Topical Bible: Covetousness: David, of Bath-Sheba

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Covetousness, a deep-seated desire for what belongs to another, is a sin that is explicitly condemned in the Scriptures. The Tenth Commandment states, "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17). The account of King David and Bath-Sheba is a poignant biblical illustration of covetousness and its devastating consequences.

The Context of David's Covetousness

The narrative of David and Bath-Sheba is found in 2 Samuel 11. At a time when kings typically went to war, David remained in Jerusalem. "One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman" (2 Samuel 11:2). This woman was Bath-Sheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's loyal soldiers.

David's initial glance turned into a covetous desire. Despite knowing that Bath-Sheba was married, David sent messengers to bring her to him, and he lay with her, resulting in her pregnancy (2 Samuel 11:4-5). This act of covetousness led David to commit adultery, a sin that spiraled into further transgressions.

The Consequences of Covetousness

David's covetousness set off a chain of events that led to grave consequences. In an attempt to conceal his sin, David orchestrated the death of Uriah by placing him in the front lines of battle, where the fighting was fiercest. Uriah was killed, and David took Bath-Sheba as his wife (2 Samuel 11:14-27).

The Lord was displeased with David's actions, and He sent the prophet Nathan to confront the king. Nathan told David a parable about a rich man who took a poor man's only lamb, stirring David's anger. Nathan then revealed, "You are that man!" (2 Samuel 12:7). David's covetousness and subsequent sins were laid bare before him.

As a result of his actions, David faced severe consequences. The child born to David and Bath-Sheba became ill and died despite David's fasting and prayers (2 Samuel 12:15-18). Furthermore, Nathan prophesied that the sword would never depart from David's house, and calamity would arise from within his own family (2 Samuel 12:10-11).

David's Repentance

Confronted with his sin, David expressed deep remorse and repentance. Psalm 51 is traditionally understood as David's heartfelt plea for mercy and forgiveness. He cried out, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). David's repentance was genuine, and while he faced temporal consequences, he found spiritual restoration.

Theological Implications

The account of David and Bath-Sheba serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of covetousness. It underscores the importance of guarding one's heart against desires that lead to sin. The narrative also highlights God's justice and mercy—His willingness to forgive those who truly repent, yet His commitment to righteousness and the consequences of sin.

David's account is a testament to the human propensity to sin and the need for divine grace. It calls believers to examine their own hearts, to seek contentment in God's provision, and to resist the temptation to covet what belongs to another.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 11:2-5
And it came to pass in an evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look on.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Tenth Commandment
... He saw Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, and she was "very beautiful to look upon," and David
became a ... nearly two millions of dollars, but his covetousness was so ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

Matt. xiv. 23, 24
... felt toward Jezebel, as Moses toward the Egyptian, as David toward Bathsheba. ... this
table, no Simon; nay, for both these perished through covetousness. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily l matt xiv 23.htm

Colossians iii. 7-May
... heart, wrath, mouth, blasphemy, eyes, fornication, covetousness, hands and ... He passes
on to the child of Bathsheba. ... 24 gives the impression that David laid the ...
/.../homily viii colossians iii 7-may.htm

Letter Lii. To Nepotian.
... Bathsheba was still living, Abigail was still left, and the ... You cannot be holier
than David or wiser than ... might a robber accuse others of covetousness." In a ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lii to nepotian.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... The name of God is therefore the object of a Christian's fear. David prayed to God
that he would unite his heart to fear his name (Psalm 86:11). ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm

Letter xxii. To Eustochium.
... David was a man after God's own heart, and his ... upon his housetop he was fascinated
by Bathsheba's nudity, and ... must also avoid the sin of covetousness, and this ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xxii to eustochium.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... of Yahveh forbade murder, adultery, theft, false witness, covetousness. ... of Bethlehem;
the story of Bathsheba and Uriah ... to reduce a story like David's to terms ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

The Doctrine
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
... about our afflictions for sins.-A simile of a man indicted at the assizes, and his
malicious adversary.-An allusion to Abishai and Shimei, who cursed David. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the work of jesus christ.htm