2 Samuel 11 recounts the ill-fated story of King David's moral failure. In the spring, when kings typically go to battle, David remained in Jerusalem. One evening, he observed Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, bathing on a rooftop. David's desire for her overcame him, and he sent messengers to bring her to him. They slept together, and Bathsheba became pregnant.
When David learned of Bathsheba's pregnancy, he devised a plan to cover up his sin. He summoned Uriah back from the battlefront, hoping that he would spend time with his wife and assume the child was his own. However, Uriah remained faithful to his duties as a soldier and refused to indulge in pleasure while his fellow soldiers were fighting. Frustrated, David attempted to make Uriah drunk but failed.
Realizing his initial plan had failed, David resorted to a more sinister scheme. He wrote a letter instructing Joab, the commander of his army, to put Uriah in a vulnerable position during battle, ultimately ensuring his death. Joab followed the orders, and Uriah was killed.
Upon learning of Uriah's death, David took Bathsheba as his wife. However, God was displeased with David's actions, and the chapter ends with a note stating that the thing David had done displeased the Lord.