2 Samuel 11:13

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) He made him drunk.—This fresh attempt of David to conceal his crime by attempting to send Uriah to his house while in a state of intoxication does not need comment, but Uriah’s resolve was so strong that it still governed his conduct while in this almost irresponsible condition.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:6-13 Giving way to sin hardens the heart, and provokes the departure of the Holy Spirit. Robbing a man of his reason, is worse than robbing him of his money; and drawing him into sin, is worse than drawing him into any wordly trouble whatever.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The ark - Perhaps there was a double purpose in taking the ark; one, to excite to the utmost the enthusiasm of the people for its defense and against the Ammonites; the other, to have the means at hand of inquiring of the Lord, which David had found so serviceable.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house—It is customary for servants to sleep in the porch or long gallery; and the guards of the Hebrew king did the same. Whatever his secret suspicions might have been, Uriah's refusal to indulge in the enjoyment of domestic pleasure, and his determination to sleep "at the door of the king's house," arose from a high and honorable sense of military duty and propriety (2Sa 11:11). But, doubtless, the resolution of Uriah was overruled by that Providence which brings good out of evil, and which has recorded this sad episode for the warning of the church.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

When David had called him, i.e. being invited by David.

He made him drunk, or, he made him merry, as the word oft signifies. He caused him to drink more than was convenient.

He went out to lie on his bed; which it doth not appear that he did the night before; but now his excess in eating and drinking might make it more necessary for him.

With the servants of his lord, i.e. in some chamber in the king’s court, where the king’s servants used to take their repose.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when David had called him,.... Invited him to sup with him:

he did eat and drink before him; very freely and plentifully:

and he made him drunk: this was another sin of David's, done in order to make him forget his oath and vow, and that being inflamed with wine, desires might be excited in him to go home and lie with his wife; but even this scheme did not succeed:

and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord: in the guard room, where he had lain before:

but went not down to his house; for he was not so drunk but he remembered his oath, and kept his resolution not to go down to his own house; the Lord no doubt working upon his mind and disinclining him to it.

Geneva Study Bible

And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him {g} 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.

(g) He made him drink more liberally than he was wont to do, thinking by this he would have slept with his wife.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. and he made him drunk] In the hope that he might forget his oath and break his resolution not to go home. But this plan also failed. “The Providence of God is here manifest, defeating David’s base contrivances, and bringing his sin to the open light. It is no less clear how mercy was at the bottom of this severity which issued in David’s deep repentance, and has also given to the Church one of the most solemn and searching warnings as to the evil of sin which is contained in the whole Bible.” Speaker’s Comm.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - He made him drunk. David thus adds sin to sin, and, in order to accomplish his vile end, he degrades the brave soldier whom already he had dishonoured. But even when intoxicated Uriah kept to his determination; and though on this second night there would not be the same pleasure in chatting with old comrades seen again after long absence, he still sleeps in the guard room. And thus there were witnesses that he had not gone to his house. 2 Samuel 11:13

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The next day he invited him to his table and made him drunken, with the hope that when in this state he would give up his intention of not going home to his wife. But Uriah lay down again the next night to sleep with the king's servants, without going down to his house; for, according to the counsel and providence of God, David's sin was to be brought to lift to his deep humiliation.