2 Samuel 11:19 kjv
And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
2 Samuel 11:19 nkjv
and charged the messenger, saying, "When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king,
2 Samuel 11:19 niv
He instructed the messenger: "When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle,
2 Samuel 11:19 esv
And he instructed the messenger, "When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king,
2 Samuel 11:19 nlt
He told his messenger, "Report all the news of the battle to the king.
2 Samuel 11 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 32:23 | "...be sure your sin will find you out." | Sin's inevitability. |
| Pro 28:13 | "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." | Covering sin vs. confession. |
| Psa 32:3-5 | "When I kept silent, my bones grew old... I acknowledged my sin to You..." | Pain of unconfessed sin, joy of confession. |
| Psa 51:3-4 | "For I acknowledge my transgressions... Against You, You only, have I sinned..." | David's confession and awareness of sin against God. |
| Gen 4:7 | "...sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." | Sin's enticement. |
| 2 Sam 12:1-12 | Nathan's parable revealing David's sin and divine judgment. | Consequences of David's sin exposed. |
| 2 Sam 1:4-10 | The Amalekite's false report of Saul's death and David's reaction. | Reporting a king's death/bad news. |
| 2 Sam 4:9-12 | David punishing those who reported Ish-Bosheth's death. | Handling messengers of bad news. |
| Prov 25:13 | "Like the cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him..." | Importance of a faithful messenger. |
| Jer 23:28 | "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully." | Speaking truth, conveying messages. |
| Mat 2:7-8 | Herod's deceptive instructions to the Magi about finding Jesus. | Deceptive instructions/ulterior motives. |
| Acts 23:12-15 | Jewish plotters plan to ambush Paul; messengers are sent to Roman authorities. | Schemes and sending messengers for plots. |
| Jer 9:8 | "...one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he lies in wait." | Deceitful speech and intentions. |
| Isa 5:20 | "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil..." | Moral perversion in action. |
| 1 Ki 21:7-14 | Jezebel manipulates justice to seize Naboth's vineyard. | Abuse of royal power and manipulation. |
| Ecc 8:11 | "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." | Delay of justice leading to more sin. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." | Principle of sowing and reaping. |
| Job 27:8 | "For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he may gain much, if God takes away his life?" | Futility of hypocrisy. |
| Gen 37:32-35 | Jacob is presented with Joseph's bloody coat, signifying his "death." | Presenting staged "bad news." |
| Eze 3:18-19 | The prophet's responsibility to deliver God's message, warning the wicked. | Delivering a message, responsibility. |
2 Samuel 11 verses
2 Samuel 11 19 Meaning
2 Samuel 11:19 captures King David's precise instructions to his messenger for reporting the recent battle. The verse reveals David's attempt to control the narrative of Uriah's death. He mandates that the messenger first deliver the entire war report before strategically mentioning the casualty count, setting the stage for the "bomb" of Uriah's death to be delivered in a specific context. This act underscores David's careful manipulation and his anticipation of a potentially angry reaction to the loss of a prominent soldier like Uriah.
2 Samuel 11 19 Context
This verse is situated immediately after David has arranged Uriah's death on the battlefield (2 Sam 11:14-17) and Joab's subsequent execution of the order (2 Sam 11:18). David's earlier attempt to cover his adultery with Bathsheba by bringing Uriah home (2 Sam 11:6-13) had failed because of Uriah's integrity. Having orchestrated Uriah's death to eliminate the primary witness to his sin and free Bathsheba, David now strategically plans how to receive and react to the news. The preceding verse (11:18) states Joab had "sent and told David all the things concerning the war." Verse 19 then describes David's pre-emptive instruction to his messenger on how to structure the report of Uriah's death upon his return, revealing David's carefully calculated approach to managing the public and private implications of his actions. This meticulous handling of information foreshadows the deeper sin that requires a strategic cover-up.
2 Samuel 11 19 Word analysis
- And charged (וַיְצַו֙ - vay'tsav): From the Hebrew root tsavah (צוה), meaning "to command," "to instruct," "to appoint." This verb denotes a forceful, authoritative instruction given by someone in a superior position. It is not a mere suggestion but a binding directive, highlighting David's royal authority being used to manipulate the truth.
- the messenger (אֶת־הַמַּלְאָ֗ךְ - et-ha-mal'akh): From mal'akh (מלאך), meaning "messenger" or "angel." Here it refers to a human envoy responsible for delivering crucial information. The term implies direct representation and a specific, weighty mission. The messenger acts as David's direct communication channel with Joab.
- saying (לֵאמֹר֙ - le'mor): A common Hebrew idiom introducing direct speech. It serves to transition into the precise words that David spoke.
- When thou hast made an end (כְּכַלֹּתְךָ֞ - k'khallotkha): From the root kalah (כלה), meaning "to complete," "to finish," "to bring to an end." It implies the entire report must be delivered fully and comprehensively, ensuring no details are missed or left unfinished before the sensitive information about Uriah is brought up (as per the following verses).
- of telling (לְדַבֵּר֙ - l'dabber): From the root dabar (דבר), "to speak," "to tell," "to report." This emphasizes the verbal act of communicating the information.
- all the matters (דִּבְרֵ֣י - dibrey): From the plural of dabar (דבר), which also means "word," "thing," "affair," or "matter." "All the matters" signifies a comprehensive report covering every event and detail of the military engagement. This ensures that the shock of Uriah's death is placed within the broader context of the battle, seemingly mitigating David's personal responsibility.
- of the war (הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ - ha-milchamah): From milchamah (מלחמה), meaning "battle," "fight," "warfare." It specifies the subject of the report: the entire military engagement in which Uriah perished.
- unto the king (אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ - el-ha-melech): Melech (מלך) means "king." This specifies David himself as the recipient of the report. This phrase is key; David is giving instructions about how to report to him, highlighting his strategic preparation for the messenger's return and the impending delivery of the grim news. The very king who orchestrated the deed is now carefully choreographing its public presentation.
2 Samuel 11 19 Bonus section
- The carefulness with which David structures the message for the messenger speaks volumes about his fear of how the death of a "man of valor" like Uriah might be perceived by the people or the remaining troops. Kings were accountable for the welfare of their elite soldiers.
- The messenger is unwittingly drawn into the moral vortex of David's sin. His mission, on the surface, is a routine war report, but it carries a hidden payload designed by David to obscure a heinous crime. This raises questions about unwitting participation in sin's aftermath.
- David's meticulous attention to the message's delivery echoes the strategic thinking of a military commander, but here, it's tragically misdirected towards protecting himself rather than protecting his men or upholding justice. This juxtaposition of tactical skill and moral failure is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative of kings.
2 Samuel 11 19 Commentary
2 Samuel 11:19 is a subtle but profoundly significant verse that illustrates David's attempts to control the fallout from his grievous sin. His precise instructions to the messenger betray his awareness of the gravity of Uriah's death and his desire to deflect suspicion. By dictating the sequence of the report – ensuring all general war details are presented before the critical revelation of Uriah's specific demise (as unfolded in the subsequent verses) – David demonstrates his calculated manipulation. This highlights the slippery slope of sin: one transgression (adultery) leads to another (murder), which then necessitates deceit and a cover-up. David is not only ordering a man's death but actively choreographing the management of that information to maintain his image and authority. It reveals the corrosive nature of unconfessed sin, which compels individuals to craft intricate webs of deception. The integrity of Uriah, ironically, contrasts sharply with the manipulative scheme of David, who as king should embody justice. This act of "damage control" only temporarily postpones God's eventual exposure of his sin through Nathan the prophet.