Amid the perils of his earlier life David in conscious integrity could trust his case with God. The Lord's hand had guided him safely past the unnumbered snares that had been laid for his feet. But now, guilty and unrepentant, he did not ask help and guidance from Heaven, but sought to extricate himself from the dangers in which sin had involved him. Bathsheba, whose fatal beauty had proved a snare to the king, was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's bravest and most faithful officers. None could foresee what would be the result should the crime become known. The law of God pronounced the adulterer guilty of death, and the proud-spirited soldier, so shamefully wronged, might avenge himself by taking the life of the king or by exciting the nation to revolt.

Under alle de farer, David mødte som ung, kunne han roligt lægge sin sag i Guds hånd i bevidstheden om sin uskyld. Dengang førte Herren ham trygt forbi de utallige snarer, som blev lagt for hans fødder. Men ved denne lejlighed angrede han ikke sin synd; han bad heller ikke Gud om hjælp, men forsøgte selv at redde sig ud af de farer, som synden havde indviklet ham i. Batseba, hvis skæbnesvangre skønhed kongen ikke kunne modstå, var gift med hetitten Urias, som var en af Davids mest tapre og trofaste soldater. Det var umuligt at beregne følgerne, hvis forbrydelsen blev opdaget. Guds lov krævede dødsstraf over horkarle, og den stolte soldat, der var blevet krænket så dybt, ville måske hævne sig ved at dræbe kongen eller lave revolution.