2 Samuel 18:11

2 Samuel 18:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
• New International Version (NIV)Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Joab said to the man who told him, "What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”

Context of 2 Samuel 18:11

9During the battle, Absalom was riding on his mule and he met some of David's soldiers. His mule carried him under a big oak tree. The tree's branches caught Absalom's hair so that he hung there above the ground. His mule ran off and left him there. 10One of David's men saw what had happened. He told Joab, ‘I have seen Absalom. He is hanging from an oak tree.’ Joab said to the man who told him the news, ‘You saw him there, did you? So why did you not kill him? I would have given you ten silver coins and a brave soldier's belt.’ 12But the man replied, ‘I would never hurt the king's son, even for a gift of 1,000 silver coins. We all heard the king give this command to you, Abishai and Ittai. He said, “Keep the young man Absalom safe, because he is my son.” 13If I had killed Absalom, my own life would be in danger. The king knows everything that happens! You would not have tried to save me from the king's punishment.’

2 Samuel 18:11 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב לָאִישׁ֙ הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ וְהִנֵּ֣ה רָאִ֔יתָ וּמַדּ֛וּעַ לֹֽא־הִכִּית֥וֹ שָׁ֖ם אָ֑רְצָה וְעָלַ֗י לָ֤תֶת לְךָ֙ עֲשָׂ֣רָה כֶ֔סֶף וַחֲגֹרָ֖ה אֶחָֽת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto the manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• that toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• him, And, behold, thou sawestרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• and why didst thou not smiteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• him there to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• and I would have givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• thee tenעֶשֶׂר‛eώer ‛ăώârâh · tenH6235
• of silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
• and aאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• girdleחֲגוֹרָהchăgôr chăgôr chăgôrâh chăgôrâh · beltH2290

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11And a girdle - The military belt was the chief ornament of a soldier, and was highly prized in all ancient nations; it was also a rich present from one chieftain to another. Jonathan gave his to David, as the highest pledge of his esteem and perpetual friendship, 1 Samuel 18:4. And Ajax gave his to Hector, as a token of the highest respect. - Hom. Il. vii., ver. 305.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Ten shekels - (About 25 shillings.) The word “shekel” is understood, as in Genesis 20:16; Genesis 37:28. See the Exodus 38:24 note. A girdle - Girdles were costly articles of Hebrew dress used to put money in Matthew 10:9, and given as presents 1 Samuel 18:4.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-18Verses 9-18 Let young people look upon Absalom, hanging on a tree, accursed, forsaken of heaven and earth; there let them read the Lord's abhorrence of rebellion against parents. Nothing can preserve men from misery and contempt, but heavenly wisdom and the grace of God.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11A hero's belt might have been a sword belt that honored a soldier for bravery and courage in battle (compare 1 Samuel 18:4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1211-12. Joab said unto the man that told him, ... I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle--that is, would have raised him from the ranks to the status of a commissioned officer. Besides a sum of money, a girdle, curiously and richly wrought, was among the ancient Hebrews a mark of honor, and sometimes bestowed as a reward of military merit. This soldier, however, who may be taken as a fair sample of David's faithful subjects, had so…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:11

• Absalom
• Ephraim

In the dictionaries

• Joab
• Charge
• Gift
• Lift
• Pillar
• Rise
• Thrust
• Bible, the
• Cushi
• David

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings