2 Samuel 11:8
ESV
Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." And Uriah went out of the king 's house, and there followed him a present from the king.
NIV
Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him.
NASB
Then David said to Uriah, 'Go down to your house, and wash your feet.' So Uriah left the king’s house, and a gift from the king was sent after him.
CSB
Then he said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.
NLT
Then he told Uriah, 'Go on home and relax. ' David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.
KJV
And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
NKJV
And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him.
What does 2 Samuel 11:8 mean?
David's plan to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba seems foolproof on the surface. He will bring her husband home from the war under the guise of wanting a firsthand account from a trusted general about how the battle is going (2 Samuel 11:6–7). He will honor the man and send him home for a night, where he will sleep with his wife. Then everyone, including Uriah, will think he's the father of the child she already carries. Crisis averted.David hears Uriah's report and sends him down to his house. Commentators understand David's instruction to Uriah to "wash your feet" to be a general encouragement to the man to relax, clean himself up from the battlefield, and enjoy an evening at home. The text adds that David sends a gift for Uriah, as well. Though the gift is not described, it's clear that David tries to make it appear that he is honoring his loyal general for his faithful service.
It's Uriah's loyalty that foils David's plan. David has trained his men to not have sex during war (1 Samuel 21:5). Uriah thinks about his fellow soldiers sleeping on the ground and can't bear to relax in his own home. He sleeps at the door of David's house. David tries again, this time, getting him drunk. Uriah still refuses (2 Samuel 11:9–13).
So, David resorts to murder (2 Samuel 11:14–17).
