Reading for May 8th

 Read 2 Samuel 11.1-13. In 11.1-27: David and Bathsheba. In verse 1: This story is set a year after the events in the previous chapter, it is not clear why David remained at Jerusalem, but the story in 21.15-17 may lie in the background. In verse 2: David had been taking an afternoon nap on the roof of the king's house where it was cool. From there he was able to look down into the courtyard of surrounding houses, its where he saw the woman bathing. Uriah was one of David's best soldiers, according to 23.39. In verse 4: Bathsheba was purifying herself after her period by bathing according to Lev 15.19-28. She was at the most fertile time of her cycle when she slept with David. This also makes it clear that her child must be David's, not Uriah. In verse 7: It must have seemed strange to Uriah to be called back from battle for a personal audience with the king only to be asked the most general questions. Perhaps this raised his suspicions and caused him to be on his best behavior. The people are the army. In verse 8: Wash your feet is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. In the Hebrew idiom, the feet often refer to the genitals. In verse 9: As a pious soldier who is consecrated for war (see 1 Sam 21.5), Uriah refuses to sleep with his wife.  Comments or Questions..