2 Samuel 11 16

2 Samuel 11:16 kjv

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

2 Samuel 11:16 nkjv

So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.

2 Samuel 11:16 niv

So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were.

2 Samuel 11:16 esv

And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men.

2 Samuel 11:16 nlt

So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy's strongest men were fighting.

2 Samuel 11 verses

2 Samuel 11 16 Meaning

2 Samuel 11:16 describes Joab's calculated action during the siege of Rabbah, where, under King David's instructions, he intentionally positioned Uriah the Hittite in the most dangerous and fiercely contested area of the battle. This strategic placement was designed to ensure Uriah's death, providing a cover for David's adultery with Bathsheba and her subsequent pregnancy. It signifies a pivotal moment of premeditated murder concealed within a military operation.

2 Samuel 11 16 Context

This verse is a crucial point in the tragic narrative of David's sin, located in 2 Samuel 11. It immediately follows David's unsuccessful attempts to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba by bringing Uriah home from the war, hoping he would sleep with his wife and obscure the paternity of her child. Uriah's steadfast integrity and loyalty prevented this, refusing to indulge while his comrades were in the field. David's desperation and hardened heart then led him to devise this murderous plan, sending a letter with Uriah himself, instructing Joab to place Uriah in a deadly position. Joab, David's loyal and ruthless commander, complied. This incident marks a turning point in David's life and reign, unleashing divine judgment and subsequent turmoil within his family and kingdom, as prophesied by Nathan in 2 Samuel 12. Historically, siege warfare was common, and commanders had significant control over their soldiers' assignments. Joab's execution of David's command highlights the absolute authority of the king and the commander's complicity in the king's sin.

2 Samuel 11 16 Word analysis

• "So it was that when Joab was besieging the city": This phrase establishes the immediate setting of battle, which serves as a smokescreen for the illicit design. Joab, as David's commanding general, is fulfilling his normal duties. The act takes place in Rabbah, a stronghold of the Ammonites, setting a military backdrop for a deeply immoral act.
• "he assigned Uriah": The Hebrew verb is nātan (נָתַן), meaning "to give," "to put," "to place," or "to set." This implies a deliberate and intentional action, not a casual or random deployment. Uriah's placement was a specific command from Joab.
• "Uriah": Uriah the Hittite ('Ūrîyāh ha-Ḥittî) means "My light is Yah" or "Yahweh is my light." Ironically, the man whose name signifies God's light is extinguished by a plot born of darkness. His prior conduct in the chapter underscores his loyalty, integrity, and strict adherence to military custom, contrasting sharply with David's moral failure.
• "to a place": Hebrew maqōm (מָקוֹם), meaning "place" or "spot." This indicates a specific, pre-determined location within the battle.
• "where he knew": The Hebrew verb is yāda' (יָדַע), meaning "to know," "to understand," or "to perceive." This is a crucial element. It signifies full awareness and premeditation on Joab's part regarding the danger. Joab was not merely assigning Uriah randomly; he knowingly sent him to his death. This shared knowledge of intent between David and Joab underlines their complicity in the murder.
• "there were valiant men": The Hebrew phrase is ’anšê ḥayil (אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל), meaning "men of strength," "men of valor," or "valiant men." This refers to the most skilled, strongest, and most determined enemy warriors, likely positioned at the most fortified and dangerous parts of the city's defenses, such as a breach point, a gate, or a critical tower. Sending Uriah here was a guarantee of a direct confrontation with the most formidable resistance, thus minimizing his chances of survival.
• Words-group Analysis: "assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men": This entire phrase encapsulates the chilling precision and premeditation of the murder. It wasn't just an assignment; it was a death sentence cloaked in military orders. The active involvement of "Joab" and his "knowledge" remove any doubt about the intent, moving the act from battlefield casualty to calculated assassination, fulfilling David's explicit instruction to ensure Uriah's death.

2 Samuel 11 16 Bonus section

The term "valiant men" specifically indicates the fiercest, most well-armed, and skilled defenders of the city, likely veterans or elite forces. This choice of placement underscores the deliberate and cynical nature of David and Joab's plot; they chose a spot not merely dangerous, but virtually suicidal, ensuring Uriah's death without directly "ordering" his execution. This manipulation of military strategy for personal, sinful gain deeply dishonors both the sanctity of human life and the ethics of warfare. Furthermore, Joab, a seasoned general, perfectly understood the implication of David's instructions (2 Sam 11:15) and executed them with professional precision, demonstrating his chilling effectiveness in both battle and conspiracy.

2 Samuel 11 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 11:16 lays bare the depths of King David's sin, revealing the cold, calculating intent to eliminate an inconvenient obstacle to his secret. Through his commander Joab, David orchestrated a murder, using the cover of battle. Joab's complicity, stemming from his ruthless loyalty and pragmatic nature, further illustrates how power can corrupt and draw others into sin. This verse marks the consummation of David's scheme, showing that one sin (adultery) quickly escalates to another (deception and murder) when unconfessed and unrepented. The selection of a spot known to be held by "valiant men" underscores the intentionality: Uriah was not sent to an ordinary fight but to a position where his demise was virtually guaranteed, thereby hiding David's culpability within the unpredictable nature of warfare. This act demonstrates a stark abandonment of righteousness by the very king meant to uphold God's law.