“to change the face of the situation.” This phraseology is more literal although more obscure in meaning. But the phrase is obscure. Some scholars suggest the idea is, “the appearance of the situation,” but others say, the “course” or “direction” of the situation. Both ideas are likely correct, and although the idea of changing the course of things was clearly Joab’s intent, the appearance of the situation needed to be changed too so that people would easily accept that King David changed his mind. No doubt there were many “offstage discussions” about King David’s decision that occurred throughout the kingdom that are not recorded in Scripture.