English Standard Version
2 Samuel 18:14
14Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.
2 Samuel 18:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
- New International Version (NIV)Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Enough of this nonsense,” Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree.
Context of 2 Samuel 18:14
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." Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. 15And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him. 16Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
Read all of 2 Samuel 182 Samuel 18:14 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב לֹא־כֵ֖ן אֹחִ֣ילָה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיִּקַּח֩ שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה שְׁבָטִ֜ים בְּכַפּ֗וֹ וַיִּתְקָעֵם֙ בְּלֵ֣ב אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י בְּלֵ֥ב הָאֵלָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- I may not tarryיָחַלyâchal · to wait: waitH3176
- thus with theeפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
- And he tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
- dartsשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribe: javelinH7626
- in his handכַּףkaph · palmH3709
- and thrustתָּקַעtâqa‛ · to blowH8628
- them through the heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- of Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
- yet aliveחַיchay · aliveH2416
- in the midst of the oakאֵלָה'êlâh · oakH424
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:14
- 2 Samuel 18:5And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
- Judges 4:21But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died.
- Judges 5:26She sent her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen's mallet; she struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple.
- Psalms 45:5Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
- Matthew 12:40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14I may not tarry thus with thee - He had nothing to say in vindication of the purpose he had formed. Thrust them through the heart of Absalom - He was determined to make sure work, and therefore he pierced his heart. Joab should have obeyed the king's commandment: and yet the safety of the state required the sacrifice of Absalom. But independently of this, his life was quadruply forfeited to the law: - In having murdered his brother Amnon. In having…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14I may not tarry - i. e., lose time in such discourse.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. 14thrust them through the heart of Absalom: Earlier, Joab acted as a peacemaker between David and Absalom (2 Samuel 14). Joab might have thought letting Absalom live would cause more problems for David and himself. (Absalom had chosen Amasa, Joab’s first cousin, to take Joab’s place as the commander of Israel’s army; see 2 Samuel 17:25.)Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. he took three darts ... and thrust them through the heart of Absalom--The deed, partially done by Joab, was completed by his bodyguard. Being a violation of the expressed wish, as well as of all the fond paternal feelings of David, it must have been deeply offensive to the king, nor was it ever forgotten (1Ki 2:5); and yet there is the strongest reason for believing that Joab, in doing it, was actuated by a sincere regard to the interests of David…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:14
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
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Commentaries