2 Samuel 11:1

King James Version (KJV)

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

When kings go forth - This was about a year after the war with the Syrians spoken of before, and about the spring of the year, as the most proper season for military operations. Calmet thinks they made two campaigns, one in autumn and the other in spring; the winter being in many respects inconvenient, and the summer too hot.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

After the year was expired - The next spring after the escape of the Ammonites into their city 2 Samuel 10:14.

The children of Ammon - The marginal reference supplies the word “the land of,” which is obviously the right reading.

David tarried at Jerusalem - The Syrians being subdued, the war with Ammon was not of sufficient moment to require David‘s personal presence. The whole section relating to David‘s adultery and Uriah‘s death, from this verse to 2 Samuel 12:26, is omitted in the Book of Chronicles.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Observe the occasions of David's sin; what led to it. 1. Neglect of his business. He tarried at Jerusalem. When we are out of the way of our duty, we are in temptation. 2. Love of ease: idleness gives great advantage to the tempter. 3. A wandering eye. He had not, like Job, made a covenant with his eyes, or, at this time, he had forgotten it. And observe the steps of the sin. See how the way of sin is down-hill; when men begin to do evil, they cannot soon stop. Observe the aggravations of the sin. How could David rebuke or punish that in others, of which he was conscious that he himself was guilty?

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

1. After the year was expired. Literally, “in the return of the year” (see 1 Kings 20:22, 26). Among the Hebrews the civil year began with the month Tishri in the fall, although the religious year began with Nisan in the spring. Since the autumn was the “going forth” of the year, the spring would be the “return” (see p. 109). The reference here is to the spring, as proved by the next clause.

When kings go forth. The rulers of Western Asia generally started out on their military campaigns in the spring of the year. The winter was unsuited for fighting because of the cold and the rain. Also the roads at that time were well-nigh impassable and supplies of food were not readily available. The Assyrian annals show that almost invariably the spring of the year was chosen for the armies to conduct their campaigns. With the Assyrians these were annual expeditions.

David sent Joab. Joab had spent the winter, or rainy season, at Jerusalem. As soon as the winter was over, David renewed the conflict. During the previous season a crushing defeat had been inflicted on the Syrians, but the Ammonites still retained their power. When attacked by Joab’s forces they had simply retreated within their city walls, whereupon Joab returned to Jerusalem (ch. 10:14). The Ammonites were mainly responsible for this conflict and had hired the Syrians to help them (ch. 10:6). Hence it was necessary for David to deal with them and thus eliminate the Ammonite threat to the security of Israel.

Without the aid of their Syrian allies, the Ammonites alone were no match for the forces of Israel. Since the Syrians had already been subdued, it was only a question of time until the Ammonites, too, would be reduced to submission. David therefore did not consider it essential that he personally take the field against Ammon, but entrusted the conduct of the war to Joab.

Besieged Rabbah. The Ammonites fell an easy prey to the forces of Israel. The country as a whole was quickly reduced, with the exception of Rabbah, the Ammonite capital (ch. 12:26). When Joab’s men were devastating the countryside of Ammon, many of the people took refuge behind the walls of the capital city. Only a long blockade could bring about its final submission. Surrounding the city, Joab began siege operations. The ultimate doom of the city was certain, for there was no hope of relief from without.

David tarried. While Joab carried on the siege of Rabbah, David remained behind at Jerusalem. He was now at the height of his power. His enemies on all sides had been reduced to submission. Only a remnant of the Ammonites remained, and in a short time they too would be completely subdued. Surrounded by the fruits of victory, receiving honor and acclaim from his own people and from the nations about, his coffers overflowing with the tribute that was pouring in from his defeated foes, David lived a life of ease and contentment. The greatness of his success exposed him to his greatest danger. Satan chose this moment to bring upon the king of Israel a temptation that was to cause him deep humiliation and disgrace. David tragically forgot that there was an enemy greater than men. Feeling himself strong and secure against his earthly enemies, intoxicated by his prosperity and success, while receiving the plaudits of men, Israel’s honored hero and saint was thrown off his guard. Imperceptibly the inner defenses of his soul had weakened, until he yielded to a temptation that transformed him into a shameless sinner.

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Ellen G. White
Patriarchs and Prophets, 715

It was indeed a formidable alliance. The inhabitants of the region lying between the river Euphrates and the Mediterranean Sea had leagued with the Ammonites. The north and east of Canaan was encircled with armed foes, banded together to crush the kingdom of Israel. PP 715.1

The Hebrews did not wait for the invasion of their country. Their forces, under Joab, crossed the Jordan and advanced toward the Ammonite capital. As the Hebrew captain led his army to the field he sought to inspire them for the conflict, saying, “Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the Lord do that which is good in His sight.” 1 Chronicles 19:13. The united forces of the allies were overcome in the first engagement. But they were not yet willing to give over the contest, and the next year renewed the war. The king of Syria gathered his forces, threatening Israel with an immense army. David, realizing how much dependent upon the result of this contest, took the field in person, and by the blessing of God inflicted upon the allies a defeat so disastrous that the Syrians, from Lebanon to the Euphrates, not only gave up the war, but became tributary to Israel. Against the Ammonites David pushed the war with vigor, until their strongholds fell and the whole region came under the dominion of Israel. PP 715.2

The dangers which had threatened the nation with utter destruction proved, through the providence of God, to be the very means by which it rose to unprecedented greatness. In commemorating his remarkable deliverances, David sings: PP 715.3

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Ellen G. White
Patriarchs and Prophets, 718

Before the conclusion of the war with the Ammonites, David, leaving the conduct of the army to Joab, returned to Jerusalem. The Syrians had already submitted to Israel, and the complete overthrow of the Ammonites appeared certain. David was surrounded by the fruits of victory and the honors of his wise and able rule. It was now, while he was at ease and unguarded, that the tempter seized the opportunity to occupy his mind. The fact that God had taken David into so close connection with Himself and had manifested so great favor toward him, should have been to him the strongest of incentives to preserve his character unblemished. But when in ease and self-security he let go his hold upon God, David yielded to Satan and brought upon his soul the stain of guilt. He, the Heaven-appointed leader of the nation, chosen by God to execute His law, himself trampled upon its precepts. He who should have been a terror to evildoers, by his own act strengthened their hands. PP 718.1

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. PP 718.2

Every effort which David made to conceal his guilt proved unavailing. He had betrayed himself into the power of Satan; danger surrounded him, dishonor more bitter than death was before him. There appeared but one way of escape, and in his desperation he was hurried on to add murder to adultery. He who had compassed the destruction of Saul was seeking to lead David also to ruin. Though the temptations were different, they were alike in leading to transgression of God's law. David reasoned that if Uriah were slain by the hand of enemies in battle, the guilt of his death could not be traced home to the king, Bathsheba would be free to become David's wife, suspicion could be averted, and the royal honor would be maintained. PP 718.3

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Cross References

A. M. 2969. B.C. 1035. after the year

David sent

Rabbah