New Living Translation
2 Samuel 13:23
23Two years later, when Absalom’s sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to a feast.
2 Samuel 13:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal–hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
- New International Version (NIV)Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there.
- English Standard Version (ESV)After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
Context of 2 Samuel 13:23
21When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. 22And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister. Two years later, when Absalom’s sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to a feast. 24He went to the king and said, “My sheep-shearers are now at work. Would the king and his servants please come to celebrate the occasion with me?” 25The king replied, “No, my son. If we all came, we would be too much of a burden on you.” Absalom pressed him, but the king would not come, though he gave Absalom his blessing.
Read all of 2 Samuel 132 Samuel 13:23 word by word
וַֽיְהִי֙ לִשְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֔ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ גֹֽזְזִים֙ לְאַבְשָׁל֔וֹם בְּבַ֥עַל חָצ֖וֹר אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִם־אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיִּקְרָ֥א אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם לְכָל־בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass after two fullיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- that Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
- had sheepshearersגָּזַזgâzaz · to shearH1494
- in Baal–hazorבַּ֫עַל חָצוֹרba‛al châtsôr · Baal-hazorH1178
- beside Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
- invitedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- all the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 13:23
- Genesis 38:12Some years later Judah’s wife died. After the time of mourning was over, Judah and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to Timnah to supervise the shearing of his sheep.
- 1 Samuel 25:2There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and it was sheep-shearing time.
- 2 Kings 3:4King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.
- 2 Chronicles 26:10He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.
- 1 Kings 1:9Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 13:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Absalom had sheep-shearers - These were times in which feasts were made, to which the neighbors and relatives of the family were invited.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Sheepshearing was always a time of feasting (marginal references). Baal-hazor is not known.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 Observe the aggravations of Absalom's sin: he would have Ammon slain, when least fit to go out of the world. He engaged his servants in the guilt. Those servants are ill-taught who obey wicked masters, against God's commands. Indulged children always prove crosses to godly parents, whose foolish love leads them to neglect their duty to God.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Baal-hazor is different from the well-known fortified city of Hazor, which is north of the Sea of Galilee. A fortified city is a city protected by strong walls and defenses. Baal-hazor is believed to be at Jebel el-Asur, about 24 kilometers (15 miles) north of Jerusalem. he invited all the sons of the king: Sheep shearing was a time to share abundance and blessings with others (see 1 Samuel 25:2–8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2723-27. Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim--A sheep-shearing feast is a grand occasion in the East. Absalom proposed to give such an entertainment at his estate in Baal-hazor, about eight miles northeast of Jerusalem near a town called Ephraim (Jos 11:10). He first invited the king and his court; but the king declining, on account of the heavy expense to which the reception of royalty would subject him [2Sa 13:25], Absalom…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 13:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 13
- 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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