An account of the execution of his order was sent to David, but so carefully worded as not to implicate either Joab or the king. Joab "charged the messenger saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 720 and if so be that the king's wrath arise, . . .then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for."

David fik meddelelse om befalingens fuldbyrdelse, men rapporten var affattet i sådanne vendinger, at hverken Joab eller kongen var nævnt. Joab "gav sendebuddet den befaling: "Når du har givet kongen beretning om hele slagets gang, kan det være, at kongen bruser op i vrede ..... Så skal du sige: Også din træl hetitten Urias faldt!" Så drog budet af sted og kom og meldte David alt, hvad Joab havde pålagt ham."