17The men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19and he charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling all the things concerning the war to the king,
20it shall be that, if the king`s wrath arise, and he tells you, `Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn`t you know that they would shoot from the wall?
21who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn`t a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?` then shall you say, `Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.`"
22So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23The messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate.
