2 Samuel 11:23

23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us and came out unto us into the field, and we made them retreat unto the entering of the gate.

2 Samuel 11:23 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 11:23

And the messenger said unto David
The particulars of his account follow:

surely the men prevailed against us;
the men of the city of Rabbah, the besieged there, in one onset they made upon them:

and came out unto us in the field;
the besiegers that lay encamped there; they sallied out upon them:

and we were upon them, even unto the entering of the gate;
rallied upon them, and drove them back, and pursued them to the gate of the city.

2 Samuel 11:23 In-Context

21 Who smote Abimelech, the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall? Then thou shalt say, Thy slave Uriah, the Hittite, is dead also.

22 So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him for.

23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us and came out unto us into the field, and we made them retreat unto the entering of the gate.

24 And the archers shot from off the wall upon thy slaves, and some of the king’s slaves are dead, and thy slave Uriah, the Hittite, is dead also.

25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devours one as well as another; strengthen the battle against the city until it is overthrown and encourage thou him.