2 Samuel 19:1

Complete Jewish Bible

Trembling, the king went up to the room over the gate, weeping and crying, "Oh, my son Avshalom! My son! My son Avshalom! If only I had died instead of you! Oh, Avshalom, my son, my son!"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
It was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom.”

Hebrew Names Version
It was told Yo'av, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Avshalom.

King James Version
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

Lexham English Bible
And it was told to Joab that the king was weeping and he mourned over Absalom,

English Standard Version
It was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

New Century Version
People told Joab, "Look, the king is sad and crying because of Absalom."

New English Translation
Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom."

Amplified Bible
It was told to Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

New American Standard Bible
Then it was reported to Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and he mourns for Absalom."

Geneva Bible (1587)
And it was tolde Ioab, Behold, the King weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then it was told to Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom."

Contemporary English Version
Someone told Joab, "The king is crying because Absalom is dead."

Darby Translation
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.

Easy-to-Read Version
People told Joab what had happened, "Look, the king is crying and mourning for Absalom."

George Lamsa Translation
AND it was told Joab, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.

Good News Translation
Joab was told that King David was weeping and mourning for Absalom.

Literal Translation
And it was announced to Joab, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And it was tolde Ioab: beholde, ye kinge wepeth & mourneth for Absalom.

American Standard Version
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

Bible in Basic English
And word was given to Joab that the king was weeping and sorrowing for Absalom.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it was told Ioab, beholde the king weepeth, & mourneth for Absalom.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, thus he said: 'O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!'

King James Version (1611)
And it was told Ioab, Beholde, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they brought Joab word, saying, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Abessalom.

English Revised Version
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

Berean Standard Bible
Then it was reported to Joab, "The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe it was teld to Joab, that the kyng wepte, and biweilide his sone;

Young's Literal Translation
And it is declared to Joab, `Lo, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom;'

Update Bible Version
And it was told Joab, Look, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it was told to Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

World English Bible
It was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.

New King James Version
And Joab was told, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

New Living Translation
Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom.

New Life Bible
Then Joab was told, "See, the king is crying. He is filled with sorrow for Absalom."

New Revised Standard
It was told Joab, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it was told Joab, - Lo! the king, is weeping and mourning over Absolom.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it was told Joab, that the king wept and mourned for his son:

Revised Standard Version
It was told Jo'ab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Ab'salom."

THE MESSAGE
Joab was told that David was weeping and lamenting over Absalom. The day's victory turned into a day of mourning as word passed through the army, "David is grieving over his son." The army straggled back to the city that day demoralized, dragging their tails. And the king held his face in his hands and lamented loudly, O my son Absalom, Absalom my dear, dear son!

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then it was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom."

Contextual Overview

¹ Trembling, the king went up to the room over the gate, weeping and crying, "Oh, my son Avshalom! My son! My son Avshalom! If only I had died instead of you! Oh, Avshalom, my son, my son!" ² Yo'av was told, "The king is weeping, mourning for Avshalom." ³ Thus the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day that the king was grieving for his son; ⁴ so that the people entered the city furtively that day, the way that people who are ashamed creep away when fleeing a battlefield. ⁵ Meanwhile, the king covered his face and cried aloud, "Oh, my son Avshalom! Oh, Avshalom, my son, my son!" ⁶ Yo'av went inside to the king and said, "Today you made all your servants feel ashamed. They saved your life today, and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives and concubines. ⁷ But you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. Today you said that princes and servants mean nothing to you — for I can see today that it would have pleased you more if Avshalom had lived today, and we had all died! ⁸ Now get up, go out and speak heart-to-heart with your servants. For I swear by Adonai that if you don't go out, not one man will stay here with you tonight — and that will be worse for you than all the misfortunes you have suffered from your youth until now."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

2 Samuel 18:5, 2 Samuel 18:12, 2 Samuel 18:14, 2 Samuel 18:20, 2 Samuel 18:33, Proverbs 17:25

Cross-References

Genesis 18:22
The men turned away from there and went toward S'dom, but Avraham remained standing before Adonai .

Genesis 19:1
(iii) The two angels came to S'dom that evening, when Lot was sitting at the gate of S'dom. Lot saw them, got up to greet them and prostrated himself on the ground.

Genesis 19:5
They called Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to stay with you tonight? Bring them out to us! We want to have sex with them!"

Job 31:32
No stranger had to sleep in the street; I kept my house open to the traveler.

Hebrews 13:2
but don't forget to be friendly to outsiders; for in so doing, some people, without knowing it, have entertained angels.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it was told Joab,.... When returned to Mahanaim, or on his way to it; perhaps by the messengers he sent; and this report he had before he saw the king:

behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom; for the death of him, instead of rejoicing at the victory obtained, and the deliverance from his enemies.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XIX

David continues his lamentation for his son, and the people are

greatly discouraged, 1-4.

Joab reproves and threatens him with the general defection of

the people, 5-7.

David lays aside his mourning, and shows himself to the people,

who are thereby encouraged, 8.

The tribes take counsel to bring the king back to Jerusalem,

9-12.

He makes Amasa captain of the host in place of Joab, 13.

The king, returning, is met by Judah at Gilgal, 14, 15.

Shimei comes to meet David, and entreats for his life, which

David grants, 16-23.

Mephibosheth also meets him, and shows how he had been

slandered by Ziba, 24-30.

David is met by Barzillai, and between them there is an

affecting interview, 31-40.

Contention between the men of Judah and the men of Israel,

about bringing back the king, 41-43.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIX