The Aftermath
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It was murder, pure and simple, chargeable first to the king and next to Joab, who carried out David’s orders. Implicit obedience to the orders of superiors is not a virtue when it leads to disobedience of the laws of God. If Joab had been a truly upright man, willing to give a word of honest remonstrance . . . , Uriah and his men need not have been sent to their untimely deaths. But David had as his commander in chief a man with apparently few conscientious scruples, a man willing to become a party to foul murder to please his king.” Joab sent word to David: the deed is done. Joab knew David would question sending a detachment of men against the most strongly defended portion of the enemy’s wall.
He wanted David to know his orders had been followed, even though they had no basis for success. “Then 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” (2 Samuel 11:25).
When Bath-sheba was told her husband was dead, she mourned his death for the prescribed seven days (Genesis 50:10; 1 Samuel 31:13).
As soon as the mourning period was over, David sent for Bath-sheba to make her his wife. At this time, David was already married to Michal (daughter of Saul), Abigail (former wife of Nabal), Ahinoam of Jezreel, Maacah (daughter of King Talmai of Geshur), Haggith, Abital, and Eglah (2 Samuel 2–6). The result of David’s sins of adultery, deceit, and murder would plague his family for decades. Satan makes sin appear attractive.
“But the Lord in His kindness allows men to see that the results of sin are not increased prosperity and happiness, but misery, woe, and death.” “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
