battle, but, as Fokkelman notes, ‘The answer Uriah gives is not included in the narrative—a significant gap which symbolizes that David just lets him talk, not paying any particular attention to his account.’53 By contrast, direct speech is used for what really matters to David (v. 8). A royal gift is meant to encourage Uriah to consider himself specially favoured, and therefore to relax and enjoy his opportunity to go home and be with his wife. 9–11. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house