KJV ORIGINAL
Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Then David said to the messenger, 'Tell Joab this: Don't let this upset you, because war kills people randomly—it could be anyone. Fight harder against the city and destroy it, and encourage Joab.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
David is callously dismissing Uriah's death in battle and telling his commander to keep fighting, trying to cover up his own guilt.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes after David arranged for Uriah the Hittite to be killed in battle to cover up his adultery with Uriah's wife Bathsheba and her resulting pregnancy. David had instructed Joab to place Uriah in the most dangerous part of the battle, and now Joab is reporting back that the plan worked—Uriah is dead along with other soldiers.
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