John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And it came to pass in an eveningtide , etc.] Some time in the afternoon, when the sun began to decline; not in the dusk of the evening, for then the object he saw could not have been seen so distinctly by him: that David arose from off his bed ; having taken a nap in the heat of the day after dinner; indulging himself more than he used to do to sloth and luxury, which prepared him, and led him on the more eagerly to the lust of uncleanness: and walked upon the roof of the king’s house ; to refresh himself after his sleep, it being the cool of the day, and the roof of the house being flat and fit to walk upon, as the houses of Judea were; (see Deuteronomy 22:8); and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself ; in a bath in her garden, or in an apartment in her house, the window being open: and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon ; of a fine shape and good complexion, and comely countenance; all which were incentives to lust, at which his eye was attracted to, and his heart was ensnared with her.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Observe the occasions of David's sin; what led to it. 1. Neglect of his business. He tarried at Jerusalem. When we are out of the way of ou duty, we are in temptation. 2. Love of ease: idleness gives grea advantage to the tempter. 3. A wandering eye. He had not, like Job made a covenant with his eyes, or, at this time, he had forgotten it And observe the steps of the sin. See how the way of sin is down-hill when men begin to do evil, they cannot soon stop. Observe the aggravations of the sin. How could David rebuke or punish that is others, of which he was conscious that he himself was guilty?
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 לעת6256 הערב6153 ויקם6965 דוד1732 מעל5921 משׁכבו4904 ויתהלך1980 על5921 גג1406 בית1004 המלך4428 וירא7200 אשׁה802 רחצת7364 מעל5921 הגג1406 והאשׁה802 טובת2896 מראה4758 מאד׃3966
