2 Samuel 18:12
10 When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
11 “You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!”
The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’
13 If I had jeopardized my own life —and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”
14 But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.
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
- The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’
- KJV
- And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
- WEB
- The man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’
- ASV
- And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [pieces of] silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king`s son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
- DARBY
- And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand silver pieces in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Take care, whoever it be [of you], of the young man Absalom.
- BLB
- And the man said to Joab, “Even if I was weighing in my hands a thousand [shekels] of silver, I would not have sent out my hand against the son of the king. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect [for my sake] the young man Absalom.’
- ÅB
- Men mannen sa til Joab: Om jeg så fikk meg tilveid tusen sekel sølv midt opp i hånden, ville jeg ikke rekke ut min hånd mot kongens sønn; for vi hørte alle på at kongen befalte deg og Abisai og Ittai og sa: Vær varsom med den unge mann, med Absalom, hvem det så er av dere!
- OTB
- Men mannen sa til Joab: "Selv om jeg fikk tusen sølvstykker, ville jeg ikke rekke ut min hånd mot kongens sønn; for i vår høring befalte kongen deg, Abisjai og Ittai og sa: 'Beskytt den unge mannen Absalom for min skyld.'
- B1930
- Men mannen sa til Joab: Om jeg så fikk mig tilveid tusen sekel sølv midt op i hånden, vilde jeg ikke rekke ut min hånd mot kongens sønn; for vi hørte alle på at kongen bød dig og Abisai og Ittai og sa: Vær varsom med den unge mann, med Absalom, hvem det så er av eder!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Samuel 18:5
Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
Read in context