1 Tendo decorrido um ano, ao tempo em que os reis saem para a guerra, enviou Davi a Joabe, juntamente com os seus servos e a todo o Israel; e destruíram aos amonitas, e sitiaram a Rabá. Davi, porém, ficou em Jerusalém.2 À tarde levantou-se Davi de dormir a sesta, e pôs-se a passear no eirado do palácio real; e do eirado viu tomando banho uma mulher que era em extremo formosa.3 Davi mandou saber quem era. Foi-lhe dito: É Bate-Seba, filha de Eliã, mulher de Urias heteu.4 Enviou Davi mensageiros e fez que lha trouxessem. Chegada que foi Bate-Seba, ele se deitou com ela, pois já estava purificada da sua imundícia. Depois voltou ela para casa.5 A mulher concebeu; e mandou dizer a Davi: Estou grávida.6 Davi enviou a Joabe, dizendo: Remete a Urias heteu. Joabe remeteu Urias a Davi.7 Quando Urias se apresentou a Davi, este lhe perguntou como passava Joabe, e o povo, e como ia a guerra.8 Disse Davi a Urias: Desce para tua casa, e lava os teus pés. Saiu Urias da casa real e foi mandado após ele um presente do rei.9 Mas Urias dormiu à porta da casa real com todos os servos do seu senhor, e não desceu para sua casa.10 Avisaram disto a Davi, dizendo: Urias não desceu para sua casa. Perguntou Davi a Urias: Não és tu vindo duma jornada? porque não desceste para tua casa?11 Respondeu Urias a Davi: A arca, e Israel, e Judá estão em tendas, e o meu senhor Joabe e os servos do meu senhor acampam-se ao ar livre; hei de entrar eu na minha casa, para comer e beber, e para dormir com minha mulher? Pela tua vida, e pela vida da tua alma, não farei tal coisa.12 Disse Davi a Urias: Fica aqui hoje, e amanhã te despedirei. Urias, pois, ficou em Jerusalém aquele dia e o seguinte.13 E Davi o convidou a comer e a beber na sua presença, e o embebedou. À tarde saiu Urias a deitar-se na sua cama com os servos do seu senhor, porém não desceu para sua casa.14 Pela manhã escreveu Davi uma carta a Joabe, e lha enviou por mão de Urias.15 Escreveu na carta, dizendo: Ponde a Urias na frente onde for mais renhido o combate, e deixai-o sozinho, para que seja ferido e morra.16 Quando Joabe vigiava a cidade, pôs a Urias num lugar onde sabia que estavam homens valentes.17 Tendo os homens da cidade feito uma surtida, pelejaram contra Joabe; do povo caíram alguns que eram servos de Davi; e morreu também Urias heteu.18 Enviou Joabe e referiu a Davi todas as coisas que se tinham passado na batalha;19 deu ordem ao mensageiro, dizendo: Quando tiveres acabado de referir ao rei tudo o que se passou na batalha,20 se o rei se encolerizar e te disser: Por que chegastes tão perto da cidade para pelejardes? não sabíeis que haviam de atirar do alto do muro?21 quem matou a Abimeleque, filho de Jerubesete? não foi uma mulher que do alto do muro lançou em cima dele a pedra superior dum moinho, de sorte que morreu em Tebes? por que chegastes tão perto do muro? então responderás: Também foi morto teu servo Urias heteu.22 Partiu o mensageiro, foi e referiu a Davi tudo o que Joabe lhe tinha mandado.23 Disse o mensageiro a Davi: Na verdade os homens prevaleceram contra nós, e saíram a nós no campo, mas dando sobre eles, os repelimos até a porta.24 Do alto do muro atiraram os flecheiros contra os teus servos; morreram alguns dos servos do rei, e morreu também o teu servo Urias heteu.25 Disse Davi ao mensageiro: Assim dirás a Joabe: Não te desagrade isso, porque a espada destrói ora este, ora aquele. Faze mais rija a tua peleja contra a cidade, e derruba-a. Quanto a ti encoraja a Joabe.26 Quando a mulher de Urias ouviu que seu marido era morto, o chorou.27 Passado o tempo do nojo, mandou Davi buscá-la para sua casa. Ela lhe foi por mulher e deu-lhe à luz um filho. Mas o que Davi fizera desagradou a Jeová.

1 And it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth to war, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they spoiled the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabba: but David remained in Jerusalem.2 In the mean time it happened that David arose from his bed after noon, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and he saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful.3 And the king sent, and inquired who the woman was. And it was told him, that she was Bethsabee the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Urias the Hethite.4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her: and presently she was purified from her uncleanness:5 And she returned to her house having conceived. And she sent and told David, and said: I have conceived.6 And David sent to Joab, saying: Send me Urias the Hethite. And Joab sent Urias to David.7 And Urias came to David. And David asked how Joab did, and the people, and how the war was carried on.8 And David said to Urias: Go into thy house, and wash thy feet. And Urias went out from the king's house, and there went out after him a mess of meat from the king.9 But Urias slept before the gate of the king's house, with the other servants of his lord, and went not down to his own house.10 And it was told David by some that said: Urias went not to his house. And David said to Urias: Didst thou not come from thy journey? why didst thou not go down to thy house?11 And Urias said to David: The ark of God and Israel and Juda dwell in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord abide upon the face of the earth: and shall I go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to sleep with my wife? By thy welfare and by the welfare of thy soul I will not do this thing.12 Then David said to Urias: Tarry here to day, and to morrow I will send thee away. Urias tarried in Jerusalem that day and the next.13 And David called him to eat and to drink before him, and he made him drunk: and he went out in the evening, and slept on his couch with the servants of his lord, and went not down into his house.14 And when the morning was come, David wrote a letter to Joab: and sent it by the hand of Urias,15 Writing in the letter: Set ye Urias in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave ye him, that he may be wounded and die.16 Wherefore as Joab was besieging the city, he put Urias in the place where he knew the bravest men were.17 And the men coming out of the city, fought against Joab, and there fell some of the people of the servants of David, and Urias the Hethite was killed also.18 Then Joab sent, and told David all things concerning the battle.19 And he charged the messenger, saying: When thou hast told all the words of the battle to the king,20 If thou see him to be angry, and he shall say: Why did you approach so near to the wall to fight? knew you not that many darts are thrown from above off the wall?21 Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerobaal? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, and slew him in Thebes? Why did you go near the wall? Thou shalt say: Thy servant Urias the Hethite is also slain.22 So the messenger departed, and came and told David all that Joab had commanded him.23 And the messenger said to David: The men prevailed against us, and they came out to us into the field: and we vigorously charged and pursued them even to the gate of the city.24 And the archers shot their arrows at thy servants from off the wall above: and some of the king's servants are slain, and thy servant Urias the Hethite is also dead.25 And David said to the messenger: Thus shalt thou say to Joab: Let not this thing discourage thee: for various is the event of war: and sometimes one, sometimes another is consumed by the sword: encourage thy warriors against The city, and exhort them that thou mayest overthrow it.26 And the wife of Urias heard that Urias her husband was dead, and she mourned for him.27 And the mourning being over, David sent and brought her into his house, and she became his wife, and she bore him a son: and this thing which David had done, was displeasing to the Lord.