2 Samuel 11:19

19 and he instructed the messenger, "When you have finished telling the king all the news about the war,

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 The men of the city went out and fought Yo'av; a number of people fell, including some of David's servants, with Uriyah the Hitti among the dead.

18 Yo'av sent a message to David reporting all the news concerning the war,

19 and he instructed the messenger, "When you have finished telling the king all the news about the war,

20 he may become angry and ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot from the wall?

21 Didn't you think about the person who struck Avimelekh the son of Yerubeshet, that a woman threw an upper millstone down on him from the wall, so that he died at Tevetz? Why did you go so near the wall?' If he says this, tell him, 'Your servant Uriyah is dead also.'"