21 Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone down on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?’ just say to him, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’” 22 So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him. 23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and attacked us in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way to the door of the city gate.

21 Who struck down Abimelech son of Jeroboam son of Ner? Was it not a woman who threw a piece of millstone on him from above the wall and he died at Thebez? Why did you go near to the wall?’ Then you should say, ‘Also, indeed, your servant Uriah the Hittite died.’” 22 And Joab’s messengers went to the king in Jerusalem and he arrived and reported to David everything that Joab told him, all the news of the battle. And David became wrathful against Joab and said to the messenger, “Why did you go near to the city? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who struck of Abimelech son of Jeroboam? Was it not a woman who threw a piece of millstone on him from the wall and he died in Thebez? Why did you go near to the wall?” 23 And the messenger said to David, “Because the men grew strong over us and came out against us in the field and we were over them as far as the door of the gate.