Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 11:25
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.
25. 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 different text, is contrary to the usage of the verb.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 25. 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Let not this thing displease thee; be not dejected or discouraged by this sad occasion.
Encourage thou him, i.e. Joab, to proceed in the siege.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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 not grieved, and cast down, and intimidated at the repulse he had met with, and the loss of so many brave men, and especially Uriah;
for the sword devours one as well as another; officers as well as soldiers the strong as well as the weak, the valiant and courageous as well as the more timorous; the events of war are various and uncertain, and to be submitted to, and not repined at, and laid to heart. David’s heart being hardened by sin, made light of the death of his brave soldiers, to which he himself was accessory; his conscience was very different now from what it was when he cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe, and his heart in a different frame from that in which he composed the lamentation over Saul and Jonathan:
make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it; more closely besiege it, more vigorously attack it; assault it, endeavour to take it by storm, and utterly destroy it, razing the very foundations of it: and encourage thou him; which words are either said to the messenger to encourage and animate Joab in David’s name, which is not so likely that a messenger should be employed to encourage the general; or rather the words of David to Joab continued, that he would “encourage it”, the army under him, who might be disheartened with the rebuff and loss they had met with; and therefore Joab is bid to spirit them up, to carry on the siege with vigour.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(25) One as well as another.While Davids reply to Joab is ostensibly to encourage him, on the ground that the mishap was a mere accident of war, it is yet couched in such language as to imply a special regret for the loss of Uriah. One as well as another, i.e., though Uriah was a brave hero whom we could ill spare, yet in the fortune of war we cannot choose who shall fall. Notwithstanding this loss, let Joab go on with a good heart.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Thus shalt thou say unto Joab This message was dictated by an abominable hypocrisy. He would thus affect sorrow for the fall of the noble Uriah, and seek to cover his own guilt in the matter.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 11:25 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.
Ver. 25. Let not this thing displease thee. ] Thus he smootheth up Joab, slights the slaughter of so many gallant men, and deeply dissembleth with the messenger, to the intent that neither his cruel command, nor Joab’s fawning obedience, may be discovered. But was this David? O quantum mutatus!
For the sword devoureth one as well as another.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
displease thee = be evil in thine eyes. This event put David in Joab’s power, which Joab freely used. David was not tongue-tied in 2Sa 3:29; but from now he had to endure Joab’s insolence, being too suspicious to trust him, and too weak to dismiss him. Compare 2Sa 14:19; 2Sa 19:7. 1Ki 2:5, 1Ki 2:32, 1Ki 2:33.
one as well as another = now this one, now that one.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
displease thee: Heb. be evil in thine eyes
for the sword: Jos 7:8, Jos 7:9, 1Sa 6:9, Ecc 9:1-3, Ecc 9:11, Ecc 9:12
one: Heb. so and such, What abominable hypocrisy was here! He well knew that the death of this noble and gallant man was no chance-medley: he was by his own order thrust on the sword.
make: 2Sa 12:26
Reciprocal: Jdg 20:22 – encouraged 2Sa 2:26 – sword 2Sa 12:1 – unto David 2Sa 14:14 – we must 1Ki 21:16 – Ahab rose up
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 11:25. Let not this thing displease thee Be not disheartened by this loss. David showed no sign of grief or displeasure at these tidings, as he heard the news, which he desired, of Uriahs death. The sword devoureth one as well as another Makes no distinction between good and bad. Make thy battle more strong, &c. Assault the city with greater force, till thou art made master of it. And encourage thou him Joab and his soldiery.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
11:25 Then David said unto the messenger, {k} 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.
(k) He conceals the truth from the messenger, so that neither his cruel commandment, nor Joab’s wicked obedience would be discovered.