Joab’s Report and David’s Cool Reply
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
and he charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling all the things concerning the war to the king,
it shall be that, if the king’s wrath arise, and he tells you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn’t you know that they would shoot from the wall?
who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then shall you say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’"
So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.
The messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate.
The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Then David said to the messenger, Thus shall you tell Joab, Don’t let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage you him.
