David and Bathsheba — Bible audio story cover art

David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1–12:25

The man after God's own heart committed the ugliest sin in his story.

Spring — when kings go to war — but David stays home. He's on the palace roof in the evening when he sees a woman bathing. Bathsheba is beautiful. She's also married — to Uriah, one of David's most loyal soldiers, currently fighting David's war. David sends for her. She becomes pregnant. David tries to cover it up, calling Uriah home from the front, hoping he'll sleep with his wife. Uriah refuses to enjoy comfort while his comrades fight. So David sends him back with a sealed letter to the commander: Put Uriah in the heaviest fighting. Then withdraw. Uriah dies. David marries Bathsheba. The prophet Nathan arrives with a story about a stolen lamb.