Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 11:16

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men [were].

16. when Joab observed the city ] Better, as Joab watched the city, i.e. besieged it.

a place where he knew that valiant men were ] Uriah was posted opposite the most strongly guarded part of the city, where the fighting was likely to be fiercest in case of a sally.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Observed the city – In the sense of besieging it closely.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Placed there to defend it, because that part of the city was supposed either the weakest, or the place designed for the assault. Joab having formerly committed a base murder upon Abner, was ready to execute this wicked command of the king; that so he being involved in the same guilt with him, might the more willingly receive him into favour.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city,…. Where lay its greatest strength, and where it was best defended; or besieged it, as the Targum:

that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men [were]; who would not easily give way, and when they saw an opportunity would sally out, Joab cannot be excused from sin, unless he thought that Uriah had been guilty of death, and that David took this way of dispatching him for some political reason; however David was king, and to be obeyed.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(16) Observed the city.The word means watched, or blockaded. In the operations of the siege Joab so arranged some of his forces as to invite a sally from the city under circumstances in which it would be successful. It appears from 2Sa. 11:24 that Uriahs party had been sent so near as to come within reach of the archers on the wall.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

16. Observed the city Laid out his plans for besieging it.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

(16) And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

What the thoughts of Joab were upon this occasion, is not said. But it is melancholy to observe how readily he fell in with David’s command. Thus David added another sin to his vast catalogue, and brought Joab, the general of his army, into an accomplice with him.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

2Sa 11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men [were].

Ver. 16. He assigned Uriah, &c. ] He thrust him into the jaws of death, and basely betrayed him: as holding that unsound principle, Whatsoever pleaseth the king shall please me, be it right or wrong. How much better he in the tragedian, a Obediemus Atridis honesta mandantibus; sin vero inhonesta mandabunt, non obediemus; We will obey the prince if he command things honest; and not, if otherwise. But Joab haply hoped hereby to ingratiate, and to come off the better, for the murder of Abner, which he had not yet answered, since David was now no less guilty than himself.

a Euripid., in Iphigen.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)