2 Samuel 11 · Grade 4
A King Who Fell
Read and Think
At the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab and all Israel to fight, but David stayed at Jerusalem. One evening he saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Even after he learned she was married, David sent for her and took her to his house. This was adultery, a sin against God and against Uriah.
When Bathsheba told David she was with child, David tried to hide his sin. He called Uriah home from the battle and urged him to go to his house. But Uriah refused. He said the ark, Israel, and Judah were staying in tents, so he would not go home to eat and drink. Uriah, a foreign soldier, showed more loyalty than the king.
David then wrote a letter to Joab, carried by Uriah himself, ordering that Uriah be placed in the fiercest battle and left alone. Uriah died. When the mourning was over, David brought Bathsheba into his house as his wife. The chapter ends with a short but serious line: the thing that David had done displeased Yahweh.
Show What You Know
Where was David when the army went to war?
What sin did David commit with Bathsheba?
Why did Uriah refuse to go home?
How does the chapter end?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
- At the time when kings go out to battle, David sent and all Israel to fight, but David stayed at Jerusalem.
- One evening he saw Bathsheba, the wife of the Hittite.
- Even after he learned she was married, David sent for her and took her to his .
- This was adultery, a sin against and against Uriah.
- When told David she was with child, David tried to hide his sin.
Think About It
One wrong choice led David to more wrong choices to hide it. Why is it better to admit sin quickly instead of covering it?
Uriah stayed faithful when the king did not. How can you stay faithful even when others around you do wrong?
Memory Verse
“But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and didn’t go down to his house.”
2 Samuel 11:9 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for seeing what I do. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- What does the chapter teach about trying to hide sin?
- How did Uriah's integrity show up the king's failure?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.