Uri'ah, often referred to as Uriah the Hittite, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, primarily known for his role in the narrative of King David's moral failure. His account is a poignant example of loyalty, integrity, and the tragic consequences of sin.

Background and Identity

Uriah was a Hittite, a member of a group of people who lived in the region of Canaan. Despite his foreign origin, Uriah was integrated into Israelite society and served as a soldier in King David's army. His name, meaning "Yahweh is my light," suggests that he was a worshiper of the God of Israel, indicating his assimilation into the religious and cultural life of the Israelites.

Role in David's Army

Uriah is introduced in the biblical narrative as one of David's "mighty men," a group of elite warriors who were renowned for their bravery and loyalty (2 Samuel 23:39). His inclusion in this group highlights his valor and the trust that David placed in him as a soldier.

The Incident with Bathsheba

Uriah's most notable mention in the Bible occurs in the context of King David's adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife. The account is found in 2 Samuel 11. While Uriah was away fighting the Ammonites, David saw Bathsheba bathing and, overcome by desire, summoned her to the palace, resulting in her pregnancy.

In an attempt to conceal his sin, David called Uriah back from the battlefield, hoping he would spend the night with Bathsheba and thus believe the child was his own. However, Uriah's sense of duty and solidarity with his fellow soldiers prevented him from enjoying the comforts of home while the Ark and Israel's army were encamped in the open field. Uriah stated, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open field. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!" (2 Samuel 11:11).

David's Sin and Uriah's Death

Frustrated by Uriah's integrity, David resorted to a more sinister plan. He sent Uriah back to the battlefield carrying a letter to Joab, the commander of the army, instructing him to place Uriah at the front lines where the fighting was fiercest and then withdraw, leaving him exposed to the enemy. The plan succeeded, and Uriah was killed in battle (2 Samuel 11:14-17).

Aftermath and Legacy

Following Uriah's death, David took Bathsheba as his wife. However, the prophet Nathan confronted David, revealing God's displeasure with his actions and pronouncing judgment upon him (2 Samuel 12:1-12). The child born to David and Bathsheba died, and David faced ongoing turmoil within his household as a consequence of his sin.

Uriah's account serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of sin and the importance of integrity. His loyalty and righteousness stand in contrast to David's moral failure, highlighting the virtues of faithfulness and honor even in the face of personal loss. Uriah's legacy is preserved in the biblical narrative as a testament to the high cost of sin and the enduring call to righteousness.Uri'ah (32 Occurrences)

Matthew 1:6
and Jesse begat David the king. And David the king begat Solomon, of her 'who had been' Uriah's,
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2 Samuel 11:3
And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said: 'Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?'
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2 Samuel 11:6
And David sent to Joab ,saying: 'Send me Uriah the Hittite.' And Joab sent Uriah to David.
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2 Samuel 11:7
And when Uriah was come unto him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.
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2 Samuel 11:8
And David said to Uriah: 'Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet.' And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of food from the king.
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2 Samuel 11:9
But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
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2 Samuel 11:10
And when they had told David, saying: 'Uriah went not down unto his house', David said unto Uriah: 'Art thou not come from a journey? wherefore didst thou not go down unto thy house?'
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2 Samuel 11:11
And Uriah said unto David: 'The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field; shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.'
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2 Samuel 11:12
And David said to Uriah: 'Tarry here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart.' So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
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2 Samuel 11:14
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
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2 Samuel 11:15
And he wrote in the letter, saying: 'Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.'
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2 Samuel 11:16
And it came to pass, when Joab kept watch upon the city, that he assigned Uriah unto the place where he knew that valiant men were.
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2 Samuel 11:17
And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab; and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
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2 Samuel 11:21
who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then shalt thou say: Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'
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2 Samuel 11:24
And the shooters shot at thy servants from off the wall; and some of the king's servants are dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'
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2 Samuel 11:26
And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband.
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2 Samuel 12:9
Wherefore hast thou despised the word of the LORD, to do that which is evil in My sight? Uriah the Hittite thou hast smitten with the sword, and his wife thou hast taken to be thy wife, and him thou hast slain with the sword of the children of Ammon.
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2 Samuel 12:10
Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from thy house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
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2 Samuel 23:39
Uriah the Hittite. Thirty and seven in all.
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1 Kings 15:5
because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that He commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
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2 Kings 16:10
And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
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2 Kings 16:11
And Urijah the priest built an altar; according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Urijah the priest make it against the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus.
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2 Kings 16:16
Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
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1 Chronicles 11:41
Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai;
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Ezra 8:33
And on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites;
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Nehemiah 3:4
And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
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Nehemiah 3:21
After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
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Nehemiah 8:4
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
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Isaiah 8:2
and I will take unto Me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.'
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Jeremiah 26:20
And also there hath been a man prophesying in the name of Jehovah, Urijah son of Shemaiah, of Kirjath-Jearim, and he prophesieth against this city, and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah,
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Jeremiah 26:21
And the king Jehoiakim, and all his mighty ones, and all the heads, hear his words, and the king seeketh to put him to death, and Urijah heareth, and feareth, and fleeth, and goeth in to Egypt.
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Jeremiah 26:23
And they bring out Urijah from Egypt, and bring him in unto the king Jehoiakim, and he smiteth him with a sword, and casteth his corpse unto the graves of the sons of the people.'
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Uri'ah (32 Occurrences)
Uri'ah. Uriah, Uri'ah. Uriah's . Multi-Version Concordance Uri'ah (32
Occurrences). Matthew 1:6 and Jesse begat David the king. ...
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Uri'ah's (1 Occurrence)
Uri'ah's. Uriah's, Uri'ah's. Urias . Multi-Version Concordance Uri'ah's (1
Occurrence). 2 Samuel 12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house. ...
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Uriah (33 Occurrences)

/u/uriah.htm - 22k

Uriah's (2 Occurrences)

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Urias (1 Occurrence)

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