NSB(i)
15 The letter said: »Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is the worst. Pull the troops back from him, so that he will be wounded and die.«
16 Joab carefully watched the city of Rabbah. He put Uriah in a place where he knew there were some of the enemy’s best soldiers.
17 The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of David’s mercenaries fell and died. This included Uriah the Hittite.
18 Joab sent a messenger to report to David all the details of the battle.
19 And he commanded the messenger: »When you finish telling the king about the battle,
20 the king may become angry. He might ask you: ‘Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Did you not know they would shoot from the wall?’
21 »Who killed Jerubbesheth’s son Abimelech? Did a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall? If the king asks this, tell him: ‘Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’«
22 The messenger left. When he arrived he reported to David everything Joab told him to say.
23 The messenger said to David: »Their men overpowered us when they came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate.
24 »The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries. Some of Your Majesty’s mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead.«
25 David replied: »This is what you are to say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing trouble you. After all a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it. Say this to encourage him.’«
26 Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead and she mourned for him.
27 When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home. She became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. However, Jehovah considered David’s actions evil.