2 Samuel 11:16
And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
This verse belongs to the account of David's grievous sin and heinous crime, his murder and fall against Uriah and Bath-sheba. It stands in the record of David's fall, when he who had been especially favored by God and once faithful was led through appetite and passion into conduct that incurred God's displeasure. His idleness left room for temptation and led him into arranging Uriah's death, and had he been occupied in useful work he would not have committed this crime.
Joab carried out David's order and plan by assigning Uriah to a place where the fighting was fiercest, where he knew valiant enemy men were, exposing Uriah to death in battle, and Uriah was killed. David arranged for enemies to kill Uriah so the death would appear to be a battle casualty, hiding his own guilt, freeing Bathsheba to become his wife, averting suspicion, and preserving his royal honor. His attempt to escape the consequences of adultery led him to commit murder. In this he used his royal authority to place Uriah in deadly danger, turning from God's instruction and damaging his reputation.
Joab's obedience to the king's command was sinful because the command opposed God's law, for human authority does not make disobedience to God right. God did not excuse or justify David's wrongdoing even though David had once been faithful and favored by God. He rebuked David through Nathan and punishment followed. Yet David's repentance and confession brought forgiveness and spared his life.
The faithful record of David's sin shows that even a man favored by God could fall into wrongdoing. Such failures are recorded as a warning against sin, not as an excuse for it. They teach that through God's grace those who fall can take heart and continue the struggle.