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?
And if the king becomes angry and asks you, 'Why did you get so close to the city when you were fighting? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall?'
This verse shows Joab preparing his messenger for King David's expected anger about military tactics that led to unnecessary deaths.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical account of 2 Samuel 11, King David had sent his commander Joab and the Israelite army to besiege the Ammonite city of Rabbah as part of ongoing wars to secure Israel's borders. Joab is instructing a messenger on how to report the battle details to David, anticipating that the king might question their risky tactics, such as getting too close to the city walls where enemy archers could shoot. This scene reflects the ancient practice of warfare and the importance of careful communication in military campaigns during the united monarchy of Israel around 1000 BC.
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