16. So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong.
17. When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David’s army fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.
18. Then Joab sent David a report of all the details of the battle,
19. instructing the messenger, “When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle,
20. the king may become angry and say to you: ‘Why did you go near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall above?
21. Who killed Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal? Was it not a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall above, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’ Then you in turn are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”
22. The messenger set out, and on his arrival he reported to David everything Joab had sent him to tell.
23. He told David: “The men had the advantage over us and came out into the open against us, but we pushed them back to the entrance of the city gate.
24. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall above, and some of the king’s servants died; and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”
25. David said to the messenger: “This is what you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this be a great evil in your sight, for the sword devours now here and now there. Strengthen your attack on the city and destroy it.’ Encourage him.”