David and Bathsheba: The mopping-up operation to complete the siege of the Syrian capital Rabbah is described in 11:1, but the completion is not recorded until 12:26–31. In between is the story of David’s involvement in adultery, betrayal, and murder.

11:1 The writers make it clear that David’s presence in Jerusalem at this time was unusual. The fighting season has begun, but at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab. That is, he did not go himself, and the verse stresses that while the army was destroying Rabbah, . . . David remained in Jerusalem. While his men risked their lives on his behalf, he was “killing time” (Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel, p. 231) as he walked around on the roof. Joab’s feelings about this are revealed in 12:27–28, when he eventually managed to persuade David…