2 Samuel 11

“And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.” Naming David and Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war…” Naming David and Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and…” Naming Uriah and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.” Naming Uriah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem…” Naming Uriah and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that…” Naming Set and Uriah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David…” Naming David and Hittite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;” Naming David and Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we…” Naming David and Surely keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant…” Naming Hittite and Uriah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.” Naming Uriah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.