THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
The king found it disgraceful that the soldier returning from battle refused to visit his own home. The king’s disregard for the law compelled him to insist that the soldier reunite with his wife to tend to his injuries.
2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 11:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And David called him to eat and to drink before him, and he made him drunk: and he went out in the evening, and slept on his couch with the servants of his lord, and went not down into his house.
וַיִּקְרָא־ל֣וֹ דָוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֧אכַל לְפָנָ֛יו וַיֵּ֖שְׁתְּ וַֽיְשַׁכְּרֵ֑הוּ וַיֵּצֵ֣א בָעֶ֗רֶב לִשְׁכַּ֤ב בְּמִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙ עִם־עַבְדֵ֣י אֲדֹנָ֔יו וְאֶל־בֵּית֖וֹ לֹ֥א יָרָֽד׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
The king, having requested him to remain for an additional day, hosts him, and through numerous festive toasts compels him to exceed his limits in drinking. This overindulgence in wine stirs his desires, leading him to be intimate with his wife.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Hab 2:15Woe to him that giveth drink to his friend, and presenteth his gall, and maketh him drunk, that he may behold his nakedness.
- Gen 19:32Come, let us make him drunk with wine, and let us lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
- Gen 19:35They made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in, and lay with him: and neither then did he perceive when she lay down, nor when she rose up.
- Ex 32:21And he said to Aaron: What has this people done to thee, that thou shouldst bring upon them a most heinous sin?
- Prov 20:1Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise.