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2 Samuel 11:20

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 11:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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?
2 Samuel 11:20 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17And the 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 thou hast made an end of telling all the things concerning the war unto the king,
20it 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?
21who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then shalt thou say, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
22So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23And the messenger said unto David, The men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entrance of the gate.
← 2 Samuel 11:192 Samuel 11:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, etc.] Which might be seen in his countenance, or expressed in his words: and he say, wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? as to expose the king’s troops to the enemy on the wall, who by stones or darts greatly annoyed them, or sallied out on them, and killed many of them: knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? they must have known that, and therefore should have kept out of the reach of their shot.”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification