You need flash player to see this movie about David and Uriah, the classic Bible story about lust, greed and God's vengeance. David and Uriah On the top of his palace, in the cool of the night,<br> Walked David the King, seeking respite.<br> His men were at battle with the town of Rabbah.<br> Yet David preferred the fight from afar.<<!-- bb --><!-- /bb --><div style='float:left;'></div><div style='float:left;'></div> > "I have riches, fine clothes, God’s blessing too,<br> Power and influence, and lots of nice shoes.<br> Is there any like me?" David’s chest puffed with pride.<br> As he strut up and down, self-satisfied.< > And then as he looked to the rabble below,<br> David’s conceit was dealt a great blow.<br> For there on her roof, washing her hair.<br> Was a comely young woman, most wonderous fair.< > Her lips were like honey, black hair shone like silk,<br> Her legs were tall cedars, her teeth white as milk.<br> While she sang as she washed the herbs from her hair,<br> David’s proud heart was consumed with despair.< > For here was something he did not possess,<br> One woman far lovelier than all his rest.<br> He stared and he goggled as his eyes filled with lust,<br> " I shall have that fair lady" he cried " Yes I must!"< > With a snap of his fingers, his advisors came hither.<br> David’s face hardened as he pointed down thither.<br> "Tell me" he thundered " who’s that woman down there?<br> The one on the roof that’s washing her hair."< > The advisors peered down and scratched all their chins,<br> And the eldest spoke up though he perceived David’s sins.<br> "Bathsheba’s her name, she’s the wife of Uriah.<br> A gentile, a Hittite, a social pariah."< > He serves in the army, he’s off fighting Ammonites.<br> Quite likely, dear king, he’ll be gone for many nights"<br> David’s eyes brightened as he chuckled with glee,<br> "Go forth from this palace and bring her to me!"< > She was brought shortly hence and the king had his way.<br> Thus dishonoured, she was sent packing home the next day.<br> Yet shortly thereafter the news got about,<br> That the wife of Uriah was less than devout.< > While her husband was fighting Ammonites wild,<br> Bathsheba, the hussy, was expecting a child.<br> Distressed and embarrassed, Bathsheba sent word.<br> To the king on his throne who had not yet heard.< > "Oh bother" thought David as the news reached his ear.<br> "Tis time to get rid of Uriah I fear.<br> He’s only a Hittite, and yet there’s the law,<br> That Moses received up there in the thaw."< > "Does it apply to a man such as him?"<br> Then David’s face widened into a grin.<br> "Of course, he’s a soldier, he’s fighting my battle.<br> We’ll just have him slaughtered like commonplace cattle"< > Pleased at his cleverness, David sat down,<br> And wrote to Joab, a man of renown.<br> "Joab, you have, in your command.<br> A soldier, Uriah, whom I demand"< > Uriah arrived and the King warmly greeted,<br> "Come, my dear friend, do thou be seated.<br> How is dear Joab? And how fares the war?<br> And Uriah, unwitting, told all that he saw.< > And after some time, King David perceived,<br> That his guest was quite weary and should be relieved.<br> "Go home, dear Uriah, and do wash thy feet.<br> And please take this with you, this platter of meat."< > Uriah departed, king’s servants in tow.<br> Yet not to his house but their quarters below.<br> And early next morning, while the sun was still low.<br> The servants came tattling and told the king so.< > "Come now Uriah? You did not see your wife?"<br> And the soldier replied, "Oh, not on your life!<br> Your men are in danger out there with the ark,<br> These battles we fight are no walk in the park."< > "How could I go home, eat, drink and make love?<br> When all that I do is watched from above?"<br> David regarded him with bemused gaze<br> And bid poor Uriah to stay two more days.< > Again David sat and wrote out a letter,<br> "Only this time," he smirked,"the results will be better."<br> "Dear Joab" he scribbled, "Uriah displeases me.<br> A world with less Hittites is a world that will better be."< > "Therefore, please place him in the heat of the war,<br> So that he might be smitten and make trouble no more.<br> Be sure not to come to his aid in his need,<br> But rather withdraw and turn back your steed"< > This Joab did with heavy a heart,<br> He hated with such a good soldier to part,<br> And up on the wall, was a woman well-known,<br> Who on Uriah’s poor head, dropped a millstone.< > A few others besides Uriah did die.<br> And Joab told David " Lest you ask why"<br> Some sons of Judah were killed by the wall.<br> Twas due to your wish to see that man fall"< > David replied by way of a note,<br> "Don’t let this incident get up your goat.<br> What is it to us if Uriah should die?<br> All of us must, aye bye and bye.’< > A message was sent and Bathsheba informed.<br> On hearing the tidings, she did greatly mourn.<br> And when her period of mourning was done.<br> She became David’s wife and she bore him a son.< > Shortly thereafter, there came to the court<br> A prophet named Nathan, an ill-tempered sort,<br> He regarded the king with cold, steely eyes.<br> "Oh Lord" muttered David, "now that’s a surprise."< > "How now Rev Nathan? With luck we have met"<br> "Yes better than others you’ve met with I bet"<br> My lord, bowed down Nathan," I have come with a tale,<br> That hast wrenched at my heart and hath made mine eyes wail."< > Tis a tale of two men, one rich and one poor.<br> How despite having enough, one always wants more.<br> The rich man hath flocks and herds most exceeding.<br> A soft-spoken voice and a face of good breeding."< > Yet outside his gate, there lies a small hovel.<br> Where even his dogs, would not deign to grovel.<br> In that dirt and disease, a family there cram,<br> Bereft of their pet, a beloved little lamb.< > A man of importance and social prestige,<br> Well versed in the law with forbidding vestige.<br> To the house of the rich man did come for his supper,<br> In order to speak of his daughter and chuppah.< > And rather than deplete his own ample store,<br> That rich man he stole the lamb from the poor.<br> And with spices exotic and olives of green,<br> He cooked it all up and he made a tagine!< > David jumped up and he let out a cry,<br> "As the Lord lives, he surely shall die!"<br> Who is this man with a stone for a heart?<br> To which Nathan the Prophet did reply " Thou art!"< > Thus saith the Lord God of Israel,<br> How dare you despise me you ungrateful male?<br> I made you a king and I saved you from Saul.<br> But it wasn’t enough, you wanted it all!< > Uriah was a sacrifice you were willing to make.<br> Yet to me this evil deed is too hard to take.<br> I’m going to give all your women away,<br> Not in secret like you but in broad light of day!"< > Nathan’s eyes flashed and David fell glum,<br> "It’s not over yet boy, there’s still more to come.<br> The child your ill-gotten Bathsheba did bear,<br> He shortly to thine Lord will make his repair!"< > David arose and rent at his garments,<br> "Dear Lord, pray have mercy, I am but a varmint"<br> I have broke thine laws to commit this foul deed<br> Please take not my son as a penance for greed.< > Thus David fell weeping into a fast,<br> And he lay on the ground till seven days passed.<br> But the Lord listened not to the pleas of the dad,<br> His vengeance was true and he took the young lad.< > From the rich and the great, to the poor and the small<br> Those laws Moses got apply to us all. <br> And those of us here with lives sybaritic.<br> Might do well to remember our greatest of critics.< >
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