2 Samuel 11:9

But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) At the door of the king’s house.—Probably in the guard chamber at the entrance of the palace. (Comp. 1Kings 14:27-28.) It is quite unnecessary to suppose that Uriah had any suspicion of what had been done. His conduct and language is simply that of a brave, frank, generous-hearted soldier.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:6-13 Giving way to sin hardens the heart, and provokes the departure of the Holy Spirit. Robbing a man of his reason, is worse than robbing him of his money; and drawing him into sin, is worse than drawing him into any wordly trouble whatever.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A mess of meat - Compare Genesis 43:34. The word denotes the honorable portion given by the host to his chief guest.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house—It is customary for servants to sleep in the porch or long gallery; and the guards of the Hebrew king did the same. Whatever his secret suspicions might have been, Uriah's refusal to indulge in the enjoyment of domestic pleasure, and his determination to sleep "at the door of the king's house," arose from a high and honorable sense of military duty and propriety (2Sa 11:11). But, doubtless, the resolution of Uriah was overruled by that Providence which brings good out of evil, and which has recorded this sad episode for the warning of the church.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

With all the servants of his lord; with the king’s guard. This he did, either upon some suspicion of the matter; see 2 Samuel 11:7 or by the secret direction of God’s wise and irresistible providence, who would bring David’s sin to light.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house, with all the servants of his lord,.... The bodyguards, which were placed there to watch the palace in the night season; Uriah first fell into a conversation with these as is highly probable, to whom he was well known, and who might inquire of one and another of their friends in the army; and he being weary, laid himself down among there, and slept:

and went not down to his house; whether the trifling questions David asked him, or the information the guards might give him of his wife being sent for to court; made him suspect something, and so had no inclination to go to this own house; or however so it was ordered by the providence of God, which directed him to act in this manner, that the sin of David and Bathsheba they studied to hide might be discovered.

Geneva Study Bible

But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9. Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house] Probably in the guard chamber in the outer court. Cp. 1 Kings 14:27-28.

2 Samuel 11:9

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

But Uriah had his suspicions aroused. The connection between his wife and David may not have remained altogether a secret, so that it may have reached his ears as soon as he arrived in Jerusalem. "He lay down to sleep before the king's house with all the servants of his lord (i.e., the retainers of the court), and went not down to his house." "Before, or at, the door of the king's house," i.e., in the court of the palace, or in a building adjoining the king's palace, where the court servants lived.