David, Bathsheba, and Nathan's rebuke
David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the death of her husband Uriah; the prophet Nathan confronted him, and David repented.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 (World English Bible)
While his army besieged Rabbah, David stayed in Jerusalem, saw Bathsheba bathing, and took her. When she became pregnant, he had her husband Uriah, one of his most loyal soldiers, placed where he would be killed. Nathan told David a story about a rich man who stole a poor man's only lamb. When David burned with anger, Nathan said, “You are the man!”
David confessed at once. God forgave him but said the sword would never leave his house. The child died. Psalm 51 is David's prayer of repentance, and Bathsheba later became the mother of Solomon.
Places
Dating notes
Ussher: adultery 1035 BC; Nathan's rebuke and the child's death 1034 BC.