So it was as Joabkeptwatchon the city,that he putUriahat the placewherehe knewthere [were] valiantmen.
He had writtenin the letter,saying,"PlaceUriahin the frontlineof the fiercestbattleand withdrawfrom him, so that he may be struckdownand die."
The menof the citywentout and foughtagainstJoab,and someof the peopleamongDavid'sservantsfell;and Uriahthe Hittitealsodied.
WhostruckdownAbimelechthe sonof Jerubbesheth?Did not a womanthrowan uppermillstoneon him from the wallso that he diedat Thebez?Whydid you goso nearthe wall?'--then you shall say,'Your servantUriahthe Hittiteis deadalso.'"
So when Abnerreturnedto Hebron,Joabtookhim asideinto the middleof the gateto speakwith him privately,and therehe struckhim in the bellyso that he diedon account of the bloodof Asahelhis brother.
"Now you alsoknowwhatJoabthe sonof Zeruiahdidto me, whathe didto the twocommandersof the armiesof Israel,to Abnerthe sonof Ner,and to Amasathe sonof Jether,whom he killed;he also shedthe bloodof warin peace.And he putthe bloodof waron his beltabout his waist,and on his sandalson his feet.
Then he wrotea letterto them a secondtimesaying,"Ifyou are on my side, and you will listento my voice,takethe headsof the men,your master'ssons,and cometo me at Jezreeltomorrowabout this time."Now the king'ssons,seventypersons,[were] with the greatmenof the city,[who] were rearingthem.
If a rulerpaysattentionto falsehood,Allhis ministers[become] wicked.
Ephraimis oppressed,crushedin judgment,Becausehe was determinedto follow[man's] command.
But Peterand the apostlesanswered,"We mustobeyGodratherthanmen.
