(Contd.)
As David talked with him, he studied his face, to know what he felt. Is it possible that he has heard something? There was no scowl on Uriah’s face, he only looked tired. He couldn’t have heard about it.
“How is Joab?” David asked him.
“Joab is doing a great job.” Uriah replied and went on to tell him of all the things Joab had been doing.
“How are our soldiers?”
“They are trying.” He told David of their conquests.
“So, how is the war going?”
“We trust God to give us victory. Soon, we should all be back.”
David nodded. “God will give you victory.”
They continued talking.
Eventually David said, “I appreciate what all of you are doing for our people and God. May the Lord reward you. I can see you are tired. You are one of my valiant, loyal soldiers. I want you to go down to your house and wash your feet. Eat, drink, be merry and relax with your wife. I am sure she has missed you and would be glad to see you.”
Uriah smiled and bowed to appreciate David. “Thank you, my lord.”
David added, “You will not go empty-handed. I will give you gifts.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Uriah said.
As he left David’s presence, David asked one of his servants to take gifts of food and clothing to him.
That evening, Abigael was with David in his bedchamber. Even though he liked her and had thought her very beautiful when he met her, he found his mind straying to Bathsheba, who was much younger than Abigael, and he wondered what she and Uriah were doing now. Hmm …
Abigael was his second wife. His first wife being Michal, the daughter of Saul, the first king of Israel.
Michal had really loved him at the beginning of their relationship to the extent that when she had to choose between him and her father, the king, she chose him by revealing her father’s plan to kill him, and helping him to escape. He had thought it would be a brief separation but it had turned to years, during which she was given to another man in marriage. He also married some women. When he became the king, he asked her to be returned to him. She was brought, but he discovered that she had changed to a bitter and angry woman. He still wondered sometimes why things turned out that way between them. Since the day she insulted him because he danced before the Lord, he had not touched her again.
While he was in the wilderness running away from Saul, he encountered Abigael, who was then married to Nabal. When he learnt of her husband’s death, he had sent his servants to bring her to him and she became his wife.
After Abigael was Ahinoam of Jezreel. And when he became king over Judah in Hebron, he took more wives: Maacah, Haggith, Abital and Eglah. When he became the king over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem, he took more wives and concubines …
When Abigael spoke, David realised that his mind had wandered far away. He had a lot on his mind but he managed to push them away and concentrate on the woman with him.
It occurred to him to discuss the issue of Bathsheba’s pregnancy with Abigael who was curled up in his arms. She was wise and might have an advice for him, but he quickly dismissed the idea. How could he tell her that he slept with another man’s wife? She would think him a fool. He probably was.
(To be continued)
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