God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 15:7
7Four years later Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and keep the vow I made to the Lord.
2 Samuel 15:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron.
- New International Version (NIV)At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord.
Context of 2 Samuel 15:7
5When anyone approached him and bowed down, Absalom would reach out, take hold of him, and kiss him. 6This is what he did for all Israelites who came to the king to have him try their case. So Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel. Four years later Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and keep the vow I made to the Lord. 8I made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord will bring me back to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord.’ ” 9“Go in peace,” the king told him. So he went to Hebron.
Read all of 2 Samuel 152 Samuel 15:7 word by word
וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֗א וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם אֶת־נִדְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־נָדַ֥רְתִּי לַֽיהוָ֖ה בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass afterקֵץqêts · endH7093
- fortyאַרְבָּעִים'arbâ‛îym · fortyH705
- yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- that Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- I pray thee, let me goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- and payשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
- my vowנֶ֫דֶרneder nêder · vowH5088
- which I have vowedנָדַרnâdar · to vowH5087
- unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- in Hebronחֶבְרוֹןchebrôn · HebronH2275
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 15:7
- 2 Samuel 13:38Absalom, having fled to Geshur, stayed there three years.
- 1 Samuel 16:1The Lord asked Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul now that I have rejected him as king of Israel? Fill a flask with olive oil and go. I’m sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem because I’ve selected one of his sons to be king.”
- 2 Samuel 13:24Absalom went to the king and said, “Since I have sheepshearers, Your Majesty and your officials are invited ⌞to feast⌟ with me.”
- 1 Samuel 16:2“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “When Saul hears about it, he’ll kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord.’
- Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of wicked people is disgusting, especially if they bring it with evil intent.
- Isaiah 58:4Don’t you see that when you fast, you quarrel and fight and beat your workers? The way you fast today keeps you from being heard in heaven.
- Matthew 2:8As he sent them to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you have found him, report to me so that I may go and worship him too.”
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7After forty years - There is no doubt that this reading is corrupt, though supported by the commonly printed Vulgate, the Septuagint, and the Chaldee. But the Syriac has arba shanin, Four years; the Arabic the same arba shinin, Four years; and Josephus has the same; so also the Sixtine edition of the Vulgate, and several MSS. of the same version. Theodoret also reads four, not forty; and most learned men are of opinion that ארבעים arbaim, Forty, is an…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Forty years - An obvious clerical error, though a very ancient one for four years, which may date from Absalom‘s return from Geshur, or from his reconciliation with David, or from the commencement of the criminal schemes to which 2 Samuel 15:1 refers. Hebron - This, as having been the old capital of David‘s kingdom and Absalom‘s birthplace, was well chosen. It was a natural center, had probably many inhabitants discontented at the transfer of the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 See how willing tender parents are to believe the best concerning their children. But how easy and how wicked is it, for children to take advantage of good parents, and to deceive them with the show of religion! The principal men of Jerusalem joined Absalom's feast upon his sacrifice. Pious persons are glad to see others appear religious, and this gives occasion for deceptions. The policy of wicked men, and the subtlety of Satan, are exerted…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7After four years: The Hebrew text says forty years, which would place Absalom’s rebellion in David’s final year as king, causing many timeline issues with later events (also see study note on 2 Samuel 15:1–19). The Greek and Syriac versions are more likely accurate. fulfill a vow: This offering was to keep a promise to God, unlike a freewill offering given out of devotion and gratitude (see Genesis 28:20–22; Judges 11:30–31; 1 Samuel 1:11). Absalom was…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-97-9. after forty years--It is generally admitted that an error has here crept into the text, and that instead of "forty," we should read with the Syriac and Arabic versions, and Josephus, "four years"--that is, after Absalom's return to Jerusalem, and his beginning to practice the base arts of gaining popularity. my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord--during his exile in Geshur. The purport of it was, that whenever God's providence should pave the way…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 15:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15
- 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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