Uriah

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 11
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(light). (1) A Hittite (2 Sam. 11:3), and commander of one of the thirty divisions of David’s army (2 Sam. 23:39; 1 Chron. 11:41). He was husband of the beautiful Bathsheba whom David coveted, and with whom he had committed the crime of adultery (2 Sam. 11:4-5). In order to conceal his crime and procure her for a wife, he ordered Joab, commander-in-chief, to place Uriah and his forces in the hottest part of the battle with Ammon, and then to desert him, leaving him to be overwhelmed and slain by superior numbers (2 Sam. 11:15-17). (2) A high priest in the reign of Ahaz (Isa. 8:2), and probably the same as Urijah (2 Kings 16:10-16). (3) A priest of the family of Hakkoz, in time of Ezra, and head of the seventh priestly course (Ezra 8:33); written Urijah (Neh. 3:4,21).