2 Samuel 14:30
28 Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king.
29 Then he sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So Absalom sent a second time, but Joab still would not come.
Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31 Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
32 “Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.”
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
- Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
- KJV
- Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
- WEB
- Therefore he said to his servants, “Behold, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
- ASV
- Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab`s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom`s servants set the field on fire.
- DARBY
- Then he said to his servants, See, Joab's allotment is near mine and he has barley there: go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the allotment on fire.
- BLB
- And he said to his servants, “See, the portion of Joab [is] near mine, and he has barley there; go and burn it with the fire.” And the servants of Absalom burned the portion with the fire.
- ÅB
- Da sa han til sine tjenere: Se, her ved siden av meg har Joab et jordstykke, og der har han bygg; gå og sett ild på det! Og Absaloms tjenere satte ild på jordstykket.
- OTB
- Derfor befalte han sine tjenere, “Se, Joabs åker er ved siden av min, og han har bygg der; gå og sett den i brann.” Så Absaloms tjenere satte åkeren i brann.
- B1930
- Da sa han til sine tjenere: Se, her ved siden av mig har Joab et jordstykke, og der har han bygg; gå og sett ild på det! Og Absaloms tjenere satte ild på jordstykket.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Judges 15:4–5
Then Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. And he took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails.
Read in context2 Kings 10:6–7
Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city.
Read in context2 Samuel 13:28–29
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!”
Read in context1 Kings 21:9–14
In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people.
Read in context2 Kings 9:33
“Throw her down!” yelled Jehu. So they threw her down, and her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
Read in context