And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

2 SAMUEL 11:6KJV
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2 Samuel 11:6 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 11:6 mean?

2 Samuel 11:6 describes how King David sent a message to Joab, the commander of his army, asking Joab to send Uriah the Hittite to him. Joab obeyed and sent Uriah to David as requested.

In this verse, David is taking deliberate action by reaching out to Joab, who is leading Israel’s troops in battle. David’s request for Uriah is the beginning of a sequence of events that will become very significant in the story. The verse shows David’s authority and ability to command his military leaders, and it sets up the next steps in the narrative involving Uriah.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 11:6

  • The word "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) appears multiple times in this verse, showing David’s active role in initiating contact and giving orders. This repetition highlights David’s control over the situation and the unfolding events.
  • The name "Joab" (יוֹאָב, Yoav) identifies the military commander who is loyal to David and acts on his instructions without question, emphasizing the chain of command.
  • The name "Uriah" (אוּרִיָּה, Uriyah) is specified along with "the Hittite" (הַחִתִּי, hachitti), making clear that Uriah is not an Israelite by birth but serves in David’s army, which adds depth to his role in the story.

Why 2 Samuel 11:6 matters

  • This verse marks the turning point where David begins to involve others in his private actions, moving from personal sin to actions that will affect many people.
  • The mention of Uriah as "the Hittite" reminds readers that David’s army included foreigners, highlighting the diversity within Israel’s ranks and the trust placed in non-Israelite soldiers.
  • The verse sets the stage for the moral and ethical choices David will make, which are central to the larger narrative and its consequences.

Where else these words appear

“Uriah” Hebrew H223 · used in 33 verses

  • 2 Samuel 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
  • 2 Samuel 11:17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
  • 2 Kings 16:15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

“Hittite” Hebrew H2850 · used in 47 verses

  • Genesis 15:20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
  • Numbers 13:29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
  • 2 Samuel 11:24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

“Joab” Hebrew H3097 · used in 124 verses

  • 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
  • 2 Samuel 14:22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
  • 2 Samuel 24:4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.