2 Samuel 10:1--14:33
Konteks10:1 Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him. 1 10:2 David said, “I will express my loyalty 2 to Hanun son of Nahash just as his father was loyal 3 to me.” So David sent his servants with a message expressing sympathy over his father’s death. 4 When David’s servants entered the land of the Ammonites, 10:3 the Ammonite officials said to their lord Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? 5 No, David has sent his servants to you to get information about the city and spy on it so they can overthrow it!” 6
10:4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved off half of each one’s beard. He cut the lower part of their robes off so that their buttocks were exposed, 7 and then sent them away. 10:5 Messengers 8 told David what had happened, 9 so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho 10 until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.”
10:6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, 11 they 12 sent and hired 20,000 foot soldiers from Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah, 13 in addition to 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Ish-tob. 14
10:7 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. 15 10:8 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the men from Aram Zobah, Rehob, Ish-tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
10:9 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. 16 10:10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army 17 and they were deployed 18 against the Ammonites. 10:11 Joab 19 said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, 20 you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, 21 I will come to your rescue. 10:12 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!” 22
10:13 So Joab and his men 23 marched out to do battle with the Arameans, and they fled before him. 10:14 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before his brother Abishai and went into the city. Joab withdrew from fighting the Ammonites and returned to 24 Jerusalem. 25
10:15 When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they consolidated their forces. 26 10:16 Then Hadadezer sent for Arameans from 27 beyond the Euphrates River, 28 and they came to Helam. Shobach, the general in command of Hadadezer’s army, led them. 29
10:17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, 30 and came to Helam. The Arameans deployed their forces against David and fought with him. 10:18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. 31 He also struck down Shobach, the general in command of the army, who died there. 10:19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer 32 saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subjects of Israel. 33 The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.
11:1 In the spring of the year, at the time when kings 34 normally conduct wars, 35 David sent out Joab with his officers 36 and the entire Israelite army. 37 They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem. 38 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. 39 From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive. 40 11:3 So David sent someone to inquire about the woman. The messenger 41 said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
11:4 David sent some messengers to get her. 42 She came to him and he had sexual relations with her. 43 (Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) 44 Then she returned to her home. 11:5 The woman conceived and then sent word to David saying, “I’m pregnant.”
11:6 So David sent a message to Joab that said, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 11:7 When Uriah came to him, David asked about how Joab and the army were doing and how the campaign was going. 45 11:8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your home and relax.” 46 When Uriah left the palace, the king sent a gift to him. 47 11:9 But Uriah stayed at the door of the palace with all 48 the servants of his lord. He did not go down to his house.
11:10 So they informed David, “Uriah has not gone down to his house.” So David said to Uriah, “Haven’t you just arrived from a journey? Why haven’t you gone down to your house?” 11:11 Uriah replied to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah reside in temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and my lord’s soldiers are camping in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and have marital relations 49 with my wife? As surely as you are alive, 50 I will not do this thing!” 11:12 So David said to Uriah, “Stay here another day. Tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem both that day and the following one. 51 11:13 Then David summoned him. He ate and drank with him, and got him drunk. But in the evening he went out to sleep on his bed with the servants of his lord; he did not go down to his own house.
11:14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 11:15 In the letter he wrote: “Station Uriah in the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed.”
11:16 So as Joab kept watch on the city, he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers 52 were. 11:17 When the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, some of David’s soldiers 53 fell in battle. Uriah the Hittite also died.
11:18 Then Joab sent a full battle report to David. 54 11:19 He instructed the messenger as follows: “When you finish giving the battle report to the king, 11:20 if the king becomes angry and asks you, ‘Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the wall? 11:21 Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone 55 down on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?’ just say to him, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”
11:22 So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him. 11:23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and attacked us 56 in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way 57 to the door of the city gate. 11:24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers 58 died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.” 11:25 David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing upset you. 59 There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. 60 Press the battle against the city and conquer 61 it.’ Encourage him with these words.” 62
11:26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him. 63 11:27 When the time of mourning passed, David had her brought to his palace. 64 She became his wife and she bore him a son. But what David had done upset the Lord. 65
12:1 So the Lord sent Nathan 66 to David. When he came to David, 67 Nathan 68 said, 69 “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. 12:2 The rich man had a great many flocks and herds. 12:3 But the poor man had nothing except for a little lamb he had acquired. He raised it, and it grew up alongside him and his children. 70 It used to 71 eat his food, 72 drink from his cup, and sleep in his arms. 73 It was just like a daughter to him.
12:4 “When a traveler arrived at the rich man’s home, 74 he did not want to use one of his own sheep or cattle to feed 75 the traveler who had come to visit him. 76 Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and cooked 77 it for the man who had come to visit him.”
12:5 Then David became very angry at this man. He said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 78 12:6 Because he committed this cold-hearted crime, he must pay for the lamb four times over!” 79
12:7 Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I chose 80 you to be king over Israel and I rescued you from the hand of Saul. 12:8 I gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your arms. 81 I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well! 12:9 Why have you shown contempt for the word of the Lord by doing evil in my 82 sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife as your own! 83 You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 12:10 So now the sword will never depart from your house. For you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!’ 12:11 This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on you 84 from inside your own household! 85 Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. 86 He will have sexual relations with 87 your wives in broad daylight! 88 12:12 Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.’” 89
12:13 Then David exclaimed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord!” Nathan replied to David, “Yes, and the Lord has forgiven 90 your sin. You are not going to die. 12:14 Nonetheless, because you have treated the Lord with such contempt 91 in this matter, the son who has been born to you will certainly die.”
12:15 Then Nathan went to his home. The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and the child became very ill. 92 12:16 Then David prayed to 93 God for the child and fasted. 94 He would even 95 go and spend the night lying on the ground. 12:17 The elders of his house stood over him and tried to lift him from the ground, but he was unwilling, and refused to eat food with them.
12:18 On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said, “While the child was still alive he would not listen to us 96 when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm!” 97
12:19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he 98 realized that the child was dead. So David asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” They replied, “Yes, he’s dead.” 12:20 So David got up from the ground, bathed, put on oil, and changed his clothes. He went to the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then, when he entered his palace, he requested that food be brought to him, and he ate.
12:21 His servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? While 99 the child was still alive, you fasted and wept. Once the child was dead you got up and ate food!” 12:22 He replied, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, 100 ‘Perhaps 101 the Lord will show pity and the child will live. 12:23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!’”
12:24 So David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to her and had marital relations with her. 102 She gave birth to a son, and David 103 named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved the child 104 12:25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet that he should be named Jedidiah 105 for the Lord’s sake.
12:26 106 So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city. 12:27 Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city. 107 12:28 So now assemble the rest of the army 108 and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city and it will be named for me.”
12:29 So David assembled all the army and went to Rabbah and fought against it and captured it. 12:30 He took the crown of their king 109 from his head – it was gold, weighed about seventy-five pounds, 110 and held a precious stone – and it was placed on David’s head. He also took from the city a great deal of plunder. 12:31 He removed 111 the people who were in it and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy 112 with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem. 113
13:1 Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. In the course of time David’s son Amnon fell madly in love with her. 114 13:2 But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick 115 over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.
13:3 Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very crafty man. 13:4 He asked Amnon, 116 “Why are you, the king’s son, 117 so depressed every morning? Can’t you tell me?” So Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar the sister of my brother Absalom.” 13:5 Jonadab replied to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. 118 When your father comes in to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can fix some food for me. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I can watch. Then I will eat from her hand.’”
13:6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came in to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can make a couple of cakes in my sight. Then I will eat from her hand.”
13:7 So David sent Tamar to the house saying, “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.” 13:8 So Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, who was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded it, made some cakes while he watched, 119 and baked them. 120 13:9 But when she took the pan and set it before him, he refused to eat. Instead Amnon said, “Get everyone out of here!” 121 So everyone left. 122
13:10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the cakes into the bedroom; then I will eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes that she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom. 13:11 As she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said to her, “Come on! Get in bed with me, 123 my sister!”
13:12 But she said to him, “No, my brother! Don’t humiliate me! This just isn’t done in Israel! Don’t do this foolish thing! 13:13 How could I ever be rid of my humiliation? And you would be considered one of the fools 124 in Israel! Just 125 speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 13:14 But he refused to listen to her. 126 He overpowered her and humiliated her by raping her. 127 13:15 Then Amnon greatly despised her. 128 His disdain toward her surpassed the love he had previously felt toward her. 129 Amnon said to her, “Get up and leave!”
13:16 But she said to him, “No I won’t, for sending me away now would be worse than what you did to me earlier!” 130 But he refused to listen to her. 13:17 He called his personal attendant and said to him, “Take this woman out of my sight 131 and lock the door behind her!” 13:18 (Now she was wearing a long robe, 132 for this is what the king’s virgin daughters used to wear.) So Amnon’s 133 attendant removed her and bolted the door 134 behind her. 13:19 Then Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went on her way, wailing as she went.
13:20 Her brother Absalom said to her, “Was Amnon your brother with you? Now be quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take it so seriously!” 135 Tamar, devastated, lived in the house of her brother Absalom.
13:21 Now King David heard about all these things and was very angry. 136 13:22 But Absalom said nothing to Amnon, either bad or good, yet Absalom hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar.
13:23 Two years later Absalom’s sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor, 137 near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 13:24 Then Absalom went to the king and said, “My shearers have begun their work. 138 Let the king and his servants go with me.”
13:25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son. We shouldn’t all go. We shouldn’t burden you in that way.” Though Absalom 139 pressed 140 him, the king 141 was not willing to go. Instead, David 142 blessed him.
13:26 Then Absalom said, “If you will not go, 143 then let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king replied to him, “Why should he go with you?” 13:27 But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons along with him.
13:28 Absalom instructed his servants, “Look! When Amnon is drunk 144 and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ kill him then and there. Don’t fear! Is it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and courageous!” 145 13:29 So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed. Then all the king’s sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.
13:30 While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one of them is left!” 13:31 Then the king stood up and tore his garments and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing there with torn garments as well.
13:32 Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, said, “My lord should not say, ‘They have killed all the young men who are the king’s sons.’ For only Amnon is dead. This is what Absalom has talked about 146 from the day that Amnon 147 humiliated his sister Tamar. 13:33 Now don’t let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, ‘All the king’s sons are dead.’ It is only Amnon who is dead.”
13:34 In the meantime Absalom fled. When the servant who was the watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west 148 on a road beside the hill. 13:35 Jonadab said to the king, “Look! The king’s sons have come! It’s just as I said!”
13:36 Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived, wailing and weeping. 149 The king and all his servants wept loudly 150 as well. 13:37 But Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David 151 grieved over his son every day.
13:38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he remained there for three years. 13:39 The king longed 152 to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon. 153
14:1 Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see 154 Absalom. 14:2 So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning 155 and put on garments for mourning. Don’t anoint yourself with oil. Instead, act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for some time. 156 14:3 Go to the king and speak to him in the following fashion.” Then Joab told her what to say. 157
14:4 So the Tekoan woman went 158 to the king. She bowed down with her face to the ground in deference to him and said, “Please help me, 159 O king!” 14:5 The king replied to her, “What do you want?” 160 She answered, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. 14:6 Your servant 161 has two sons. When the two of them got into a fight in the field, there was no one present who could intervene. One of them struck the other and killed him. 14:7 Now the entire family has risen up against your servant, saying, ‘Turn over the one who struck down his brother, so that we can execute him and avenge the death 162 of his brother whom he killed. In so doing we will also destroy the heir.’ They want to extinguish my remaining coal, 163 leaving no one on the face of the earth to carry on the name of my husband.”
14:8 Then the king told the woman, “Go to your home. I will give instructions concerning your situation.” 164 14:9 The Tekoan woman said to the king, “My lord the king, let any blame fall on me and on the house of my father. But let the king and his throne be innocent!”
14:10 The king said, “Bring to me whoever speaks to you, and he won’t bother you again!” 14:11 She replied, “In that case, 165 let the king invoke the name of 166 the Lord your God so that the avenger of blood may not kill! Then they will not destroy my son!” He replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, not a single hair of your son’s head 167 will fall to the ground.”
14:12 Then the woman said, “Please permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter.” He replied, “Tell me.” 14:13 The woman said, “Why have you devised something like this against God’s people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished. 14:14 Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored. 168 14:15 I have now come to speak with my lord the king about this matter, because the people have made me fearful. 169 But your servant said, ‘I will speak to the king! Perhaps the king will do what his female servant 170 asks. 14:16 Yes! 171 The king may 172 listen and deliver his female servant 173 from the hand of the man who seeks to remove 174 both me and my son from the inheritance God has given us!’ 175 14:17 So your servant said, ‘May the word of my lord the king be my security, for my lord the king is like the angel of God when it comes to deciding between right and wrong! May the Lord your God be with you!’”
14:18 Then the king replied to the woman, “Don’t hide any information from me when I question you.” The woman said, “Let my lord the king speak!” 14:19 The king said, “Did Joab put you up to all of this?” 176 The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, there is no deviation to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king has said. For your servant Joab gave me instructions. He has put all these words in your servant’s mouth. 14:20 Your servant Joab did this so as to change this situation. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of God, and knows everything that is happening in the land.” 177
14:21 Then the king said to Joab, “All right! I 178 will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom! 14:22 Then Joab bowed down with his face toward the ground and thanked 179 the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, because the king has granted the request of your 180 servant!”
14:23 So Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 181 14:24 But the king said, “Let him go over 182 to his own house. He may not see my face.” So Absalom went over 183 to his own house; he did not see the king’s face.
14:25 Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. 184 From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance. 185 14:26 When he would shave his head – at the end of every year he used to shave his head, for it grew too long 186 and he would shave it – he used to weigh the hair of his head at three pounds 187 according to the king’s weight. 14:27 Absalom had 188 three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman. 189
14:28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king’s face. 14:29 Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come. 14:30 So he said to his servants, “Look, Joab has a portion of field adjacent to mine and he has some barley there. Go and set it on fire.” 190 So Absalom’s servants set Joab’s 191 portion of the field on fire.
14:31 Then Joab got up and came to Absalom’s house. He said to him, “Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?” 14:32 Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent a message to you saying, ‘Come here so that I can send you to the king with this message: 192 “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.”’ Let me now see the face of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!”
14:33 So Joab went to the king and informed him. The king 193 summoned Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom 194 bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him. 195
[10:1] 1 tn Heb “reigned in his place.”
[10:2] 3 tn Heb “did loyalty.”
[10:2] 4 tn Heb “and David sent to console him by the hand of his servants concerning his father.”
[10:3] 5 tn Heb “Is David honoring your father in your eyes when he sends to you ones consoling?”
[10:3] 6 tn Heb “Is it not to explore the city and to spy on it and to overthrow it [that] David has sent his servants to you?”
[10:4] 7 tn Heb “and he cut their robes in the middle unto their buttocks.”
[10:5] 8 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the messengers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:5] 9 tn The words “what had happened” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[10:5] 10 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
[10:6] 11 tn Heb “that they were a stench [i.e., disgusting] with David.”
[10:6] 12 tn Heb “the Ammonites.”
[10:6] 13 tn Or “Arameans of Beth Rehob and Arameans of Zobah.”
[10:6] 14 tn Or perhaps “the men of Tob.” The ancient versions (the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate) understand the name to be “Ish-tob.” It is possible that “Ish” is dittographic and that we should read simply “Tob,” a reading adopted by a number of recent English versions.
[10:7] 15 tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
[10:9] 16 tn Heb “and Joab saw that the face of the battle was to him before and behind and he chose from all the best in Israel and arranged to meet Aram.”
[10:10] 18 tn Heb “he arranged.”
[10:11] 19 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:11] 20 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
[10:11] 21 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
[10:12] 22 tn Heb “and the
[10:13] 23 tn Heb “and the army which was with him.”
[10:14] 24 tn Heb “and Joab returned from against the sons of Ammon and entered.”
[10:14] 25 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[10:15] 26 tn Heb “were gathered together.”
[10:16] 27 tn Heb “and Hadadezer sent and brought out Aram which is.”
[10:16] 28 tn Heb “from beyond the River.” The name “Euphrates” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[10:16] 29 tn Heb “was before them.”
[10:17] 30 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[10:18] 31 tn Heb “horsemen” (so KJV, NASB, NCV, NRSV, NLT) but the Lucianic recension of the LXX reads “foot soldiers,” as does the parallel text in 1 Chr 19:18. Cf. NAB, NIV.
[10:19] 32 tn Heb “the servants of Hadadezer.”
[10:19] 33 tn Heb “and they served them.”
[11:1] 34 tc Codex Leningrad (B19A), on which BHS is based, has here “messengers” (הַמַּלְאכִים, hammal’khim), probably as the result of contamination from the occurrence of that word in v. 4. The present translation follows most Hebrew
[11:1] 36 tn Heb “and his servants with him.”
[11:1] 37 tn Heb “all Israel.”
[11:1] 38 tn The disjunctive clause contrasts David’s inactivity with the army’s activity.
[11:1] map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[11:2] 39 tn Heb “on the roof of the house of the king.” So also in vv. 8, 9.
[11:2] 40 tn The disjunctive clause highlights this observation and builds the tension of the story.
[11:3] 41 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the messenger) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[11:4] 42 tn Heb “and David sent messengers and he took her.”
[11:4] 43 tn Heb “he lay with her” (so NASB, NRSV); TEV “he made love to her”; NIV, CEV, NLT “he slept with her.”
[11:4] 44 tn The parenthetical disjunctive clause further heightens the tension by letting the reader know that Bathsheba, having just completed her menstrual cycle, is ripe for conception. See P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 286. Since she just had her period, it will also be obvious to those close to the scene that Uriah, who has been away fighting, cannot be the father of the child.
[11:7] 45 tn Heb “concerning the peace of Joab and concerning the peace of the people and concerning the peace of the battle.”
[11:8] 46 tn Heb “and wash your feet.”
[11:8] 47 tn Heb “and there went out after him the gift of the king.”
[11:9] 48 tc The Lucianic recension of the Old Greek translation lacks the word “all.”
[11:11] 50 tn Heb “as you live and as your soul lives.”
[11:12] 51 tn On the chronology involved here see P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 287.
[11:16] 52 tn Heb “the valiant men.” This refers in context to the strongest or most valiant defenders of the city Joab and the Israelite army were besieging, so the present translation uses “the best enemy soldiers” for clarity.
[11:17] 53 tn Heb “some of the people from the servants of David.”
[11:18] 54 tn Heb “Joab sent and related to David all the matters of the battle.”
[11:21] 55 sn The upper millstone (Heb “millstone of riding”) refers to the heavy circular stone that was commonly rolled over a circular base in order to crush and grind such things as olives.
[11:23] 56 tn Heb “and came out to us.”
[11:23] 57 tn Heb “but we were on them.”
[11:24] 58 tc The translation follows the Qere (“your servants”) rather than the Kethib (“your servant”).
[11:25] 59 tn Heb “let not this matter be evil in your eyes.”
[11:25] 60 tn Heb “according to this and according to this the sword devours.”
[11:25] 61 tn Heb “overthrow.”
[11:25] 62 tn The Hebrew text does not have “with these words.” They are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[11:26] 63 tn Heb “for her lord.”
[11:27] 64 tn Heb “David sent and gathered her to his house.”
[11:27] 65 tn Heb “and the thing which David had done was evil in the eyes of the
[12:1] 66 tc A few medieval Hebrew
[12:1] 67 tn Heb “him”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:1] 68 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Nathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:1] 69 tn The Hebrew text repeats “to him.”
[12:3] 71 tn The three Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in this sentence have a customary nuance; they describe past actions that were repeated or typical.
[12:3] 72 tn Heb “from his morsel.”
[12:3] 73 tn Heb “and on his chest [or perhaps, “lap”] it would lay.”
[12:4] 74 tn Heb “came to the rich man.” In the translation “arrived at the rich man’s home” has been used for stylistic reasons.
[12:4] 75 tn Heb “and he refused to take from his flock and from his herd to prepare [a meal] for.”
[12:4] 76 tn Heb “who had come to him” (also a second time later in this verse). The word “visit” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarity.
[12:4] 77 tn Heb “and prepared.”
[12:5] 78 tn Heb “the man doing this [is] a son of death.” See 1 Sam 20:31 for another use of this expression, which must mean “he is as good as dead” or “he deserves to die,” as 1 Sam 20:32 makes clear.
[12:6] 79 tc With the exception of the Lucianic recension, the Old Greek translation has here “sevenfold” rather than “fourfold,” a reading that S. R. Driver thought probably to be the original reading (S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 291). However, Exod 22:1 [21:37 HT] specifies fourfold repayment for a stolen sheep, which is consistent with 2 Sam 12:6. Some
[12:6] tn Heb “the lamb he must repay fourfold because he did this thing and because he did not have compassion.”
[12:8] 81 tn Heb “and the wives of your lord into your chest [or “lap”].” The words “I put” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
[12:9] 82 tc So the Qere; the Kethib has “his.”
[12:9] 83 tn Heb “to you for a wife.” This expression also occurs at the end of v. 10.
[12:11] 84 tn Heb “raise up against you disaster.”
[12:11] 85 tn Heb “house” (so NAB, NRSV); NCV, TEV, CEV “family.”
[12:11] 87 tn Heb “will lie with” (so NIV, NRSV); TEV “will have intercourse with”; CEV, NLT “will go to bed with.”
[12:11] 88 tn Heb “in the eyes of this sun.”
[12:12] 89 tn Heb “and before the sun.”
[12:14] 91 tc The MT has here “because you have caused the enemies of the
[12:15] 92 tn Heb “and the
[12:16] 93 tn Heb “sought” or “searched for.”
[12:16] 94 tn Heb “and David fasted.”
[12:16] 95 tn The three Hebrew verbs that follow in this verse are perfects with prefixed vav. They may describe repeated past actions or actions which accompanied David’s praying and fasting.
[12:18] 96 tn Heb “to our voice.”
[12:18] 97 tn Heb “he will do harm.” The object is not stated in the Hebrew text. The statement may be intentionally vague, meaning that he might harm himself or them!
[12:19] 98 tn Heb “David.” The name has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun (“he”) for stylistic reasons.
[12:21] 99 tc For the MT בַּעֲבוּר (ba’avur, “for the sake of”) we should probably read בְּעוֹד (bÿ’od, “while”). See the Lucianic Greek recension, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Targum.
[12:22] 101 tn Heb “Who knows?”
[12:24] 102 tn Heb “and he lay with her.”
[12:24] 103 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity. While some translations render the pronoun as third person plural (“they”), implying that both David and Bathsheba together named the child, it is likely that the name “Solomon,” which is related to the Hebrew word for “peace” (and may be derived from it) had special significance for David, who would have regarded the birth of a second child to Bathsheba as a confirming sign that God had forgiven his sin and was at peace with him.
[12:24] 104 tn Heb “him,” referring to the child.
[12:25] 105 sn The name Jedidiah means “loved by the
[12:26] 106 sn Here the narrative resumes the battle story that began in 11:1 (see 11:25). The author has interrupted that story to give the related account of David’s sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. He now returns to the earlier story and brings it to a conclusion.
[12:27] 107 sn The expression translated the water supply of the city (Heb “the city of the waters”) apparently refers to that part of the fortified city that guarded the water supply of the entire city. Joab had already captured this part of the city, but he now defers to King David for the capture of the rest of the city. In this way the king will receive the credit for this achievement.
[12:28] 108 tn Heb “people.” So also in vv. 29, 31.
[12:30] 109 tn Part of the Greek tradition wrongly understands Hebrew מַלְכָּם (malkam, “their king”) as a proper name (“Milcom”). Some English versions follow the Greek here, rendering the phrase “the crown of Milcom” (so NRSV; cf. also NAB, CEV). TEV takes this as a reference not to the Ammonite king but to “the idol of the Ammonite god Molech.”
[12:30] 110 tn Heb “and its weight [was] a talent of gold.” The weight of this ornamental crown was approximately 75 lbs (34 kg). See P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 313.
[12:31] 111 tn Heb “brought out.”
[12:31] 112 tn Heb “and so he would do.”
[12:31] 113 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[13:1] 114 tn Heb “Amnon the son of David loved her.” The following verse indicates the extreme nature of his infatuation, so the translation uses “madly in love” here.
[13:1] sn Amnon was the half-brother of Tamar; Absalom was her full blood-brother.
[13:2] 115 tn Heb “and there was distress to Amnon so that he made himself sick.”
[13:4] 116 tn Heb “and he said to him.”
[13:4] 117 tn An more idiomatic translation might be “Why are you of all people…?”
[13:5] 118 tn This verb is used in the Hitpael stem only in this chapter of the Hebrew Bible. With the exception of v. 2 it describes not a real sickness but one pretended in order to entrap Tamar. The Hitpael sometimes, as here, describes the subject making oneself appear to be of a certain character. On this use of the stem, see GKC 149-50 §54.e.
[13:8] 119 tn Heb “in his sight.”
[13:8] 120 tn Heb “the cakes.”
[13:9] 121 tn Heb “from upon me.”
[13:9] 122 tc A few medieval Hebrew
[13:11] 123 tn Heb “lie with me” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); NCV “come and have sexual relations with me.”
[13:13] 124 tn Heb “and you will be like one of the fools.”
[13:14] 126 tn Heb “to her voice.”
[13:14] 127 tn Heb “and he humiliated her and lay with her.”
[13:15] 128 tn Heb “and Amnon hated her with very great hatred.”
[13:15] 129 tn Heb “for greater was the hatred with which he hated her than the love with which he loved her.”
[13:16] 130 tn Heb “No, because this great evil is [worse] than the other which you did with me, by sending me away.” Perhaps the broken syntax reflects her hysteria and outrage.
[13:17] 131 tn Heb “send this [one] from upon me to the outside.”
[13:18] 132 tn The Hebrew expression used here (כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים, kÿtonet passim) is found only here and in Gen 37:3, 23, 32. Hebrew פַּס (pas) can refer to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot; here the idea is probably that of a long robe reaching to the feet and having sleeves reaching to the wrists. The notion of a “coat of many colors” (KJV, ASV “garment of divers colors”), a familiar translation for the phrase in Genesis, is based primarily on the translation adopted in the LXX χιτῶνα ποικίλον (citona poikilion) and does not have a great deal of support.
[13:18] 133 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Amnon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:18] 134 tn The Hebrew verb is a perfect with nonconsecutive vav, probably indicating an action (locking the door) that complements the preceding one (pushing her out the door).
[13:20] 135 tn Heb “Don’t set your heart to this thing!”
[13:21] 136 tc The LXX and part of the Old Latin tradition include the following addition to v. 21, also included in some English versions (e.g., NAB, NRSV, CEV): “But he did not grieve the spirit of Amnon his son, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn.” Note David’s attitude toward his son Adonijah in 1 Kgs 1:6.
[13:23] 137 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.
[13:24] 138 tn Heb “your servant has sheepshearers.” The phrase “your servant” also occurs at the end of the verse.
[13:25] 139 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:25] 140 tc Here and in v. 27 the translation follows 4QSama ויצפר (vayyitspar, “and he pressed”) rather than the MT וַיִּפְרָץ (vayyiprats, “and he broke through”). This emended reading seems also to underlie the translations of the LXX (καὶ ἐβιάσατο, kai ebiasato), the Syriac Peshitta (we’alseh), and Vulgate (cogeret eum).
[13:25] 141 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:25] 142 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:28] 144 tn Heb “when good is the heart of Amnon with wine.”
[13:28] 145 tn Heb “and become sons of valor.”
[13:32] 146 tn Heb “it was placed on the mouth of Absalom.”
[13:32] 147 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Amnon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:34] 148 tn Heb “behind him.”
[13:36] 149 tn Heb “and they lifted their voice and wept.”
[13:36] 150 tn Heb “with a great weeping.”
[13:37] 151 tc The Hebrew text leaves the word “David” to be inferred. The Syriac Peshitta and Vulgate add the word “David.” Most of the Greek tradition includes the words “King David” here.
[13:39] 152 tc The translation follows 4QSama in reading רוּחַ הַמֶּלֶךְ (ruakh hammelekh, “the spirit of the king”) rather than the MT דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ (david hammelekh, “David the king”). The understanding reflected in the translation above is that David, though alienated during this time from his son Absalom, still had an abiding love and concern for him. He longed for reconciliation with him. A rather different interpretation of the verse supposes that David’s interest in taking military action against Absalom grew slack with the passing of time, and this in turn enabled David’s advisers to encourage him toward reconciliation with Absalom. For the latter view, see P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 344, and cf. CEV.
[13:39] 153 tn Heb “was consoled over Amnon, because he was dead.”
[14:1] 154 tn Heb “the heart of the king was upon.” The Syriac Peshitta adds the verb ’ethre’i (“was reconciled”).
[14:2] 155 tn The Hebrew Hitpael verbal form here indicates pretended rather than genuine action.
[14:2] 156 tn Heb “these many days.”
[14:3] 157 tn Heb “put the words in her mouth” (so NASB, NIV).
[14:4] 158 tc The translation follows many medieval Hebrew
[14:4] 159 tn The word “me” is left to be inferred in the Hebrew text; it is present in the Syriac Peshitta and Vulgate.
[14:5] 160 tn Heb “What to you?”
[14:6] 161 tn Here and elsewhere (vv. 7, 12, 15a, 17, 19) the woman uses a term which suggests a lower level female servant. She uses the term to express her humility before the king. However, she uses a different term in vv. 15b-16. See the note at v. 15 for a discussion of the rhetorical purpose of this switch in terminology.
[14:7] 162 tn Heb “in exchange for the life.” The Hebrew preposition בְּ (bÿ, “in”) here is the so-called bet pretii, or bet (בְּ) of price, defining the value attached to someone or something.
[14:7] 163 sn My remaining coal is here metaphorical language, describing the one remaining son as her only source of lingering hope for continuing the family line.
[14:8] 164 tn Heb “concerning you.”
[14:11] 165 tn The words “in that case” are not in the Hebrew text, but may be inferred from the context. They are supplied in the translation for the sake of clarification.
[14:11] 166 tn Heb “let the king remember.”
[14:11] 167 tn Heb “of your son.”
[14:14] 168 tn Heb “he devises plans for the one banished from him not to be banished.”
[14:15] 169 tc The LXX (ὄψεταί με, opsetai me) has misunderstood the Hebrew יֵרְאֻנִי (yerÿ’uni, Piel perfect, “they have made me fearful”), taking the verb to be a form of the verb רָאָה (ra’ah, “to see”) rather than the verb יָרֵא (yare’, “to fear”). The fact that the Greek translators were working with an unvocalized Hebrew text (i.e., consonants only) made them very susceptible to this type of error.
[14:15] 170 tn Here and in v. 16 the woman refers to herself as the king’s אָמָה (’amah), a term that refers to a higher level female servant toward whom the master might have some obligation. Like the other term, this word expresses her humility, but it also suggests that the king might have some obligation to treat her in accordance with the principles of justice.
[14:16] 172 tn Or “will.” The imperfect verbal form can have either an indicative or modal nuance. The use of “perhaps” in v. 15b suggests the latter here.
[14:16] 173 tn Heb “in order to deliver his maid.”
[14:16] 175 tn Heb “from the inheritance of God.” The expression refers to the property that was granted to her family line in the division of the land authorized by God.
[14:19] 176 tn Heb “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?”
[14:20] 177 tn Heb “to know all that is in the land.”
[14:21] 178 tc Many medieval Hebrew
[14:22] 180 tc The present translation reads with the Qere “your” rather than the MT “his.”
[14:23] 181 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[14:24] 182 tn Heb “turn aside.”
[14:24] 183 tn Heb “turned aside.”
[14:25] 184 tn Heb “Like Absalom there was not a handsome man in all Israel to boast exceedingly.”
[14:25] 185 tn Heb “there was not in him a blemish.”
[14:26] 186 tn Heb “for it was heavy upon him.”
[14:26] 187 tn Heb “two hundred shekels.” The modern equivalent would be about three pounds (1.4 kg).
[14:27] 188 tn Heb “and there were born.”
[14:27] 189 tc The LXX adds here the following words: “And she became a wife to Rehoboam the son of Solomon and bore to him Abia.”
[14:30] 190 tc The LXX adds here the following words: “And the servants of Absalom burned them up. And the servants of Joab came to him, rending their garments. They said….”
[14:30] 191 tn The word “Joab’s” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[14:33] 193 tn Heb “he.” Joab, acting on behalf of the king, may be the implied subject.
[14:33] 194 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[14:33] 195 tn Heb “Absalom.” For stylistic reasons the name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation.
