שמואל ב, פרק י״א, פסוק ב׳

The late hours of the day find the king emerging from a long period of rest, stepping away from his public duties to take a private walk across his palace roof. Waking up in the evening suggests that he had consumed a heavy royal meal and indulged in physical comforts, causing him to sleep late into the day. This withdrawal from the pressing needs of the people, combined with a focus on leisure and relaxation, is ultimately what paved the way for his sin [מלבי״ם].

During this era, most roofs were flat and served as comfortable spaces for walking. Because the royal palace stood taller than the surrounding homes in the city, strolling on the roof allowed the king to look out over the entire area without being seen [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that his vantage point from this elevated roof directed his gaze downward toward the woman [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Seeing her from such a height indicates that he did not try to look away. Instead of closing his eyes, he intentionally focused his gaze down into the courtyards below [מלבי״ם].

There are different perspectives regarding the exact location where the woman was bathing. She may have been washing inside her house down below [רד״ק], or she might have been bathing on the flat roof of her own home [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Regardless of her exact placement, the woman was exceptionally beautiful and immediately caught his attention and favor [ביאור שטיינזלץ].