שמואל ב, פרק י״א, פסוק י״ב

Faced with Uriah's firm refusal to return home, David shifts his strategy and attempts to delay him in Jerusalem, hoping the extra time will change his mind. He instructs Uriah to remain where he is for the time being, assuring him that he will only be sent back to the battlefield the following day [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This calculated pause serves a dual purpose. First, David recognizes that Uriah's insistence on staying at the palace gates stems from a state of high alert; the soldier is simply waiting for the immediate command to march back to war. By explicitly promising that the deployment will not happen until tomorrow, the king hopes to put him at ease. The reasoning is that once Uriah realizes he has plenty of free time, he might finally take the opportunity to go home before his journey [מלבי״ם].

At the same time, this delay provides the king with a chance to host Uriah for a meal. The underlying thought is that if Uriah eats and his mood is lifted with wine, his defenses will drop and he will naturally go home to be with his wife [מצודת דוד]. Ultimately, Uriah remains in the city for that day and the next, simply waiting until David finally dismisses him to return to the front lines [מצודת דוד].