2 Samuel 11:20
New International Version
the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall?

New Living Translation
But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls?

English Standard Version
then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

Berean Standard Bible
if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall?

King James Bible
And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

New King James Version
if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

New American Standard Bible
then it shall be that if the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you move against the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

NASB 1995
and if it happens that the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

NASB 1977
and if it happens that the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

Legacy Standard Bible
and if it happens that the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you approach the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

Amplified Bible
then if the king becomes angry and he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot [arrows] from the wall?

Christian Standard Bible
if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall?

American Standard Version
it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore went ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
If it is that the anger of the King arises and he says to you: “Why did you come near to the city to fight with it? Did you not know that they shoot from the wall?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
then it shall come to pass if the anger of the king shall arise, and he shall say to thee, Why did ye draw nigh to the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from off the wall?

Contemporary English Version
he may get angry and ask, "Why did you go so near the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall?

Douay-Rheims Bible
If thou see him to be angry, and he shall say: Why did you approach so near to the wall to fight? knew you not that many darts are thrown from above off the wall?

English Revised Version
it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore went ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
the king may become angry. He might ask you, 'Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot from the wall?

Good News Translation
he may get angry and ask you, 'Why did you go so near the city to fight them? Didn't you realize that they would shoot arrows from the walls?

International Standard Version
if the king starts to get angry and asks you, 'Why did you get so near the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot from the wall?

JPS Tanakh 1917
it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee: Wherefore went ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

Literal Standard Version
then, it has been, if the king’s fury ascends, and he has said to you, Why did you draw near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they shoot from off the wall?

Majority Standard Bible
if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall?

New American Bible
the king may become angry and say to you: ‘Why did you go near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall above?

NET Bible
if the king becomes angry and asks you, 'Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn't you realize they would shoot from the wall?

New Revised Standard Version
then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

New Heart English Bible
it shall be that, if his anger rises and he asks you, 'Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if the king's wrath shall rise, and he shall say to thee, Why approached ye so nigh to the city for the fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

World English Bible
it shall be that, if the king’s wrath arise, and he asks you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn’t you know that they would shoot from the wall?

Young's Literal Translation
then, it hath been, if the king's fury ascend, and he hath said to thee, Wherefore did ye draw nigh unto the city to fight? did ye not know that they shoot from off the wall?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Arranges Uriah's Death
19and instructed the messenger, “When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle, 20 if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall? 21Who was the one to strike Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’ ”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 11:19
and instructed the messenger, "When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle,

2 Samuel 11:21
Who was the one to strike Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?' If so, then you are to say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.'"


Treasury of Scripture

And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say to you, Why approached you so near to the city when you did fight? knew you not that they would shoot from the wall?

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Anger Angry Approached Archers Arise City Fight Flare Happens King's Nigh Rise Rises Shoot Tells Wall Wherefore Wrath
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Anger Angry Approached Archers Arise City Fight Flare Happens King's Nigh Rise Rises Shoot Tells Wall Wherefore Wrath
2 Samuel 11
1. While Joab besieges Rabbah, David commits adultery with Bathsheba
6. Uriah, sent for by David to cover the adultery, would not go home.
14. He carries to Joab the letter of his death
18. Joab sends the news thereof to David
26. David takes Bathsheba as his wife
















Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
if
אִֽם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

the king’s
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

anger
חֲמַ֣ת (ḥă·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2534: Heat, anger, poison

flares,
תַּעֲלֶה֙ (ta·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

he may ask you,
וְאָמַ֣ר (wə·’ā·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Why
מַדּ֛וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)
Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

did you get so close
נִגַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם (nig·gaš·tem)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the city
הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

to fight?
לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם (lə·hil·lā·ḥêm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

Did you not
הֲל֣וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

realize
יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם (yə·ḏa‘·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

they would shoot
יֹר֖וּ (yō·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

from atop
מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the wall?
הַחוֹמָֽה׃ (ha·ḥō·w·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection


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OT History: 2 Samuel 11:20 It shall be that if the king's (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 11:19
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