Day 124 – 2 Samuel 11:18-22

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 11:18-22

"Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;"

(2 Samuel 11:18)

I see Joab sending the official report back to Jerusalem. Uriah is dead. Other servants of David have fallen too. Joab now has to report "all the things concerning the war," but buried inside that war report is the one thing David wanted to hear most. Uriah the Hittite is dead.

"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)

Joab does not simply say, "Go tell the king what happened." He gives instructions. He tells him how to deliver the report, when to speak, and what to say if David becomes angry. Joab knows the military choices made at Rabbah do not look wise on paper. The phrase "the matters of the war" includes the attack, the approach to the city, the losses, the casualties, and finally Uriah. Joab is controlling the order of the information.

"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)

Joab is predicting David's anger before it even happens. He knows David may hear the report and say, "Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city?" Good commanders knew better than to press too close to a defended wall unless there was strong reason. Men on the wall could shoot down, throw stones, and strike from a place of advantage. David had been a warrior long before he wore the crown. He knew what walls meant. He knew what archers could do. He knew what happens when soldiers are pushed too near a fortified city.

"Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."

(2 Samuel 11:21)

Joab imagines David bringing up Abimelech, the son of Jerubbesheth. Back in Judges 9, Abimelech came too close to the tower at Thebez and a woman dropped a piece of a millstone upon his head.

"And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull."

(Judges 9:53)

This story would be commander's training example. Do not get careless near the wall. Joab knows David may say, "why went ye nigh the wall?" Joab gives him the line that will settle the king down: "Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also." David had once said of Saul and Jonathan, "How are the mighty fallen!" He mourned when Saul died, even though Saul had hunted him. But now Uriah, one of his own loyal fighting men, is dead by David's design, and David is waiting for the report that will help cover his adultery.

"So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for."

(2 Samuel 11:22)

The messenger now goes. He comes to David and shows him "all that Joab had sent him for." He is only doing what he was told. Joab sends the report, prepares for David's expected wrath over the foolish nearness to the wall, and tells the messenger to finish with Uriah's death.