Deuteronomy 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Too often, skeletons are buried at the request of persons in authority, and the “Damsel’s” cries may go unheeded. This leads us to our fifth and final point: [5] Individuals who cover up sexual misconduct for others, because of some political, or ecclesiastical pressure…. 19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.
In the case of David, those who brought Bathsheba to his house never said a word, and even after they knew for certain what had transpired, they covered it up, for they felt obligated to keep quiet to protect the king’s reputation from not only the scandal, but from the potential fallout, which could’ve included him being stoned to death. There was also cover up on the part of Joab, who in obedience to David, killed an innocent man.
It is not clear if Joab knew of David’s sin, because he was on the battle field at the time. But the mere fact that he would kill Uriah without a just cause, and cover up the matter, means that he partook of the same spirit of coverup as those who hid the matter in David’s house. 2nd Samuel 11:14 And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
Deuteronomy 1:17 You shall not respect persons in judgment; but you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!