2 Samuel 11:24
ESV
Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king 's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."
NIV
Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead."
NASB
Also, the archers shot at your servants from the wall; so some of the king’s servants died, and your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.'
CSB
However, the archers shot down on your servants from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s servants died. Your servant Uriah the Hethite is also dead."
NLT
the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.'
KJV
And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
NKJV
The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”
What does 2 Samuel 11:24 mean?
Joab's messenger has arrived at David's house with news from the front line of Israel's battle with the Ammonites. He's reporting what Joab has told him to say, including the fact that some of the Ammonites broke free from the siege of the city in a sudden attack against the Israelites. Then the Israelites pushed them back into the city through the gate (2 Samuel 11:23).The servant concludes the report by saying that as the Israelite fighters moved close to the wall, archers shot down and killed some of them, including Uriah the Hittite. Joab had instructed the messenger to wait to mention Uriah until the king was furious and needed to be calmed down. Instead, the messenger delivers the last line immediately, perhaps hoping to keep the king from getting angry with him in the first place (2 Samuel 11:19–21).
David responds calmly. He doesn't seem upset that several of his soldiers, including a valued general, died by foolishly coming close to the wall and the archers. He tells the messenger to encourage Joab to complete the work and overthrow the city (2 Samuel 11:25).
David planned for Uriah's death. He had sent a message with Uriah telling Joab to put Uriah in the fiercest fighting and then withdraw so the Ammonites would kill him (2 Samuel 11:15). Now that the great warrior is dead, David can marry his widow and hide the fact that, weeks before, David had already gotten her pregnant (2 Samuel 11:2–5). Neither the messenger nor Joab knows David's reasons, but God does, and the Lord is not pleased (2 Samuel 12).
