2 Samuel 13:28

²⁶ “If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.

²⁷ But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons.

Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”

²⁹ So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.

³⁰ While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; not one of them is left!”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”
KJV: Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
WEB: Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!”
ASV: And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now, when Amnon`s heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
DARBY: And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon; then slay him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
BLB: And Absalom had commanded his young men, saying, “Watch now, when the heart of Amnon is merry with wine, and I say to you⁺, strike Amnon and kill him. Do not be afraid. Is [it] not that I have commanded you⁺? Be courageous and be sons of valor.”

ÅB: Og Absalom befalte sine tjenere og sa: Se til, når Amnon er blitt vel til mote av vinen, og jeg sier til dere: Hugg Amnon ned! - så skal dere drepe ham; vær ikke redde! Det er jo jeg som har befalt dere det! Vær modige og vis dere som djerve menn!
OTB: Da befalte Absalom sine tjenere og sa: "Se nå, når Amnons hjerte er glad av vin, og når jeg sier til dere: 'Slå Amnon,' så drep ham. Frykt ikke; har ikke jeg selv befalt dere? Vær modige og vær tapre."
B1930: Og Absalom bød sine tjenere og sa: Se til, når Amnon er blitt vel til mote av vinen, og jeg sier til eder: Hugg Amnon ned! - så skal I drepe ham; vær ikke redde! Det er jo jeg som har befalt eder det! Vær modige og vis eder som djerve menn!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Judges 19:6
So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be merry.”
Read in context
Judges 19:22
While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!”
Read in context
Judges 19:9
When the man got up to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is drawing to a close. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Spend the night here, that your heart may be merry. Then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey home.”
Read in context
Ruth 3:7
After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
Read in context
Nahum 1:10
For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard— like stubble that is fully dry.
Read in context
1 Samuel 25:36–38
When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.
Read in context
1 Samuel 22:17–18
Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
Read in context
Luke 21:34
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
Read in context