2 Samuel 11:2

“And it came to pass in an eveningtide, etc.] Some time in the afternoon, when the sun began to decline; not in the dusk of the evening, for then the object he saw could not have been seen so distinctly by him: that David arose from off his bed; having taken a nap in the heat of the day after dinner; indulging himself more than he used to do to sloth and luxury, which prepared him, and led him on the more eagerly to the lust of uncleanness: and walked upon the roof of the king’s house; to refresh himself after his sleep, it being the cool of the day, and the roof of the house being flat and fit to walk upon, as the houses of Judea were; (see <052208>Deuteronomy 22:8); and from the roof he saw…”

“DAVID COMMITS ADULTERY WITH BATH-SHEBA. (Sa2 11:2-12) it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed--The Hebrews, like other Orientals, rose at daybreak, and always took a nap during the heat of the day. Afterwards they lounged in the cool of the evening on their flat-roofed terraces. It is probable that David had ascended to enjoy the open-air refreshment earlier than usual.”

“An eveningtide - The evening began at three o’clock in the afternoon. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Arose from off his bed - Where he had lain, and slept for some time. And the bed of sloth often proves the bed of lust. Washing herself - In a bath, which was in her garden. Probably from some ceremonial pollution. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 11:3”

“11:2 walking on the roof: The roofs of houses were flat and were regularly used for a variety of purposes, such as drying and storing produce (Josh 2:6), strolling and socializing, and sleeping in warm weather. • Bathsheba was taking a bath in plain view of the roof of the king’s palace, but perhaps she assumed everyone would be inside, seeking refuge from the heat or having a midday rest.”

“arose from: Sa2 4:5, Sa2 4:7; Pro 19:15, Pro 24:33, Pro 24:34; Mat 26:40, Mat 26:41; Th1 5:6, Th1 5:7; Pe1 4:7 the roof of: Deu 22:8; Jer 19:13; Mat 10:27; Act 10:9 he saw: Gen 3:6, Gen 6:2, Gen 34:2; Job 31:1; Psa 119:37; Mat 5:28; Jo1 2:16 very beautiful: Gen 39:6; Pro 6:25, Pro 31:30 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 11:3”

“David's Adultery. - David's deep fall forms a turning-point not only in the inner life of the great king, but also in the history of his reign. Hitherto David had kept free from the grosser sins, and had only exhibited such infirmities and failings as simulation, prevarication, etc., which clung to all the saints of the Old Covenant, and were hardly regarded as sins in the existing stage of religious culture at that time, although God never left them unpunished, but invariably visited them upon His servants with humiliations and chastisements of various kinds. Among the unacknowledged sins which God tolerated because of the hardness of Israel's heart was polygamy, which encouraged…”