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2 Samuel 18:9

AbsalomDavid

7 There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men.

8 The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.

Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair.

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!”

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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.

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BSB
Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair.
KJV
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
WEB
Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
ASV
And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between heaven and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
DARBY
And Absalom found himself in the presence of David's servants. And Absalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of the great terebinth, and his head caught in the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
BLB
And Absalom met before the face of the servants of David. And Absalom rode on a mule. And the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught in the oak. And he was left hanging between the heavens and between the earth, and the mule that [was] under him went on.
ÅB
Absalom kom like imot Davids menn; han red på sitt muldyr, og muldyret kom inn under de tette greiner på en stor terebinte, så hans hode hang fast i terebinten, og han ble hengende mellom himmel og jord; for muldyret som han satt på, løp sin vei.
OTB
Nå møtte Absalom Davids tjenere. Absalom red på muldyret sitt, og muldyret gikk under de tette grenene av en stor eik. Hans hode satte seg fast i treet, og han ble hengende mellom himmel og jord, mens muldyret som var under ham fortsatte.
B1930
Absalom kom like imot Davids menn; han red på sitt muldyr, og muldyret kom inn under de tette grener på en stor terebinte, så hans hode hang fast i terebinten, og han blev hengende mellem himmel og jord; for muldyret som han satt på, løp sin vei.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 14:26

    And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy—he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard.

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  • Proverbs 30:17

    As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

    Read in context

  • Job 31:3

    Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?

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  • 2 Samuel 18:14

    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.

    Read in context

  • Mark 7:10

    For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

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  • Proverbs 20:20

    Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 27:16

    ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

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  • Job 18:8–10

    For his own feet lead him into a net, and he wanders into its mesh.

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