23. The messenger said to David, “Because the men overpowered us, the men came out to us in the field, but we forced them back to the entrance of the gate.
24. The archers shot at your servant from atop the wall, and some of the servants of the king died; your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.”
25. Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not feel badly about this matter; now one and then another the sword will devour. Intensify your attack on the city and overthrow it.’ ” And he encouraged him.