New Living Translation
2 Samuel 18:5
5And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom.” And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.
2 Samuel 18:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
- New International Version (NIV)The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.
Context of 2 Samuel 18:5
3But his men objected strongly. “You must not go,” they urged. “If we have to turn and run—and even if half of us die—it will make no difference to Absalom’s troops; they will be looking only for you. You are worth 10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it.” 4“If you think that’s the best plan, I’ll do it,” the king answered. So he stood alongside the gate of the town as all the troops marched out in groups of hundreds and of thousands. And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom.” And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders. 6So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, 7and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives.
Read all of 2 Samuel 182 Samuel 18:5 word by word
וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־י֠וֹאָב וְאֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֤י וְאֶת־אִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאַט־לִ֖י לַנַּ֣עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וְכָל־הָעָ֣ם שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּצַוֹּ֥ת הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־כָּל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים עַל־דְּבַ֥ר אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- and Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי'ăbîyshay 'abshay · AbishaiH52
- and Ittaiאִתַּי'ittay 'îythay · IttaiH863
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- gentlyאַט'aţ · softlyH328
- for my sake with the young manנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- with Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
- And all the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- gave all the captainsשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- concerningדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:5
- 2 Samuel 16:11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it.
- 2 Samuel 17:1Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.
- Deuteronomy 21:18“Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him.
- Psalms 103:13The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
- Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
- 1 Samuel 18:12Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Deal gently - with the young man - David was the father of this worthless young man; and is it to be wondered at that he feels as a father? Who in his circumstances, that had such feelings as every man should have, would have felt, or acted otherwise?Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Joab disobeyed David's order to be gentle with young Absalom (2 Samuel 18:11–15). This was the second time Joab killed someone against David's wishes (see 2 Samuel 3:22–37).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom--This affecting charge, which the king gave to his generals, proceeded not only from his overwhelming affection for his children, but from his consciousness that this rebellion was the chastisement of his own crimes, Absalom being merely an instrument in the hand of retributive Providence;--and also from his piety, lest the unhappy prince should die with his sins unrepented of.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18
- 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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