2 Samuel 11:24

24 and those shooting shoot at thy servants from off the wall, and [some] of the servants of the king are dead, and also, thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.

2 Samuel 11:24 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 11:24

And the shooters shot from off of the wall upon thy
servants
Arrows out of their bows, or stones out of their engines; the Israelites following them so closely to the gate of the city, came within the reach of their shot from the wall:

and [some] of the king's servants be dead;
killed in the sally upon them, and by the shot from the wall:

and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also;
the messenger did not entirely obey the orders of Joab to wait and observe if the king's wrath arose, but was in haste to tell him the last piece of news; perhaps he had some suspicion, from the manner of Joab's telling him what he should say, that this would be acceptable to the king.

2 Samuel 11:24 In-Context

22 And the messenger goeth, and cometh in, and declareth to David all that with which Joab sent him,

23 and the messenger saith unto David, `Surely the men have been mighty against us, and come out unto us into the field, and we are upon them unto the opening of the gate,

24 and those shooting shoot at thy servants from off the wall, and [some] of the servants of the king are dead, and also, thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.

25 And David saith unto the messenger, `Thus dost thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing be evil in thine eyes; for thus and thus doth the sword devour; strengthen thy warfare against the city, and throw it down -- and strengthen thou him.'

26 And the wife of Uriah heareth that Uriah her husband [is] dead, and lamenteth for her lord;