2 Samuel 11:14-27 ▼

14 And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab, and he sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah at the front of the strongest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”

16 And it came to pass, in Joab watching unto the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that were valiant men there.

17 And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and fell some of the people of the servants of David. And Uriah the Hittite also died.

18 And Joab sent and told David all the matters of the war,

19 and he commanded the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling all the matters of the war to the king,

20 and it comes to pass that if the wrath of the king rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you? approach so near to the city when you fought? Did not you? know that they would shoot from the wall?

21 Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast on him a piece of a millstone from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you? go near the wall?’ Then you shall say, ‘Also your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”

22 And the messenger went and came in and told David all that Joab had sent him.

23 And the messenger said to David, “Indeed the men prevailed against us, and they came out against us to the field, and we were against them as far as the entrance of the gate.

24 And those shooting shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the servants of the king are dead, and also your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”

25 And David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for as this and as this the sword devours. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”

26 And the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, and she mourned for her husband.

27 And her mourning was over, and David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore to him a son. And the thing that David had done was evil in the eyes of YHWH.