The Forgotten HERO and the King’s Greatest Betrayal

The Forgotten Name in a List of Heroes

If you were to ask the average Christian to name David’s mighty men, you’d likely get blank stares. Yet, in 2 Samuel 23, a list of Israel’s fiercest and most loyal warriors is recorded—men who stood by David in his toughest battles, who risked their lives for him, and who were the elite of the elite.

And at the very end of this list, almost as if left there as a painful reminder, sits the name of a man whose story has echoed through history, not because of his victories, but because of the way he was betrayed:

“…Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.” (2 Samuel 23:39)

Most of us remember Uriah not for his valor, but for his tragedy. He was the faithful husband of Bathsheba, the man whom King David had killed to cover up his own sin. But what if I told you that Uriah’s story is more than just a footnote in David’s darkest hour? What if his name, his life, and his death actually foreshadow something far greater—something that ultimately connects to Jesus Christ and the gospel itself?

Uriah the Hittite: A Loyal Soldier of Yahweh

To truly understand the weight of David’s betrayal, we need to recognize who Uriah was.

• He was one of David’s “Thirty Mighty Men” (2 Sam. 23:39)—an elite warrior, part of the king’s personal guard.
• He was not an Israelite by birth—his title “the Hittite” indicates he came from the Canaanite people. Yet, his name, Uriah, means “Yahweh is my light,” showing he had become a devoted follower of Israel’s God.
• He was honorable and faithful, as seen in 2 Samuel 11:11, when he refused to enjoy the comforts of home while his fellow soldiers were on the battlefield.

Uriah was not just a random soldier—he was a man of honor, a warrior of Yahweh, and a trusted servant of King David.

David’s Greatest Betrayal

And yet, despite Uriah’s loyalty, he became the victim of one of the most infamous betrayals in history.

• David saw Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, and took her (2 Sam. 11:2-4).
• When Bathsheba became pregnant, David tried to cover it up by bringing Uriah home from war, hoping he would sleep with his wife (2 Sam. 11:6-8).
• Uriah, being a man of integrity, refused—declaring that it would be unjust for him to enjoy comfort while his fellow warriors suffered (2 Sam. 11:11).
• With no other way to hide his sin, David sent a death warrant—delivered by Uriah himself—to Joab, commanding that Uriah be abandoned on the battlefield to die (2 Sam. 11:14-15).

This was no ordinary betrayal. David didn’t just sin against a random man. He murdered one of his most loyal warriors, a man who had fought for him, bled for him, and honored him.

The Irony of Uriah’s Death

The listing of Uriah among David’s mighty men in 2 Samuel 23 is deeply ironic. This was a man whose name should have been honored in David’s kingdom. Instead, his name became tied to one of David’s greatest sins.

Even more striking is that while Uriah gave his life for David, David took Uriah’s wife for himself. The servant died, while the king lived.

But here is where the story takes an unexpected turn—because this very injustice points us to Jesus Christ.

The Shadow of Christ in Uriah’s Story

In the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:6, Bathsheba is not mentioned by name. Instead, she is referred to as:

“…the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6)

Why does Matthew emphasize Uriah? Because Uriah’s story is central to the redemptive plan of God.

Consider the parallels:

• Uriah was a faithful servant who was betrayed by the very one he served.
• Uriah was a righteous man who refused to compromise his integrity.
• Uriah carried his own death sentence, unknowingly delivering it to Joab.
• Uriah was murdered by the order of the king he was loyal to.

Now compare this to Jesus Christ:

• Jesus was the ultimate faithful servant—He perfectly obeyed the will of His Father.
• Jesus, though sinless, was betrayed and sentenced to death.
• Jesus carried His own death sentence—literally, He bore the cross on which He would be killed.
• Jesus was murdered by the very people He came to save.

But here is the greatest difference: Uriah stayed dead. JESUS ROSE AGAIN!

Where David took Uriah’s life to cover his sin, Jesus gave His life to cover ours.

A Lesson for Christians Today

The story of Uriah reminds us of several powerful truths:

1. Sin always has consequences. David thought he could hide his sin, but it followed him for the rest of his life. No sin is ever hidden from God.
2. God remembers the righteous. Uriah may have died unjustly, but his name lives on in Scripture, forever honored as a faithful man of God.
3. Jesus is the greater Uriah. Uriah’s unjust death points forward to the cross, where Jesus, the ultimate righteous servant, would be betrayed and killed for the sins of others.

Redemption Beyond Betrayal

Uriah’s story is tragic, but it is not meaningless. God, in His sovereignty, did not let the injustice of Uriah’s death be forgotten. Instead, He wove it into the genealogy of Christ—showing that even in human failure, God’s redemptive plan prevails.

And in the end, Jesus, the King of kings, did what David failed to do: He laid down His own life for His people, rather than taking life for sinful gain.

May we, as followers of Christ, remember this: We serve a King who does not betray, but who redeems. A King who does not take from us, but who gave Himself for us. And that is a truth worth living—and dying—for…