Uriah
“Light of Jehovah or flame of Yahweh”
Summary
The name of several biblical figures, most notably Uriah the Hittite, a loyal soldier of David whose wife Bathsheba was taken by the king, leading to Uriah's arranged death in battle.
☩Uriah the Hittite
Uriah was a Hittite who had adopted the Jewish faith, as evidenced by his theophoric name and manner of speech. He married Bathsheba, a woman of extraordinary beauty, and their union was celebrated in Jerusalem as one of peculiar tenderness, illustrated by Nathan's parable of the poor man's beloved ewe lamb. During the siege of Rabbath-Ammon, David committed adultery with Bathsheba while Uriah was encamped with the army. When David's attempts to cover his sin failed due to Uriah's soldier-like devotion—he refused to enjoy domestic comforts while the ark and his fellow soldiers remained in the field—David sent Uriah back to battle with a letter ordering Joab to place him in the front lines where he would be killed. Uriah fell in battle, unconscious of his wife's dishonor, and Bathsheba subsequently became David's wife.
☩Uriah the Priest
A priest during the reign of Ahaz whom Isaiah called as a witness to his prophecy concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. He later complied with King Ahaz's impious command to build an altar in the Temple modeled after a pagan altar the king had seen in Damascus, demonstrating religious subservience to royal authority.
☩The Prophet Urijah
Son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, a prophet who spoke against Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoiakim, just as Jeremiah had done. When the king sought to kill him, Urijah fled to Egypt but was pursued, captured, and executed, his body cast among the common graves.
Related Verses29 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Uriah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Uriah," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Uriah," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.James Orr (ed.), "Uriah; Uruah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 5.George Morrish, "Uriah," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 6.James Orr (ed.), "Uriah; Uruah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 7.John McClintock and James Strong, "Uriah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 8.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Uriah," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).