2 Samuel 11:20

KJV

And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

KJV (with Strong's)

And if so be that the king's {H4428} wrath {H2534} arise {H5927}, and he say {H559} unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh {H5066} unto the city {H5892} when ye did fight {H3898}? knew {H3045} ye not that they would shoot {H3384} from the wall {H2346}?

Complete Jewish Bible

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?

Berean Standard Bible

if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall?

American Standard Version

it shall be that, if the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore went ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse captures Joab's shrewd foresight and manipulative strategy as he instructs his messenger on how to report the battle's casualties, particularly Uriah's death, to King David. Joab anticipates David's intense wrath over perceived military blunders—specifically, approaching too close to the city walls—and meticulously prepares a narrative designed to deflect suspicion from the true, sinister reason for Uriah's demise: David's deliberate command to have him killed. It reveals the deep entanglement of sin, deceit, and complicity that permeates David's court in the wake of his adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** 2 Samuel 11:20 is situated at a critical juncture within one of the most tragic narratives in the Old Testament, detailing King David's egregious sins. The chapter begins by establishing David's dereliction of duty, remaining in Jerusalem while his army, led by Joab, was engaged in battle against the Ammonites at Rabbah, a detail highlighted in [2 Samuel 11:1](/2_samuel/11-1 "2 Samuel 11:1 - David Remains in Jerusalem"). This idleness leads directly to his fateful encounter with Bathsheba, culminating in adultery and her subsequent pregnancy, as recounted in [2 Samuel 11:2-5](/2_samuel/11-2-5 "2 Samuel 11:2-5 - David and Bathsheba"). David's desperate attempts to cover up his sin, first by trying to trick Uriah into returning home to his wife ([2 Samuel 11:6-11](/2_samuel/11-6-11 "2 Samuel 11:6-11 - David's Failed Cover-Up")), and then, failing that, by orchestrating Uriah's death in battle, form the dark backdrop. Joab, as David's loyal but morally compromised military commander, receives David's chilling written command to "set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die" ([2 Samuel 11:15](/2_samuel/11-15 "2 Samuel 11:15 - David's Order to Joab")). Verse 20, therefore, is Joab's calculated preparation for the inevitable royal inquiry, crafting a plausible military explanation for Uriah's death to conceal the king's murderous intent and protect him from direct culpability for the tactical "blunder."

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient warfare, particularly siege warfare, involved significant risks and established tactical norms. Attacking a fortified city often meant approaching its walls, which were typically defended by archers, slingers, and those who could drop heavy objects from above. Commanders were expected to minimize casualties while achieving military objectives, making close approaches to fortified walls a highly dangerous and often costly maneuver. Joab's anticipation of David's anger over this specific tactic is deeply rooted in this military reality; it's a legitimate concern that a king, especially one with David's extensive military background, would raise. Messengers (or "runners") played a crucial role in ancient communication, often needing to deliver sensitive news and anticipate the recipient's reaction, as the bearer of bad news could face severe consequences. Joab's detailed instructions to the messenger highlight the political and military etiquette of the time, where the delivery of news required careful management to avoid royal displeasure. This context underscores Joab's strategic brilliance and his understanding of court dynamics, even as it is applied to a morally reprehensible act.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within [2 Samuel 11](/2_samuel/11 "2 Samuel 11 - David's Sin with Bathsheba and Uriah") and the broader narrative of David's reign. Firstly, it exemplifies **Calculated Deception**, as Joab meticulously crafts a narrative to manage information and deflect blame, concealing the premeditated murder of Uriah. Secondly, it starkly illustrates the **Lack of Leadership Accountability** in David, who, despite expecting his commanders to account for military strategy, is himself deeply unaccountable for his own grave sins. The king's anticipated "wrath" over a tactical error serves as an ironic contrast to his own profound moral failings. Thirdly, the verse subtly highlights **Military Strategy and Risk**, using a legitimate concern about approaching city walls as a smokescreen for the engineered death. Finally, it is deeply embedded in the theme of the **Consequences of Sin**. Joab's complicity in the cover-up foreshadows the turmoil and divine judgment that would later fall upon David's house, as prophesied by Nathan, where the sword would never depart from his house because he despised the Lord's command and took Uriah's wife, a judgment clearly articulated in [2 Samuel 12:9-10](/2_samuel/12-9-10 "2 Samuel 12:9-10 - Nathan's Prophecy of Judgment"). The intricate web of deceit spun here sets the stage for the unfolding tragedies of David's later life.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wrath (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** From H2534, this noun signifies "heat" or, figuratively, "anger," "fury," or "indignation." Joab's use of this term indicates his deep understanding of David's temperament and his anticipation of a fiery, intense reaction. It suggests not mere displeasure but a passionate outburst he expects, which he plans to redirect away from the true cause of Uriah's death.
* **Nigh (Hebrew, _nâgash'_):** From H5066, this verb means "to be or come near," "to approach," or "to draw close." The specific mention of approaching "so nigh unto the city" highlights the deliberate and dangerous proximity to the fortified walls, which was the engineered setting for Uriah's death. Joab uses this legitimate military vulnerability as the plausible, yet false, cover story for the murder.
* **Shoot (Hebrew, _yârâh'_):** From H3384, this verb means "to flow as water," but transitively, "to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e., to shoot)." It refers to the projectiles (arrows, stones, javelins) that defenders would launch from the city walls. Joab's rhetorical question, "knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?", emphasizes the obvious danger and thus provides a seemingly logical explanation for the casualties, including Uriah's, while concealing the king's true murderous intent.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And if so be that the king's wrath arise":** This opening phrase immediately establishes Joab's strategic foresight and his attempt to control the narrative. He is not merely reporting; he is preparing for a specific, anticipated emotional response from David, indicating his deep familiarity with the king's character and his own manipulative intent to preempt and manage royal anger.
* **"and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight?":** Joab precisely predicts the king's line of questioning. David, a seasoned military commander himself, would naturally inquire about the tactical decisions that led to casualties, particularly the high-risk maneuver of fighting too close to fortified walls. This question serves as the perfect misdirection, shifting focus from the king's moral culpability to a military miscalculation.
* **"knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?":** This rhetorical question underscores the obvious danger of such a maneuver in ancient siege warfare. Joab is providing the messenger with the very question David is likely to ask, along with the implied answer (that it was a known and obvious risk), thereby setting up the "official" explanation for the losses, which conveniently includes Uriah's death, without revealing the king's direct involvement in Uriah's demise.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Irony**, particularly **Dramatic Irony**, as the audience is fully aware of the true, sinister reason behind Uriah's death (David's direct command to Joab), while David is expected to focus on a mere military blunder. This creates a stark contrast between appearance and reality, highlighting the king's hypocrisy and Joab's complicity. Joab's instructions also demonstrate **Foreshadowing**, as his active involvement in David's sin and the subsequent cover-up hints at the future turmoil and divine judgment that will inevitably befall David's house. The entire exchange functions as a **Red Herring**, deliberately diverting attention from the king's moral culpability to a tactical error. Furthermore, Joab's detailed preparation of the messenger exemplifies **Calculated Deception**, a pervasive theme in this chapter, where truth is twisted and manipulated to serve sinful ends. The rhetorical question "knew ye not...?" is a form of **Rhetorical Question**, designed not to elicit an answer but to emphasize the obviousness of the danger, thereby reinforcing the fabricated narrative.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, seemingly about military reporting, is deeply embedded in the theological narrative of sin's pervasive nature and its corrupting influence on leadership and relationships. It illustrates how one sin (David's adultery) leads to another (murder), which then necessitates elaborate schemes of cover-up and deception, drawing others like Joab into complicity. The anticipated "wrath" of the king over a tactical error stands in stark contrast to David's own profound moral failure, highlighting the hypocrisy that can accompany unconfessed sin. The passage underscores the biblical principle that sin always seeks to hide itself, creating a web of lies and manipulation, but ultimately, it cannot remain concealed from God. Joab's pragmatic approach to managing the king's anger, even at the cost of truth and justice, reflects a fallen world where power often overrides righteousness, and the consequences of sin ripple outward, affecting many.

* [Proverbs 28:13](/proverbs/28-13 "Proverbs 28:13 - Confession of Sins")
* [Numbers 32:23](/numbers/32-23 "Numbers 32:23 - Your Sin Will Find You Out")
* [Psalm 51:4](/psalm/51-4 "Psalm 51:4 - Against You Only Have I Sinned")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This passage serves as a stark and sobering reminder of the insidious nature of sin and its far-reaching consequences. David's initial sin of adultery, compounded by murder, spirals into a complex web of deceit involving his most trusted commander. We see how the desire to cover up one transgression leads to further moral compromises and the manipulation of truth. This should prompt us to consider the entanglement of our own sins: how easily one small compromise can lead to a cascade of larger ones, drawing others into our moral failures. The narrative challenges us to examine our own integrity, especially in positions of leadership, and to recognize the importance of transparency and accountability. True leadership requires the courage to confess mistakes and sins, rather than attempting to hide them or shift blame. Furthermore, Joab's complicity serves as a warning about the peril of enabling or participating in the wrongdoing of those in authority, reminding us that our ultimate allegiance must be to God's righteousness, not to human power or convenience. This passage calls us to a deeper commitment to truth, even when it is costly, and to trust in God's grace for forgiveness rather than resorting to deceit.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's attempt to control the narrative here reflect the human tendency to cover up sin rather than confess it?**
* **In what ways might we, like Joab, be tempted to compromise our integrity or become complicit in the wrongdoing of others, perhaps out of loyalty or fear?**
* **What lessons does this passage offer about the importance of accountability and transparency, especially for those in positions of influence?**

### FAQ
**Why was Joab so sure David would be angry about approaching the wall?**

Answer: Joab was David's seasoned military commander and intimately understood both ancient siege warfare tactics and David's temperament. Approaching "nigh unto the city" walls during a siege was a well-known, high-risk maneuver that almost guaranteed heavy casualties from defenders shooting projectiles from above. Any competent military leader, especially one as experienced as David, would naturally question such a costly tactic if it seemed avoidable. Joab anticipated David's anger over this perceived military blunder, knowing it would serve as a plausible and convenient explanation for the casualties, thereby diverting attention from the true, sinister reason for Uriah's death, which was orchestrated by David himself, as revealed in [2 Samuel 11:15](/2_samuel/11-15 "2 Samuel 11:15 - David's Order to Joab").

**What does this verse reveal about Joab's character?**

Answer: This verse reveals Joab as a highly shrewd, pragmatic, and utterly loyal (albeit morally compromised) military commander. He possesses keen foresight, anticipating David's reaction and meticulously crafting a narrative to manage the flow of information. His willingness to execute David's morally reprehensible command to engineer Uriah's death ([2 Samuel 11:15](/2_samuel/11-15 "2 Samuel 11:15 - David's Order to Joab")) and then actively participate in the cover-up demonstrates a character that prioritizes the king's will and political expediency over ethical considerations. He is a man of action and strategy, even when those actions are deeply sinful, highlighting the complex and often dark nature of power and loyalty in the ancient world. Joab's actions here underscore his role as a facilitator of David's sin, rather than a moral check.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dark narrative of 2 Samuel 11:20, steeped in David's sin, Joab's complicity, and the elaborate cover-up, powerfully foreshadows the desperate human need for a perfect King and a true atonement. David, the "man after God's own heart," falls spectacularly, attempting to hide his sin through deceit and murder, requiring Joab to concoct a plausible military explanation for Uriah's death. This stands in stark contrast to Jesus Christ, the ultimate King, who is without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest")) and has no need for cover-ups or manipulative schemes. While David's kingdom is tainted by the hidden sin that Joab helps conceal, Christ's kingdom is built on truth, righteousness, and perfect justice. The "wrath" David anticipates from his commander over a military blunder pales in comparison to the divine wrath against sin that Jesus willingly bore on the cross ([Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Justified by His Blood")). Unlike David, who orchestrated the death of an innocent man to hide his own guilt, Christ, the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly offered Himself as the innocent sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity, including those of kings like David. In Christ, there is no need to hide sin, for it has been fully exposed and perfectly dealt with through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, offering true cleansing and forgiveness that David's machinations could never achieve ([1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")). He is the King who brings light to darkness, exposing sin not to condemn those who repent, but to offer them genuine freedom and reconciliation with God ([John 3:19-21](/john/3-19-21 "John 3:19-21 - Light and Darkness")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.