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.
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Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Gill's Exposition
Then David said to the messenger,.... Whom he dispatched again to Joab upon the delivery of his message:
thus shall thou say to Joab; in the name of David:
let not this thing displease thee; be…
Adam Clarke
The sword devoureth one as well as another - What abominable hypocrisy was here! He well knew that Uriah's death was no chance-medley; he was by his own order thrust on the edge of the sword.
When David's project of fathering the child upon Uriah himself failed, so that, in process of time, Uriah would certainly know the wrong that had been done him, to prevent the fruits of his revenge,…
Cambridge Bible
the sword devoureth Cp. the phrase "the mouth (E. V. edge) of the sword" (1Sa 15:8).
encourage thou him This is certainly the right rendering. That of the LXX., and take it, which follows a slightly…
Cross References
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