2 Samuel 11:24

24 The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries, and some of Your Majesty's mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead."

2 Samuel 11:24 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 11:24

And the shooters shot from off of the wall upon thy
servants
Arrows out of their bows, or stones out of their engines; the Israelites following them so closely to the gate of the city, came within the reach of their shot from the wall:

and [some] of the king's servants be dead;
killed in the sally upon them, and by the shot from the wall:

and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also;
the messenger did not entirely obey the orders of Joab to wait and observe if the king's wrath arose, but was in haste to tell him the last piece of news; perhaps he had some suspicion, from the manner of Joab's telling him what he should say, that this would be acceptable to the king.

2 Samuel 11:24 In-Context

22 The messenger left, and when he arrived, he reported to David everything Joab told him to say.

23 The messenger said, "Their men overpowered us and came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate.

24 The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries, and some of Your Majesty's mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead."

25 David said to the messenger, "This is what you are to say to Joab, 'Don't let this thing trouble you, because a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it.' Say this to encourage him."

26 When Uriah's wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him.