2 Samuel 11:14-26

14

The next morningH1242 DavidH1732 wroteH3789 a letterH5612 toH413 JoabH3097 and sentH7971H3027 it with UriahH223. 15In the letterH5612H559 he wroteH3789: “PutH3051 UriahH223 atH413 the frontH4136H6440 of the fiercestH2389 battleH4421; then withdrawH7725 from himH310, so that he may be struck downH5221 and killedH4191.”

16So asH1961 JoabH3097 besiegedH8104 the cityH5892, he assignedH5414 UriahH223 toH413 a placeH4725 whereH834 he knewH3045H3588 the strongest enemy soldiersH582H2428H8033 were. 17And when the menH582 of the cityH5892 came outH3318 and foughtH3898 againstH854 JoabH3097, some ofH4480 David’sH1732 servantsH5971H5650 fellH5307, and UriahH223 the HittiteH2850 alsoH1571 diedH4191.

18JoabH3097 sentH7971H5046 to DavidH1732 a full accountH3605H1697 of the battleH4421 19and instructedH6680 the messengerH4397H559, “When you have finishedH3615 givingH1696H413 the kingH4428 a fullH3605 accountH1697 of the battleH4421, 20ifH518 the king’sH4428 angerH2534 flaresH5927, he may askH559 you, ‘WhyH4069 did you get so closeH5066 toH413 the cityH5892 to fightH3898? Did you notH3808 realizeH3045 they would shootH3384 from atopH5921 the wallH2346? 21WhoH4310 struckH5221 AbimelechH40 sonH1121 of JerubbeshethH33801? Was it notH3808 a womanH802 who droppedH7993 an upper millstoneH6400H7393 on himH5921 fromH5921 the wallH2346, so that he diedH4191 in ThebezH8405? WhyH4100 did you get so closeH5066 toH413 the wallH2346?’

If he asks you this, then you are to sayH559, ‘Your servantH5650 UriahH223 the HittiteH2850 is deadH4191 as wellH1571.’”

22So the messengerH4397 set outH1980H935 and reportedH5046 to DavidH1732 allH3605 thatH834 JoabH3097 had sent him to sayH7971. 23The messengerH4397 saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732H3588, “The menH582 overpowered usH1396H5921 and came outH3318 against usH413 in the fieldH7704, but we drove them backH1961H5921 toH5704 the entranceH6607 of the gateH8179. 24Then the archersH3384 shotH3384 atH413 your servantsH5650 fromH5921 the wallH2346, and some of the king’sH4428 servantsH5650 were killedH4191. And your servantH5650 UriahH223 the HittiteH2850 is deadH4191 as wellH1571.”

25Then DavidH1732 toldH559 the messengerH4397, “SayH559 thisH3541 toH413 JoabH3097: ‘Do notH408 let thisH2088 matterH1697 upsetH7489 youH5869, forH3588 the swordH2719 devoursH398 oneH2088 as well as anotherH2090. StrengthenH2388 your attackH4421 againstH413 the cityH5892 and demolish itH2040.’ Encourage himH2388 with these words.”

26When Uriah’sH223 wifeH802 heardH8085 thatH3588 her husbandH376 was deadH4191, she mournedH5594 forH5921 himH1167.