2 Samuel 11:14-25

14Now in the morning David 1wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 152He had written in the letter, saying, “3Place Uriah in the front line of the 4fiercest battle and withdraw from him, 5so that he may be struck down and die.” 16So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he put Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men. 17The men of the city went out and fought against Joab, and some of the people among David’s servants fell; and 6Uriah the Hittite also died. 18Then Joab sent and reported to David all the events of the war. 19He charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling all the events of the war to the king, 20and if it happens that the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21Who 7struck down Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’--then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

22So the messenger departed and came and reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell. 23The messenger said to David, “The men prevailed against us and came out against us in the field, but we 8pressed them as far as the entrance of the gate. 24Moreover, the archers shot at your servants from the wall; so some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.” 25Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not let this thing 9displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; make your battle against the city stronger and overthrow it’; and so encourage him.”