2 Samuel 11:19

19 and instructed the messenger, “When you have finished giving the king a full account of the battle,

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 when the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of David’s servants fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.

18 Joab sent to David a full account of the battle

19 and instructed the messenger, “When you have finished giving the king a full account of the battle,

20 if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall?

21 Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth ? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’”