2 Samuel 17:13

2 Samuel 17:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
• New International Version (NIV)If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not so much as a pebble is left.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

Context of 2 Samuel 17:13

11So my advice is to gather all Israel’s troops from Dan to Beersheba, since they are as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Lead them into battle yourself. 12Then we’ll attack him wherever we find him. We’ll fall on him as dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left ⌞alive⌟. If he retreats into a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city and drag it into a valley so that not even a pebble will be found there.” 14Absalom and all the people of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai from Archi’s family is better than Ahithophel’s advice.” (The Lord had commanded Ahithophel’s good advice to be defeated in order to ruin Absalom.) 15Then Hushai told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “Ahithophel advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do one thing, but I advised them to do something else.

2 Samuel 17:13 word by word

וְאִם־אֶל־עִיר֙ יֵֽאָסֵ֔ף וְהִשִּׂ֧יאוּ כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־הָעִ֥יר הַהִ֖יא חֲבָלִ֑ים וְסָחַ֤בְנוּ אֹתוֹ֙ עַד־הַנַּ֔חַל עַ֛ד אֲשֶֽׁר־לֹא־נִמְצָ֥א שָׁ֖ם גַּם־צְרֽוֹר׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Moreover, ifאִם'im · ifH518
• he be gottenאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
• into a cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• then shall all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• bringנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• ropesחֶ֫בֶלchebel chêbel · cordH2256
• and we will drawסָחַבsâchab · to dragH5498
• it into the riverנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: valleyH5158
• until there be not oneגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• small stoneצְרוֹרtserôr tserôr · pebbleH6872
• foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 17:13

• Matthew 24:2Jesus said to them, “You see all these buildings, don’t you? I can guarantee this truth: Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down.”

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Shall all Israel bring ropes to that city - The original word חבלים chabalim, which signifies ropes, and from which we have our word cable, may have some peculiarity of meaning here; for it is not likely that any city could be pulled down with ropes. The Chaldee, which should be best judge in this case, translates the original word by משרין mashreyan, towers: this gives an easy sense.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14Ahithophel advised a quick surprise attack against David with a small force of 12,000 men (2 Samuel 17:1). This plan would give David no time to prepare or organize a defense. David’s double agent, Hushai, gave different advice. He urged Absalom to wait and gather the entire army of Israel before attacking (2 Samuel 17:11). This plan promised a much larger force and would prevent David from using guerrilla tactics (small surprise attacks). Because the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. all Israel shall bring ropes to that city--In besieging a town, hooks or cranes were often thrown upon the walls or turrets, by which, with ropes attached to them, the besiegers, uniting all their force, pulled down the fortifications in a mass of ruins.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 17:13

• Ahithophel
• Armies
• Council
• Diplomacy
• Falsehood
• Friendship
• Spies
• Strategy
• War

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Euphrates River, the River
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Ahithophel
• Instead
• Bible, the
• David
• Hushai
• Israel, History of

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings