New International Version
2 Samuel 20:19
19We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”
2 Samuel 20:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?
- English Standard Version (ESV)I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the Lord?”
Context of 2 Samuel 20:19
17He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he answered. She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.” “I’m listening,” he said. 18She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?” 20“Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.”
Read all of 2 Samuel 202 Samuel 20:19 word by word
אָנֹכִ֕י שְׁלֻמֵ֖י אֱמוּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לְהָמִ֨ית עִ֤יר וְאֵם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָ֥מָּה תְבַלַּ֖ע נַחֲלַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- peaceableשָׁלַםshâlam · to allyH7999
- faithfulאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
- in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- thou seekestבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- to destroyמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- a cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- and a motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
- why wilt thou swallow upבָּלַעbâla‛ · to swallow upH1104
- the inheritanceנַחֲלָהnachălâh · inheritanceH5159
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 20:19
- Genesis 18:23Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
- Romans 13:3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
- 1 Timothy 2:2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
- Judges 5:7Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.
- Ezekiel 16:45You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.
- 2 Samuel 17:16Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ”
- Numbers 16:32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions.
- Numbers 26:10The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign.
- Psalms 124:3they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;
- Jeremiah 51:34“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured us, he has thrown us into confusion, he has made us an empty jar. Like a serpent he has swallowed us and filled his stomach with our delicacies, and then has spewed us out.
- Lamentations 2:2Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has torn down the strongholds of Daughter Judah. He has brought her kingdom and its princes down to the ground in dishonor.
- 1 Corinthians 15:54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
- 2 Samuel 21:3David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”
- Exodus 19:5Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,
- Deuteronomy 32:9For the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19I - peaceable and faithful in Israel - I am for peace, not contention of any kind; I am faithful - I adhere to David, and neither seek nor shall sanction any rebellion or anarchy in the land. Why then dost thou proceed in such a violent manner? Perhaps the woman speaks here in the name and on behalf of the city: "I am a peaceable city, and am faithful to the king." A mother in Israel - That is, a chief city of a district; for it is very likely that the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19I am one - The woman speaks in the name of the whole city, which she means to say was peaceable and loyal.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-22Verses 14-22 Justly is that place attacked, which dares to harbour a traitor; nor will the heart fare better which indulges rebellious lusts, that will not have Christ to reign over them. A discreet woman, by her prudent management, satisfied Joab, and yet saved the city. Wisdom is not confined to rank or sex; it consists not in deep knowledge; but in understanding how to act as matters arise, that troubles may be turned away and benefits secured. A great…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-19The woman shared a saying to persuade Joab not to destroy the entire city, especially a noble one like Abel (short for Abel-beth-maacah, 2 Samuel 20:15), just to catch one criminal. a city that is a mother in Israel: It was common to refer to outlying villages around a larger city as its “daughters.”Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. They were wont to speak in old time--The translation of the Margin gives a better meaning, which is to this effect: When the people saw thee lay siege to Abel, they said, Surely he will ask if we will have peace, for the law (De 20:10) prescribes that he should offer peace to strangers, much more then to Israelitish cities; and if he do this, we shall soon bring things to an amicable agreement, for we are a peaceable people. The answer of Joab…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 20:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20
- 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
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