And David said, Thus shalt thou say to Joab, Let not this thing displease thee - He meant to say that this thing that they approached the wall is not a bad thing, for it is better that they approach the wall and fight there until they destroy the wall than that they stand at a distance and prolong the days of the siege,
for such and such shall the sword devour. He meant to say if the days of the siege are prolonged and they stand in a field far from the city and the people of the city fall upon them continually, the sword will devour twice as much as the arrows and stones devour when they approach, for when they approach the wall, even if many fall, will they not put a spell on their words, and when they take the wall, the sword will no longer devour as it once did, therefore strengthen your battle against the city itself and destroy it to shorten the days of the siege,
and strengthen him, commanding the angel to strengthen Joab's hand to do so.