So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men.
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.
- BSB So as Joab besieged the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he saw the strongest enemy soldiers.
- NKJV So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a 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 22:17–19The king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn, and kill the priests of Yahweh; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and didn’t disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king wouldn’t put out their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh.
- 2 Kgs 10:6Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men who are your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time.” Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.
- 2 Sam 11:21Who 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 you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”
- 1 Kgs 2:5“Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was around his waist, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
- 2 Sam 3:27When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
- 1 Kgs 21:12–14They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
- 1 Kgs 2:31–34The king said to him, “Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house.
- 2 Sam 20:9–10Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Prov 29:12If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.
- Hos 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of 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.