2 Samuel 11:16

16 Since Joab had kept the city under observation, he put Uriah at the place where he knew the experienced warriors were.

2 Samuel 11:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 11:16

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city
Where lay its greatest strength, and where it was best defended; or besieged it, as the Targum:

that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men
[were];
who would not easily give way, and when they saw an opportunity would sally out, Joab cannot be excused from sin, unless he thought that Uriah had been guilty of death, and that David took this way of dispatching him for some political reason; however David was king, and to be obeyed.

2 Samuel 11:16 In-Context

14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.

15 In the letter he wrote, "Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is heaviest. Then abandon him so that he'll be struck down and die."

16 Since Joab had kept the city under observation, he put Uriah at the place where he knew the experienced warriors were.

17 The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of the people, namely, some of David's mercenaries, fell and died--including Uriah the Hittite.

18 Then Joab sent [a messenger] to report to David all the details of the battle.