2 Samuel 11:21
Arabic Simplified (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, Joab is talking to the messenger who will report to King David about the battle. Joab uses the story of Abimelech dying by a woman's hand to hide Uriah's death. He instructs the messenger to mention Uriah's death as an afterthought.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing a game where you have to tell your friend something bad happened to your toy. You might first tell a story about someone else's toy to soften the blow. Joab is doing something like that, but with a real person named Uriah. He's using an old story to hide the truth about Uriah.
Historical Background
This verse is from the Book of 2 Samuel, written by various authors including Samuel, Nathan, and Gad. It was written around the 6th century BCE, intended for the Israelites to understand the kingship and divine will. The cultural setting is that of ancient Israel, where battles and royal intrigue were common.
Living It Out Today
In a modern scenario, if someone needs to deliver bad news, they might soften the impact by first sharing less critical information. For example, a manager might first discuss a team's progress before delivering news about a failed project.