New English Translation
2 Samuel 15:3
3Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.”
2 Samuel 15:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
- New International Version (NIV)Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.”
Context of 2 Samuel 15:3
1Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 2Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.” Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” 4Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.” 5When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him.
Read all of 2 Samuel 152 Samuel 15:3 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם רְאֵ֥ה דְבָרֶ֖ךָ טוֹבִ֣ים וּנְכֹחִ֑ים וְשֹׁמֵ֥עַ אֵין־לְךָ֖ מֵאֵ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, Seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: behold!H7200
- thy mattersדָּבָרdâbâr · word: caseH1697
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- and rightנָכֹחַnâkôach · straightforwardH5228
- of the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- to hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 15:3
- Numbers 16:3And they assembled against Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the Lord?”
- Psalms 12:2People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.
- Daniel 11:21“Then there will arise in his place a despicable person to whom the royal honor has not been rightfully conferred. He will come on the scene in a time of prosperity and will seize the kingdom through deceit.
- 2 Peter 2:10especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,
- 2 Samuel 8:15David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.
- Exodus 20:12“Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.
- Exodus 21:17“Whoever treats his father or his mother disgracefully must surely be put to death.
- Proverbs 30:11There is a generation who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
- Ezekiel 22:7They have treated father and mother with contempt within you; they have oppressed the foreigner among you; they have wronged the orphan and the widow within you.
- Matthew 15:4For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’
- Acts 23:5Paul replied, “I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”
- 1 Peter 2:17Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15:3
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3To flatter each man by pronouncing a favorable verdict in his case, to excite a sense of grievance and discontent by censuring the king for remissness in trying the causes brought before him by his subjects, and to suggest a sure and easy remedy for all such grievances, namely, to make Absalom king; all this, coupled with great affability and courtesy, which his personal beauty and high rank made all the more effective, were the arts by which Absalom…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19Absalom revolted against David eleven years after Amnon violated Tamar (compare 2 Samuel 13:23, 38; 14:28; 15:7). This was around the twenty-fifth year of David's thirty-three-year rule in Jerusalem.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-62-6. Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate--Public business in the East is always transacted early in the morning--the kings sitting an hour or more to hear causes or receive petitions, in a court held anciently, and in many places still, in the open air at the city gateway; so that, as those whose circumstances led them to wait on King David required to be in attendance on his morning levees, Absalom had to rise up early and stand…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 15:3
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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