And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
Go down to thy house. This sudden recall, the manner of the king, his frivolous questions (2 Samuel 11:7), and his urgency for Uriah to sleep in his own house, probably awakened suspicions of the cause of this procedure.
There followed him a mess of meat from the king. A portion of meat from the royal table, sent to one's own house or lodging, is one of the greatest compliments which an Eastern prince can pay.