14
It happened in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Yo'av, and sent it by the hand of Uriyah.
15
He wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriyah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you from him, that he may be struck, and die.
16
It happened, when Yo'av kept watch on the city, that he assigned Uriyah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.
17
The men of the city went out, and fought with Yo'av: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriyah the Hittite died also.
18
Then Yo'av sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19
and he charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling all the things concerning the war to the king,
20
it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he tells you, 'Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn't you know that they would shoot from the wall?
21
who struck Avimelekh the son of Yerubeshet? Didn't a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Tevetz? Why did you go so near the wall?' then shall you say, 'Your servant Uriyah the Hittite is dead also.'"
22
So the messenger went, and came and shown David all that Yo'av had sent him for.
23
The messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate.
24
The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriyah the Hittite is dead also.