Uriah the Hittite Uriah the Hittite Uriah the Hittite ( "’Ūrîyāh ha-Ḥittî") was a soldier in King David’s army mentioned in the biblical Second Book of Samuel. He was the husband of Bathsheba and was sent to the front lines of battle by order of King David. Uriah's wife had become pregnant by King David in Uriah's absence. Although the king had ordered him to return home and see his wife, Uriah repeatedly refused to leave his post or leave the King's presence to see her. Contact between the couple would have hidden the source of her pregnancy. Eventually, David had Uriah killed.
Far from the Madding Crowd gives notice that he is leaving her employ, she realises how important he has become to her well-being. That night, she goes alone to visit him in his cottage, to find out why he is deserting her. Pressed, he reluctantly reveals that it is because people have been injuring her good name by gossiping that he wants to marry her. She exclaims that it is "... too absurd – too soon – to think of, by far!" He bitterly agrees that it is absurd, but when she corrects him, saying that it is only "too soon", he is emboldened to