So as Joab besieged the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he saw the strongest enemy soldiers.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Joab kept watch on the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.
- KJV And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
- NKJV So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.
- NASB So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men.
- NLT So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joab assigns Uriah to the most dangerous spot in the siege. He carries out David's deadly order.
Overview
Joab obeys, positioning Uriah where valiant defenders make death likely. His complicity entangles others in David's sin, and the bond of shared guilt will later give Joab leverage over David. The verse shows how one leader's sin can corrupt and implicate those under him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Sam 22:17–19Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
- 2 Kgs 10:6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city.
- 2 Sam 11:21Who was the one to strike Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’”
- 1 Kgs 2:5Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
- 2 Sam 3:27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
- 1 Kgs 21:12–14They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people.
- 1 Kgs 2:31–34And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.
- 2 Sam 20:9–10“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Prov 29:12If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
- Hos 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 11:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.