This verse, 2 Samuel 11:19, is part of the larger narrative of David's plot to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent killing of her husband, Uriah the Hittite.
The verse is an instruction from Joab, David's commander-in-chief, to the messenger he is sending to King David after a failed attack on the city of Rabbah. The context is as follows:
The Situation: Joab is besieging Rabbah. He placed Uriah in the most dangerous part of the battle, knowing he would likely be killed, which is exactly what happened.
The Message: The messenger is being sent to inform David about the battle's progress and the casualties.
The Instruction: Joab knows the news is bad (they suffered losses, and Uriah is dead). He is specifically instructing the messenger on how to deliver the news to David.
Meaning of the Verse:
The verse means that Joab is telling the messenger to first deliver the official report about the battle and only then to mention the specific circumstances that led to the losses, including Uriah's death. Joab is likely trying to control the flow of information to David, possibly to soften the blow or to frame the events in a way that is less incriminating for himself.
In essence, this is a tactical maneuver on Joab's part to manage the narrative and potentially mitigate David's anger or suspicion.
Here's a breakdown of what's implied:
"and he commanded the messenger...": This highlights Joab's authority and control over the situation.
"...saying, 'When you have finished telling all the things concerning the war to the king...": This shows Joab's awareness that the messenger will need to give a full account of the battle's progression.
"...'...": This indicates that Joab is giving the messenger specific instructions on what to do after he has finished telling the king the general details of the war. The following verse clarifies these instructions further.
In conclusion, this verse is a small but crucial detail in the unfolding of a complex and morally problematic situation. It shows Joab's awareness of the potentially disastrous consequences of the battle and his attempt to control the information reaching David.
This verse, 2 Samuel 11:19, is part of the larger narrative of David's plot to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent killing of her husband, Uriah the Hittite.
The verse is an instruction from Joab, David's commander-in-chief, to the messenger he is sending to King David after a failed attack on the city of Rabbah. The context is as follows:
The Situation: Joab is besieging Rabbah. He placed Uriah in the most dangerous part of the battle, knowing he would likely be killed, which is exactly what happened.
The Message: The messenger is being sent to inform David about the battle's progress and the casualties.
The Instruction: Joab knows the news is bad (they suffered losses, and Uriah is dead). He is specifically instructing the messenger on how to deliver the news to David.
Meaning of the Verse:
The verse means that Joab is telling the messenger to first deliver the official report about the battle and only then to mention the specific circumstances that led to the losses, including Uriah's death. Joab is likely trying to control the flow of information to David, possibly to soften the blow or to frame the events in a way that is less incriminating for himself.
In essence, this is a tactical maneuver on Joab's part to manage the narrative and potentially mitigate David's anger or suspicion.
Here's a breakdown of what's implied:
"and he commanded the messenger...": This highlights Joab's authority and control over the situation.
"...saying, 'When you have finished telling all the things concerning the war to the king...": This shows Joab's awareness that the messenger will need to give a full account of the battle's progression.
"...'...": This indicates that Joab is giving the messenger specific instructions on what to do after he has finished telling the king the general details of the war. The following verse clarifies these instructions further.
In conclusion, this verse is a small but crucial detail in the unfolding of a complex and morally problematic situation. It shows Joab's awareness of the potentially disastrous consequences of the battle and his attempt to control the information reaching David.
