2 Samuel 11 20

2 Samuel 11:20 kjv

And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

2 Samuel 11:20 nkjv

if it happens that the king's wrath rises, and he says to you: 'Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

2 Samuel 11:20 niv

the king's anger may flare up, and he may ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall?

2 Samuel 11:20 esv

then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, 'Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

2 Samuel 11:20 nlt

But he might get angry and ask, 'Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn't they know there would be shooting from the walls?

2 Samuel 11 verses

2 Samuel 11 20 Meaning

2 Samuel 11:20 conveys Joab's shrewd instruction to his messenger, anticipating King David's predictable initial reaction to a report of casualties during the siege of Rabbah. Joab expects David's anger to rise, focused on the tactical blunder of approaching too close to the city wall, where defenders would easily shoot down at the soldiers, resulting in unnecessary losses. This detailed pre-briefing sets the stage for the crucial, pre-arranged news about Uriah's death, ensuring the messenger is prepared to navigate David's strategic mind first.

2 Samuel 11 20 Context

Chapter 11 of 2 Samuel details King David's grave descent into sin. While other kings go to war, David remains in Jerusalem. His idleness leads him to see Bathsheba, commit adultery with her, and then attempt to cover the sin by recalling Uriah, her husband and one of his most loyal soldiers, from battle. When Uriah proves unswervingly loyal and righteous, refusing to break a warrior's custom of abstinence while on duty by going home to his wife, David resorts to murder. He sends Uriah back to the battlefield with a letter to Joab, instructing the commander to place Uriah in the most dangerous part of the siege, ensuring his death. This verse (2 Sam 11:20) occurs after Uriah and other soldiers are killed, just as Joab is dispatching a messenger to David to report on the battle. Joab's words here are highly significant; he pre-briefs the messenger on how to handle David's anticipated strategic anger over a perceived military blunder, cleverly setting the stage for the shocking news of Uriah's calculated death. The historical context involves typical ancient siege warfare, where approaching fortified walls was exceptionally hazardous due to enemy archers and stone throwers.

2 Samuel 11 20 Word analysis

• Then Joab said (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יֹואָב֙ - vayyō’mer yōw’āḇ): "Joab" is David's powerful and pragmatic commander. The phrase highlights his authority and his strategic mind, as he takes a proactive role in managing the message to the king. His deliberate instruction underscores his cunning and control over the unfolding narrative.
• to the messenger (אֶל־הַמַּלְאָה֙ - ’el-hammal’āh): The "messenger" is the crucial link in the chain of command, a carrier of vital information. Joab's specific address to the messenger emphasizes the importance of precise communication in conveying sensitive military and political news, especially to a monarch.
• 'If the king's anger rises (כִּ֤י תַעֲלֶה֙ חֲמַת־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ - kî ta‘ăleh ḥamat-hammeleḵ): Ḥamah (חֲמַת) denotes strong, often fierce anger, wrath. Ta‘ăleh (תַעֲלֶה), from ‘alah, means "to ascend" or "go up," portraying anger as a surging emotion. Joab accurately predicts David's temperament and initial reaction, which would be focused on military inefficiency and loss of life from poor tactics, rather than immediate moral outrage. This demonstrates Joab's deep psychological understanding of David.
• and he says to you (וְאָמַ֣ר לְךָ֔): This phrase reinforces the direct, potentially accusatory tone David is expected to take, signaling that the messenger will face a direct interrogation.
• "Why did you go so near the city to fight? (לָמָה נִגַּשְׁתֶּם אֶל־הָעִיר לְהִלָּחֵם - lāmah niggaštəm ’el-hā‘îr ləhilāḥem?): Lāmah (Why?) introduces a rhetorical question implying fault. Nigaštem (נִגַּשְׁתֶּם) "you approached," indicating proximity. Ləhilāḥem (לְהִלָּחֵם) "to fight," referencing the engagement. This question reflects a commander's standard concern for sound military tactics and troop safety. David is expected to fault the approach, not the purpose of the fight.
• Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? (הֲלוֹא יְדַעְתֶּם כִּי־יוֹרוּ מֵעַל הַחוֹמָה - hălōw yəḏa‘tem kî-yôrû mē‘al haḥômāh): Hălō’ yəḏa‘tem (Did you not know?) is a rhetorical question that suggests obviousness, implying folly for not knowing or for ignoring known risks. Yôrû (יוֹרוּ) means "they would shoot" or "cast" (referring to arrows, stones, or other projectiles). Mē‘al haḥômāh (from the wall) highlights the standard defensive advantage of those on the fortifications. Joab prepares for David's questioning about tactical awareness regarding the dangers of attacking fortified positions.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then Joab said to the messenger, 'If the king's anger rises...": This opening highlights Joab's initiative and calculated anticipation of David's reaction. Joab is carefully orchestrating how the devastating news about Uriah is to be delivered, predicting David's initial, practical military concern over the ultimate, morally grave sin.
• "...Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?": This specific phrasing demonstrates Joab's keen awareness of typical military discourse and risks. He provides David's expected question which attributes casualties to tactical misjudgment—a "reasonable" error—rather than to deliberate treachery or murder. This anticipates a logical military reaction from David, thus paving the way for the full, pre-orchestrated message without triggering David's wrath over Uriah specifically right away. The very question underscores the known danger Joab intentionally exposed Uriah to.

2 Samuel 11 20 Bonus section

• Strategic Distraction: Joab's instruction acts as a strategic distraction, deflecting David's initial anger towards a common military blunder, thus cushioning the blow of the much more critical news about Uriah, allowing it to be delivered almost as an afterthought (as seen in the following verses).
• Irony and Foreshadowing: Joab's question references a known historical incident (the death of Abimelech at Thebez, Judg 9:50-54) as an example of folly in battle, creating profound irony given his deliberate orchestration of Uriah's similar fate.
• A Mirror to David: Joab, ever the astute observer, knew David well. He anticipates David's reaction because David himself, a brilliant military strategist, would naturally prioritize military rationale. This conversation, therefore, also provides an indirect glimpse into David's own strategic mind and, tragically, his declining moral judgment in this chapter.

2 Samuel 11 20 Commentary

Joab's detailed briefing to the messenger is a masterpiece of manipulation and calculated strategy. It reveals his astute understanding of King David's mindset, particularly his prioritization of military efficacy and troop management. By preparing the messenger for a likely initial outburst of anger concerning strategic incompetence (approaching too close to the wall), Joab sets the psychological stage. He shrewdly directs David's immediate focus to the tactics of battle and the predictable dangers from enemy archers, rather than directly to the moral catastrophe unfolding. The great irony, deeply rooted in the chapter's unfolding narrative, is that Joab intentionally placed Uriah in the most vulnerable position near the wall precisely because he did know the risk, orchestrating Uriah's death on David's behalf. Thus, Joab cleverly pre-empts David's initial blame for the loss of life as a battlefield error, rather than exposing the murderous plot immediately. This narrative cunning underscores Joab's dark role as David's accomplice in a profoundly wicked deed.