2 Samuel 11:19

19 and charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast ended telling the matters of the war to the king,

2 Samuel 11:19 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 11:19

And charged the messenger
Gave him a particular direction and instruction what he should say at the close of his narrative, according as he should observe the king's countenance to be:

saying, when thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war
unto the king;
giving an account of all the events that happened since the siege was begun to that time.

2 Samuel 11:19 In-Context

17 And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab; and there fell some of the people, of the servants of David; and Urijah the Hittite died also.

18 Then Joab sent and told David all the matters of the war;

19 and charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast ended telling the matters of the war to the king,

20 and if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say to thee, Why did ye go so near to the city to fight? did ye not know that they would shoot from the wall?

21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast the upper stone of a handmill from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why did ye go near the wall? -- then say thou, Thy servant Urijah the Hittite is dead also.