-14 "2 Samuel 11:14-17 - David Arranges Uriah's Death"). The entire chapter serves as a stark contrast to David's earlier character as a "man after God's own heart" and marks a significant turning point in his reign and personal life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern societies, kings held immense power, and their commands were rarely questioned. David, as king of Israel, would have expected his orders to be obeyed without hesitation. The practice of kings taking women, even married ones, was not uncommon among pagan rulers, though it was strictly forbidden under the Mosaic Law. Uriah's status as a "Hittite" (a non-Israelite) who served in David's elite guard (the "thirty," as mentioned in [2 Samuel 23:39](/2_samuel/23-39 "2 Samuel 23:39 - Uriah in David's Mighty Men")) underscores his exceptional loyalty and integration into Israelite society and military. His refusal to go home, even when commanded by the king and given leave from battle, highlights a profound sense of duty and ritual purity (abstaining from marital relations during military campaigns, as seen in [1 Samuel 21:4-5](/1_samuel/21-4 "1 Samuel 21:4-5 - David and the Holy Bread")), which stood in stark contrast to David's moral compromise. The king's act of making Uriah drunk was a common manipulative tactic, aiming to lower his inhibitions and moral resistance.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Samuel and the broader biblical narrative. It is a crucial illustration of the **escalation of sin**, showing how one transgression (adultery) necessitates further, more egregious acts (deception, manipulation, and ultimately murder) to cover it up, demonstrating the insidious nature of unconfessed sin. The profound **contrast between integrity and corruption** is vividly portrayed, with Uriah's unwavering loyalty, self-control, and commitment to his fellow soldiers and the ark of God shining brightly against David's moral darkness and abuse of power. It also highlights the **futility of human deception** when attempting to hide from God; David's elaborate schemes are repeatedly thwarted, emphasizing that "nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight" as stated in [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - God's All-Seeing Eye"). Furthermore, the passage foreshadows the **consequences of sin**, setting in motion the chain of divine judgment and familial strife that will plague David's house, as later prophesied by Nathan in [2 Samuel 12:10-12](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10-12 - Nathan's Prophecy of Judgment").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Drunk (Hebrew, _shakar'_):** The verb `שָׁכַר` (_shakar'_) means "to be or become drunk, intoxicated." The Hiphil stem, `יַּשְׁכְּרֵהוּ` (_yashkerehu_), used here, is causative, meaning "he made him drunk" or "he caused him to be drunk." This is crucial, as it indicates David's active, deliberate, and manipulative role in Uriah's intoxication. It was not an accidental overindulgence on Uriah's part but a calculated act by David, designed to loosen Uriah's moral resolve and achieve the king's sinful aim of having Uriah sleep with Bathsheba.
* **Servants (Hebrew, _'ebed'_):** The term `עֶבֶד` (_'ebed'_) can refer to a servant, slave, or even a loyal subject or official. In this context, "the servants of his lord" refers to the king's personal attendants or military staff who would have slept near the palace or royal quarters. Uriah's choice to sleep with them, rather than in his own house, underscores his unwavering commitment to his military duty and his loyalty to David and the broader Israelite cause, even while under the influence of alcohol. This choice highlights his integrity and adherence to the military code of purity and solidarity with those still in the field.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when David had called him,"**: This clause emphasizes David's continued initiative in the deception. After Uriah's initial refusal to go home, David does not relent but persists in his manipulative efforts. This demonstrates David's growing desperation to cover his sin.
* **"he did eat and drink before him;"**: Uriah, as a loyal subject, obeys the king's summons and shares a meal with him. This act of eating and drinking in the king's presence would typically signify favor and hospitality, yet here it is a prelude to David's calculated treachery.
* **"and he made him drunk:"**: This is the critical turning point in David's second attempt at deception. David actively and intentionally intoxicates Uriah. The purpose is clear: to diminish Uriah's inhibitions and moral clarity, hoping that in his drunken state, he would forget his vow of solidarity with his fellow soldiers and go home to his wife.
* **"and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord,"**: Despite David's deliberate attempt to incapacitate him, Uriah's integrity holds firm. Even in his intoxicated state, he does not go to his own house but chooses to sleep with the king's servants, demonstrating that his commitment to duty and purity transcends even the influence of alcohol. This is a testament to his deeply ingrained principles.
* **"but went not down to his house."**: This final phrase emphatically reiterates Uriah's steadfastness and the ultimate failure of David's scheme. It underscores Uriah's remarkable moral fortitude and highlights the futility of David's efforts to manipulate circumstances and hide his sin. Uriah's unwavering loyalty stands in stark contrast to David's profound moral failure.

#### Literary Devices
This verse is rich with **Irony**. David, the king and "man after God's own heart," is depicted as morally compromised and manipulative, while Uriah, a Hittite and a subordinate, embodies unwavering integrity and loyalty. The king's attempt to use hospitality and drink to achieve a sinister end is deeply ironic. There is also strong **Contrast** between David's desperate cunning and Uriah's steadfast character, even under the influence of alcohol. Uriah's refusal to go home, despite being drunk, serves as a powerful **Symbolism** of his moral purity and dedication, standing as an indictment of David's impurity. The entire scene also functions as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the deeper, more tragic consequences that will inevitably arise from David's unrepentant sin and failed deception, leading directly to Uriah's murder.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage serves as a sobering theological lesson on the insidious nature and escalating trajectory of unconfessed sin. David's initial transgression of adultery quickly metastasizes into elaborate deception, abuse of power, and ultimately, murder. The narrative powerfully illustrates that sin is rarely an isolated event; rather, it creates a desperate need for concealment, leading to further moral compromises and deeper entanglement. Uriah's unwavering integrity, even when manipulated by the highest authority and impaired by intoxication, stands as a profound counterpoint, highlighting the enduring power of faithfulness and loyalty to one's convictions and to God's standards. This stark contrast underscores the biblical principle that true righteousness is not merely external adherence but an internal commitment that withstands pressure and temptation.

* [Proverbs 28:13](/proverbs/28-13 "Proverbs 28:13 - Confession of Sin")
* [Numbers 32:23](/numbers/32-23 "Numbers 32:23 - Your Sin Will Find You Out")
* [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of David and Uriah in 2 Samuel 11:13 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It serves as a stark warning against the deceptive nature of sin and the perilous path of attempting to cover up one's transgressions rather than confessing them. David's descent illustrates how a single act of disobedience can rapidly spiral into a web of deceit, manipulation, and even violence, demonstrating that unconfessed sin demands increasingly desperate measures to maintain its facade. This passage challenges us to cultivate a radical honesty before God and others, understanding that true freedom and peace come not from hiding our failures but from bringing them into the light of God's grace and seeking His forgiveness. Uriah's steadfast integrity, even in the face of royal pressure and personal compromise, stands as a powerful example of unwavering commitment to principle, reminding us that our loyalty to God and His truth should transcend all external pressures and temptations, even from those in authority.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's persistent attempt to cover his sin in this passage illustrate the escalating nature of unconfessed sin in our own lives?**
* **What does Uriah's unwavering integrity, even when intoxicated and manipulated by the king, teach us about true character and loyalty?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to manipulate circumstances or others to hide our own shortcomings or sins, and what are the potential consequences of such actions?**
* **How can we cultivate a deeper commitment to honesty and integrity, even when it is difficult or inconvenient, in light of David's failure and Uriah's faithfulness?**

### FAQ
**Why was Uriah so determined not to go to his house, even when pressured by the king?**

Answer: Uriah's determination stemmed from a profound sense of loyalty, duty, and ritual purity. As a soldier on active campaign, he felt it was inappropriate to enjoy the comforts of home and marital relations while his fellow soldiers, the ark of God, and the entire nation were encamped in the open field, facing potential danger (as he explicitly states in [2 Samuel 11:11](/2_samuel/11-11 "2 Samuel 11:11 - Uriah's Declaration of Loyalty")). This reflects a deep commitment to the military code of the time, which often included periods of ritual abstinence from sexual relations during holy war or active duty, as seen in [1 Samuel 21:4-5](/1_samuel/21-4 "1 Samuel 21:4-5 - David and the Holy Bread")). His integrity was so strong that it superseded the king's direct (though manipulative) command and even the effects of intoxication.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic narrative of David's sin and Uriah's integrity in 2 Samuel 11:13 ultimately points us to the perfect King, Jesus Christ. David, the "man after God's own heart," falls spectacularly, demonstrating the inherent brokenness and fallibility of even the best human rulers. His desperate attempts to cover his sin through manipulation and murder highlight humanity's inability to self-redeem or perfectly uphold righteousness. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true Son of David and the Lamb of God, perfectly embodies the integrity and loyalty that Uriah foreshadowed. While Uriah's faithfulness was limited and ultimately could not save him from David's treachery, Christ's obedience was absolute and redemptive. He "committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth" ([1 Peter 2:22](/1_peter/2-22 "1 Peter 2:22 - Christ's Sinlessness")). Unlike David, who used his power for selfish gain and destruction, Jesus "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Purpose of Christ's Coming")). Where David’s sin brought death and judgment upon his house, Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross brings life and forgiveness to all who believe, fulfilling the promise of a righteous King whose reign would be marked by justice and truth, not deception and violence ([Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - Prophecy of the Messiah's Reign")). He is the one who perfectly covers our sins, not by deceit, but by His atoning blood, inviting us to confess our failures and find true cleansing and restoration in Him ([1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Habakkuk 2:15

¶ Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to [him], and makest [him] drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

Genesis 19:32

Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

Genesis 19:35

And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

Exodus 32:21

¶ And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

Proverbs 20:1

¶ Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.