2 Samuel 15:2

1 Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.

He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”

3 Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”

4 And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

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
He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”
KJV
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
WEB
Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”
ASV
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
DARBY
And Absalom rose early, and stood beside the way of the gate; and it was so, that when any man who had a controversy had to come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
BLB
And Absalom would rise early and stand by the side of the way of the gate. And it came to pass, when every man who had a grievance came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “From which city [are] you?” And he would say, “From one of the tribes of Israel [is] your servant.”
ÅB
Og Absalom pleide å stå tidlig opp og stille seg ved siden av veien til porten; og så ofte det kom en mann som hadde en sak han ville føre fram for kongen og få dom i, kalte Absalom på ham og spurte: Hvilken by er du fra? Når han så svarte: Din tjener er fra den og den av Israels stammer,
OTB
Og Absalom sto tidlig opp og stilte seg ved veien til porten. Når noen hadde en sak å legge fram for kongen for dom, kalte Absalom på ham og sa, "Hvilken by er du fra?" Og han svarte, "Din tjener er fra en av Israels stammer."
B1930
Og Absalom pleide å stå tidlig op og stille sig ved siden av veien til porten; og så ofte det kom en mann som hadde en sak han vilde føre frem for kongen og få dom i, kalte Absalom på ham og spurte: Hvilken by er du fra? Når han så svarte: Din tjener er fra den og den av Israels stammer,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ruth 4:1

    Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 27:1

    When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 18:16

    “Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 19:8

    So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 18:14

    When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

    Read in context
  • Exodus 18:26

    And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 4:16

    For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

    Read in context
  • Job 24:14

    When daylight is gone, the murderer rises to kill the poor and needy; in the night he is like a thief.

    Read in context