DAVID, INCULPABLE OF URIAH’S BLOOD: RE-READING 2 SAMUEL 11:8–13

Abstract

The article argues that Uriah died due to Yahweh’s hatred for the Hittites. The Deuteronomist was very interested in telling us how David was very promiscuous and ungodly. However, when an exegesis was done on the study text, it was discovered that Yahweh, as well as Bathsheba, should be held responsible for the death of Uriah. Furthermore, it was proven that David did all he could to make Uriah escape being killed, but Providence being orchestrated by Yahweh made it clear that Uriah was not ready to give heed to the pleadings of David. Moreover, Yahweh hated the Hittites, the tribe of Uriah. Yahweh warned the Israelites right from the beginning that they should annihilate the Hittites from the land. Thus, David was a tool used to achieve this aim. This research piece adopted the narrative analysis of historical-critical methodology in arriving at these findings.