Uriah, Urias, Urijah

URIAH, URIAS, URIJAH (ū-rī'a, ū-rī'ăs, ū-rī'ja, Heb. ’ûrîyâh, Jehovah is light). 1. A Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba (2Sam.11.3). The fact that he had married a Hebrew wife, his Hebrew name, and his loyalty and devotion as a soldier (2Sam.11.11) all indicate that he probably was a worshiper of the Lord. After David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, he recalled Uriah from the battle and sent him to his house, trying in this way to hide his sin. When Uriah refused the comforts of home and wife when his men were on the battlefield, David sent him back to the war with special instructions for Joab to place him in the thick of the fight that he might die. When Uriah was killed, David took Bathsheba for his own wife.

2. A priest during the kingship of Ahaz. He was one of the “reliable witnesses” (Isa.8.2) taken by the king to record the matter concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. It also seems highly probable that he was the one who carried out the king’s command to build in the temple an Assyrian altar that was to be used for sacrifice (2Kgs.16.10-2Kgs.16.16; kjv “Urijah”).

3. A priest who aided Ezra in carrying on his ministry (Neh.8.4). He may be the Uriah referred to as the father of Meremoth (Ezra.8.33; Neh.3.4, Neh.3.21, kjv “Urijah”).

4. A prophet, the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath Jearim. He predicted the destruction of Judah (Jer.26.20). When the king, angry at his predictions, sought to put him to death, he fled to Egypt, but he was apprehended by the king and killed (Jer.26.21-Jer.26.23, kjv “Urijah”).