2 Samuel 11:23

23 The messenger said to David, "Because {the men overpowered us}, the men came out to us [in] the field, but {we forced them back} to the entrance 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 killed Abimelech the son of Jerub-bosheth, if not a woman who threw an upper millstone on him from [atop] the wall and he died at Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?' Then you shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.'"

22 Then the messenger left, and he came and told David all that Joab had sent him [to say].

23 The messenger said to David, "Because {the men overpowered us}, the men came out to us [in] the field, but {we forced them back} to the entrance of the gate.

24 The archers shot at your servant from [atop] the wall, and some of the servants of the king died; your servant Uriah the Hittite also died."

25 Then David said to the messenger, "Thus you shall say to Joab, '{Do not feel badly about this matter}; {now one and then another} the sword will devour. Intensify your attack on the city and overthrow it.'" And he encouraged him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "the men [were] superior over us"
• [b]. Literally "we [were] upon them"