New English Translation
2 Samuel 15:7
7After four years Absalom said to the king, “Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the Lord while I was in Hebron.
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 someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. 6Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel. After four years Absalom said to the king, “Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the Lord while I was in Hebron. 8For I made this vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram: ‘If the Lord really does allow me to return to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord.’” 9The king replied to him, “Go in peace.” So Absalom got up and 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 13:38After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he remained there for three years.
- 1 Samuel 16:1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go! I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons.”
- 2 Samuel 13:24Then Absalom went to the king and said, “My shearers have begun their work. Let the king and his servants go with me.”
- 1 Samuel 16:2Samuel replied, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’
- Proverbs 21:27The wicked person’s sacrifice is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent!
- Isaiah 58:4Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven.
- Matthew 2:8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.”
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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