2nd 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. 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
For top military generals in any government to kill innocent persons indiscriminately, especially when unprovoked, as was the case with Uriah, because they have been commanded to do so by a superior, is a moral failure, and a grave dereliction of duty to God and man.
Military personnel in our day are never to implicitly obey unwarranted orders to mow down innocents, just because some arbitrary ruler might command them to do so, for such generals will be culpable for their deeds, and would bear the full brunt of God’s judgement when crunch time comes around.
Having once entered upon a path of blind loyalty to David, Joab’s conscience became seared, as with a hot iron, and thus, when future compliance to any request made by David would be required, Joab’s weakened conscience would buckle time and time again under pressure, even if his own conscience disturbed him greatly.
1st Chronicles 21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 3 And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? 4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!