so, but slept near the king with the rest of his
armor-bearers. When the king was informed of this, he asked him why he
did not go home to his house, and to his wife, after so long an absence;
which is the natural custom of all men, when they come from a long
journey. He replied, that it was not right, while his fellow soldiers,
and the general of the army, slept upon the ground, in the camp, and
in an enemy's country, that he should go and take his rest, and solace
himself with his wife. So when he had thus replied, the king ordered him
to stay there that night, that he might dismiss him the next day to the
general. So the king invited Uriah to supper, and after a cunning and
dexterous manlier plied him with drink at supper, till he was thereby
disordered; yet did he nevertheless sleep at the king's gates without
any inclination to go to his wife. Upon this the king was very angry at
him; and wrote to Joab, and commanded him to punish Uriah, for he told
him that he had offended him; and he suggested to him the manner in
which he would have him punished, that it might not be discovered that
he was himself the author of this his punishment; for he charged him
to set him over against that part of the enemy's army where the attack
would be most hazardous, and where he might be deserted, and be in the
greatest jeopardy, for he bade him order his fellow soldiers to retire
out of the fight. When he had written thus to him, and sealed the letter
with his own seal, he gave it to Uriah to carry to Joab. When Joab had
received it, and upon reading it understood the king's purpose, he set
Uriah in that place where he knew the enemy would be most troublesome
to them; and gave him for his partners some of the best soldiers in
the army; and said that he would also come to their assistance with
the whole army, that if possible they might break down some part of
the wall, and enter the city. And he desired him to be glad of the
opportunity of exposing himself to such great pains, and not to be
displeased at it, since he was a valiant soldier, and had a great
reputation for his valor, both with the king and with his countrymen.
And when Uriah undertook the work he was set upon with alacrity, he gave
private orders to those who were to be his companions, that when they
saw the enemy make a sally, they should leave him. When, therefore, the
Hebrews made an attack upon the city, the Ammonites were afraid that the
enemy might prevent them, an