Introduction:
Uriah, often referred to as Uriah the Hittite, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, particularly in the narrative of King David's reign. His account is primarily found in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. Uriah is remembered for his loyalty, integrity, and the tragic circumstances of his death, which highlight the moral failings of King David.

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 one of King David's mighty warriors, a testament to his valor and skill in battle. His name, meaning "Yahweh is my light," suggests that he was a worshiper of the God of Israel, further indicating his assimilation into the Israelite community.

Marriage to Bathsheba:
Uriah was married to Bathsheba, a woman of notable beauty. The Bible does not provide extensive details about their marriage, but it is clear that Uriah was deeply committed to his duties as a soldier and to his wife. Bathsheba's later significance in the biblical narrative as the mother of Solomon adds further weight to Uriah's account.

The Incident with King David:
Uriah's most notable biblical account is his involvement in the scandal with King David, as recorded in 2 Samuel 11. While Uriah was away fighting the Ammonites, King David saw Bathsheba bathing and, captivated by her beauty, summoned her to his palace, resulting in an adulterous affair. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David attempted to cover up the sin by recalling Uriah from the battlefield, hoping he would sleep with his wife and thus attribute the pregnancy to him.

Uriah's Integrity:
Uriah's response to David's plan reveals his integrity and loyalty. Despite David's encouragement, Uriah refused to go home to his wife, stating, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling 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 and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!" (2 Samuel 11:11). Uriah's commitment to his fellow soldiers and the sanctity of his duties starkly contrasts with David's actions.

David's Sin and Uriah's Death:
Unable to persuade Uriah to visit his home, David resorted to a more sinister plan. He instructed Joab, the commander of the army, to place Uriah at the front lines of the fiercest battle and then withdraw support, ensuring Uriah's death. The plan succeeded, and Uriah was killed in battle, as recorded in 2 Samuel 11:15-17.

Aftermath and Legacy:
Following Uriah's death, David married Bathsheba, but the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin, leading to David's repentance and the pronouncement of divine judgment upon his household (2 Samuel 12). Uriah's account serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of integrity and faithfulness.

References in Scripture:
· 2 Samuel 11-12: The primary account of Uriah's involvement with David and Bathsheba.
· 1 Chronicles 11:41: Lists Uriah among David's mighty men, highlighting his status as a valiant warrior.

Uriah's narrative, though brief, is a powerful testament to the themes of loyalty, integrity, and the tragic consequences of moral failure. His account continues to be a subject of reflection and teaching within the Christian tradition.Uriah

or Urijah, the Lord is my light or fire

Uriah

(light of Jehovah).

1. One of the thirty commanders of the thirty bands into which the Israelite army of David was divided. (1 Chronicles 11:41; 2 Samuel 23:39) Like others of David's officers he was a foreigner--a Hittite. His name, however and his manner of speech (2 Samuel 11:11) indicate that he had adopted the Jewish religion. He married Bath-sheba a woman of extraordinary beauty, the daughter of Eliam--possibly the same as the son of Ahithophel, and one of his brother officers, (2 Samuel 23:34) and hence, perhaps, Uriah's first acquaintance with Bath-sheba. It may be inferred from Nathan's parable, (2 Samuel 12:3) that he was passionately devoted to his wife, and that their union was celebrated in Jerusalem as one of peculiar tenderness. In the first war with Ammon, B.C. 1035, he followed Joab to the siege, and with him remained encamped in the open field. (2 Samuel 12:11) He returned to Jerusalem, at an order from the king on the pretext of asking news of the war--really in the hope that his return to his wife might cover the shame of his own crime. The king met with an unexpected obstacle in the austere, soldier-like spirit which guided all Uriah's conduct, and which gives us a high notion of the character and discipline of David's officers. On the morning of the third day David sent him back to the camp with a letter containing the command to Joab to cause his destruction in the battle. The device of Joab was to observe the part of the wall of Rabbath-ammon where the greatest force of the besieged was congregated, and thither, as a kind of forlorn hope to send Uriah. A sally took place. Uriah and the officers with him advanced as far as the gate of the city, and were there shot down by the archers on the wall. Just as Joab had forewarned the messenger, the king broke into a furious passion on hearing of the loss. The messenger, as instructed by Joab, calmly continued, and ended the story with the words, "Thy servant also Uriah the Hittite, is dead." In a moment David's anger is appeased. It is one of the touching parts of the story that Uriah falls unconscious of his wife's dishonor.
2. High priest in the reign of Ahaz. (Isaiah 8:2; 2 Kings 16:10-16) He is probably the same as Urijah the priest, who built the altar for Ahaz. (2 Kings 16:10) (B.C. about 738.)
3. A priest of the family of Hakkoz, the head of the seventh course of priests. (Ezra 8:33; Nehemiah 3:4,21) (B.C. 458.)

Uriah

A Hittie in David's army, renowned for his valor. To save Bathsheba Uriah's wife from death for adultery, and secure her for himself, David caused Uriah to be exposed to death, 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 12:9; 23:29; 1 Kings 15:5.

The Lord is my light.

(1.) A Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, whom David first seduced, and then after Uriah's death married. He was one of the band of David's "mighty men." The sad story of the curel wrongs inflicted upon him by David and of his mournful death are simply told in the sacred record (2 Samuel 11:2-12:26). (see BATHSHEBA; DAVID.)

(2.) A priest of the house of Ahaz (Isaiah 8:2).

(3.) The father of Meremoth, mentioned in Ezra 8:33.

URIAH; URUAH

u-ri'-a, u-ri'-ja ('uriyah, in Jeremiah 26:20 'uriyahu, "flame of Yahweh" or "my light is Yahweh"; the Septuagint and the New Testament Our(e)ias, with variants; the King James Version has Urijah in 2 Kings 16:10-16 Nehemiah 3:4, 21; Nehemiah 8:4 Jeremiah 26:20):

(1) A Hittite, who had settled in Jerusalem at the time of David and who had entered David's service. He had become a worshipper of Yahweh (judging from the usual interpretations of his name) and had married a Hebrew wife, BATH-SHEBA (which see). David's sin with this woman occurred while Uriah was engaged in warfare, and David had him recalled to Jerusalem in order to hide what had transpired. Uriah, however, felt himself bound by the consecration of a soldier (compare 1 Samuel 21:5 Deuteronomy 23:10) and refused to do violence to his religion, so that David's ruse was in vain. (The point is missed here by speaking of Uriah's "chivalrous determination," as in HDB, IV, 837.) David, in desperation, wrote Joab instructions that were virtually a command to have Uriah murdered, and these instructions were duly carried out (2 Samuel 11:2-27). The inclusion of Uriah's name in the list of the "mighty men" in 2 Samuel 23:39 parallel Ch 11:41 is proof of his reputation as a soldier, and the name is found also in 2 Samuel 12:9, 10, 15 1 Kings 15:5; Matthew 1:6. On the occurrence in Matthew see especially Heffern, JBL, XXXI, 69; -1912.

(2) A priest under Ahaz, who carried into effect the latter's commands to introduce an Assyrian altar into the Temple and to use it for the sacrifices (2 Kings 16:10-16; see ALTAR). The same Uriah appears in Isaiah 8:2 as one of the two "faithful witnesses" taken by Isaiah in the matter of Maher-shalal-hash-baz. This description has seemed to many to conflict with Uriah's compliancy in obeying Ahaz, but it must be remembered that

(a) "faithful witness" means simply "one whom the people will believe," and

(b) the articles in the sanctuary were not held as immutably sacred in the time of Ahaz as they were in later days.

The omission of Uriah's name from the list in 1 Chronicles 6:10-14 is probably without significance, as Chronicles records only nine names from Solomon to the exile, showing that there must be many omissions. The corresponding list in Josephus, Ant, X, viii, 6, contains 18 names, including Uriah's.

(3) A son of Shemaiah, of Kiriath-jearim, and a contemporary of Jeremiah. He was a prophet, and his prophecy agreed with Jeremiah's in regards. Jehoiakim, roused to anger, arrested him, even at the trouble of a pursuit into Egypt, put him to death and desecrated his body (Jeremiah 20-23). The story is told partly in order to show the greatness of Jeremiah's dangers, partly to bear record of the goodness of AHIKAM (which see), Jeremiah's protector.

(4) A priest, the father of MEREMOTH (which see) (Ezra 8:33 Nehemiah 3:4, 21; 1 Esdras 8:62 ("Urias," the King James Version "Iri")).

(5) One of those on Ezra's right hand reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8:4; 1 Esdras 9:43 ("Urias")). Quite possibly identical with (4) above.

Burton Scott Easton

3774. Ourias -- Uriah, a Hittite
... Uriah, a Hittite. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Ourias Phonetic
Spelling: (oo-ree'-as) Short Definition: Uriah Definition: Uriah, husband of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3774.htm - 6k223. Uwriyah -- "flame of Yah," the name of a Hittite and of two ...
... "flame of Yah," the name of a Hittite and of two Israelites. Transliteration: Uwriyah
Phonetic Spelling: (oo-ree-yaw') Short Definition: Uriah. Uriah, Urijah ...
/hebrew/223.htm - 5k

223a. Uriyyah -- "flame of Yah," the name of a Hittite and of two ...
... 223, 223a. Uriyyah. 223b . "flame of Yah," the name of a Hittite and of two
Israelites. Transliteration: Uriyyah Short Definition: Uriah. ...
/hebrew/223a.htm - 5k

223b. Uriyyahu -- "flame of Yah," a prophet slain by Jehoiakim
... 223a, 223b. Uriyyahu. 224 . "flame of Yah," a prophet slain by Jehoiakim.
Transliteration: Uriyyahu Short Definition: Uriah. Word ...
/hebrew/223b.htm - 5k

How David Fell in Love with Bathsheba, and Slew Her Husband Uriah ...
... From The Death Of Saul To The Death Of David. CHAPTER 7. How David Fell In Love
With Bathsheba, And Slew Her Husband Uriah, For Which He Is Reproved By Nathan. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how david fell.htm

David's Sin in the Matter of Uriah.
... SERMON X. David's Sin in the Matter of Uriah. 2 Samuel xii, 13. ... The sin
here referred to is that of David in the matter of Uriah. ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon x davids sin in.htm

A Rich Man who was a Thief
... And David sent to ask about the woman; and some one said, "Is not this Bathsheba,
the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Then David sent messengers to bring her; and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a rich man who was.htm

David's Sin.
... He sent a servant to ask who she was, and found she was the wife of Uriah
who was in the army with Joab, fighting the Ammonites. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxiv davids sin.htm

The History of David
... a fair woman wash her and bain her in her chamber, which stood against his house,
and demanded of his servants who she was, and they said she was Uriah's wife. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

The Sixth Commandment
... John 18:30. (4) With the pen. Thus David killed Uriah by writing to Joab to
set Uriah in the forefront of the battle.' 2 Samuel 11:15. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 6 the sixth commandment.htm

Nathan Reproving the King.
... Judah. But David did a very wicked thing. He took the wife of Uriah the
Hittite for his wife, and caused Uriah to be slain. God ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/nathan reproving the king.htm

The Right Understanding of the Law
... Though David did not in his own person kill Uriah, yet because he wrote a letter
to Joab, to set Uriah in the forefront of the battle, and it was done by his ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/1 4 the right understanding of.htm

At this Time, He Knew in a Guilty Way Bersabe...
... of remarkable beauty. She is said to have been the wife of a certain man
called Uriah, who was then in the camp. David caused him ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxxviii at this time.htm

The Psalmist --Setting the Lord
... David! David! David of the matter of Uriah, and Psalmist of the 51st Psalm,
teach me to pray! Teach me thy penitential heart. Teach ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/viii the psalmistsetting the lord.htm

Uriah (33 Occurrences)
... The Lord is my light. (1.) A Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, whom David first
seduced, and then after Uriah's death married. ...URIAH; URUAH. ...
/u/uriah.htm - 22k

Uriah's (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Uriah's (2 Occurrences). Matthew 1:6 Jesse of
David--the King. David (by Uriah's widow) (WEY YLT NIV). ...
/u/uriah's.htm - 6k

Uri'ah (32 Occurrences)
Uri'ah. Uriah, Uri'ah. Uriah's . ... Matthew 1:6 and Jesse begat David the king.
And David the king begat Solomon, of her 'who had been' Uriah's, (See RSV). ...
/u/uri'ah.htm - 15k

Uruah
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia URIAH; URUAH. u-ri'-a, u-ri'-ja ('uriyah,
in Jeremiah 26:20 'uriyahu, "flame of Yahweh" or "my light ...
/u/uruah.htm - 10k

Bathsheba (14 Occurrences)
... or of seven, called also Bath-shu'a (1 Chronicles 3:5), was the daughter of Eliam
(2 Samuel 11:3) or Ammiel (1 Chronicles 3:5), and wife of Uriah the Hittite. ...
/b/bathsheba.htm - 14k

Jo'ab (120 Occurrences)
... But David stayed at Jerusalem. (See RSV). 2 Samuel 11:6 David sent to Joab, saying,
"Send me Uriah the Hittite." Joab sent Uriah to David. (See RSV). ...
/j/jo'ab.htm - 34k

Bath-sheba (12 Occurrences)
... or of seven, called also Bath-shu'a (1 Chronicles 3:5), was the daughter of Eliam
(2 Samuel 11:3) or Ammiel (1 Chronicles 3:5), and wife of Uriah the Hittite. ...
/b/bath-sheba.htm - 13k

Hittite (45 Occurrences)
... One said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah
the Hittite?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/h/hittite.htm - 22k

Meremoth (6 Occurrences)
... mer'-e-moth, me-re'-moth (meremoth, "heights"; Mereimoth): (1) Son of Uriah (Ezra
8:33), who was head of the 7th course of priests appointed by David (1 ...
/m/meremoth.htm - 11k

Hittites (39 Occurrences)
... Mention is made of "Ahimelech the Hittite" (1 Samuel 26:6), and of "Uriah the Hittite,"
one of David's chief officers (2 Samuel 23:39; 1 Chronicles 11:41). ...
/h/hittites.htm - 55k

What was the significance of the altar King Ahaz built? | GotQuestions.org

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