English Standard Version
2 Samuel 18:11
11Joab 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."
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What?” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!”
Context of 2 Samuel 18:11
9And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 10And a certain man saw it and told Joab, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak." 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." 12But the man said to Joab, "Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, 'For my sake protect the young man Absalom.' 13On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof."
Read all of 2 Samuel 182 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries