25 At that David said to the messenger: “This is what you will say to Joʹab, ‘Do not let this matter appear bad in your eyes, for the sword eats+ up one as well as another. Intensify your battle against the city and throw it down.’+ And encourage him.”

20 And it came about at the time of the year’s return,+ at the time that kings sally forth,+ that Joʹab proceeded to lead the combat force of the army+ and lay the land of the sons of Amʹmon in ruin and to come and besiege Rabʹbah,+ while David was dwelling in Jerusalem; and Joʹab went on to strike+ Rabʹbah and throw it down.