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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

2 Samuel 13:23

Two years later Absalom was having his sheep sheared at Baal Hazor, near the town of Ephraim, and he invited all the king's sons to be there.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   Baal-Hazor;   Homicide;   Rape;   Revenge;   Sheep;   Tamar;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ephraim;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Entertainments;   Revenge;   Sheep;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Amnon;   Baal-Hazor;   Ephraim;   Feasts;   Sheep;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Baal;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Family Life and Relations;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Baal-Hazor;   Banquet;   Cattle;   Entertain;   Sheep;   Tamar;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Baal Hazor;   Joab;   Laban (2);   Shepherd;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Baal-Hazor;   Economic Life;   Ephron;   Ophrah;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Baal-Hazor;   Ephraim;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Amnon ;   Baalhazor ;   Ephraim ;   Tamar ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   Amnon;   Baal;   David;   Sheep;   Shepherd;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Am'non;   Ba'al,;   E'phra-Im;   Ta'mar;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adonijah;   Baal-Hazor;   Ephraim (2);   Ephron (2);   Samuel, Books of;   Sheep;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Baal-hazor;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;   Baal-Hazor;   Banquets;   Sheep;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
Hebrew Names Version
It happened after two full years, that Avshalom had sheep-shearers in Ba`al-Hatzor, which is beside Efrayim: and Avshalom invited all the king's sons.
King James Version
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
Lexham English Bible
About two full years later, Absalom's shearers were in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom summoned all the sons of the king.
English Standard Version
After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
New Century Version
Two years later Absalom had some men come to Baal Hazor, near Ephraim, to cut the wool from his sheep. Absalom invited all the king's sons to come also.
New English Translation
Two years later Absalom's sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king's sons.
Amplified Bible
Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons [to a party].
New American Standard Bible
Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons to celebrate.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And after the time of two yeeres, Absalom had sheepesherers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim, and Absalom called all the Kings sonnes.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
Contemporary English Version
Two years later, Absalom's servants were cutting wool from his sheep in Baal-Hazor near the town of Ephraim, and Absalom invited all of the king's sons to be there.
Complete Jewish Bible
Two years later, when Avshalom had sheep-shearers in Ba‘al-Hatzor, near Efrayim, Avshalom invited all the king's sons.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-Hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
Easy-to-Read Version
Two years later, Absalom had some men come to Baal Hazor to cut the wool from his sheep. He invited all the king's sons to come and watch.
George Lamsa Translation
Now from season to season, Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the kings sons.
Literal Translation
And after two years it happened that Absalom had shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim. And Absalom called to all the sons of the king.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
After two yeares had Absalom shepe clyppers at Baal Hazor, which lyeth by Ephraim. And Absalom called all the kynges children,
American Standard Version
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
Bible in Basic English
Now after two full years, Absalom had men cutting the wool of his sheep in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim: and he sent for all the king's sons to come to his feast.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And after the tyme of two yeres, Absalom had sheepe shearers in the playne of Hazor beside Ephraim, & bade all the kinges sonnes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe after two full yeeres, that Absalom had sheepeshearers in Baal-Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom inuited all the kings sonnes.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass at the end of two whole years, that they were shearing sheep for Abessalom in Belasor near Ephraim: and Abessalom invited all the king’s sons.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass after two years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal–hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
Berean Standard Bible
Two years later, when Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the king's sons.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe it was doon aftir the tyme of twei yeer, that the scheep of Absolon weren shorun in Baalasor, which is bisidis Effraym. And Absolon clepide alle the sones of the kyng.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, after two years of days, that Absalom hath shearers in Baal-Hazor, which [is] with Ephraim, and Absalom calleth for all the sons of the king.
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
World English Bible
It happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
New King James Version
And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king's sons.
New Living Translation
Two years later, when Absalom's sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king's sons to come to a feast.
New Life Bible
After two full years, Absalom had men cut the wool from the sheep in Baal-hazor, near Ephraim. And Absalom asked all the king's sons to come.
New Revised Standard
After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, after two years of days, that Absolom had, sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephron, - and Absolom invited all the king's sons.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass after two years, that the sheep of Absalom were shorn in Baalhasor, which is near Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons:
Revised Standard Version
After two full years Ab'salom had sheepshearers at Ba'al-ha'zor, which is near E'phraim, and Ab'salom invited all the king's sons.
THE MESSAGE
Two years went by. One day Absalom threw a sheep-shearing party in Baal Hazor in the vicinity of Ephraim and invited all the king's sons. He also went to the king and invited him. "Look, I'm throwing a sheep-shearing party. Come, and bring your servants."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

Contextual Overview

21 When King David heard what had happened, he was furious. 22 And Absalom hated Amnon so much for having raped his sister Tamar that he would no longer even speak to him. 23 Two years later Absalom was having his sheep sheared at Baal Hazor, near the town of Ephraim, and he invited all the king's sons to be there. 24 He went to King David and said, "Your Majesty, I am having my sheep sheared. Will you and your officials come and take part in the festivities?" 25 "No, my son," the king answered. "It would be too much trouble for you if we all went." Absalom insisted, but the king would not give in, and he asked Absalom to leave. 26 But Absalom said, "Well, then, will you at least let my brother Amnon come?" "Why should he?" the king asked. 27 But Absalom kept on insisting until David finally let Amnon and all his other sons go with Absalom. Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king 28 and instructed his servants: "Notice when Amnon has had too much to drink, and then when I give the order, kill him. Don't be afraid. I will take the responsibility myself. Be brave and don't hesitate!" 29 So the servants followed Absalom's instructions and killed Amnon. All the rest of David's sons mounted their mules and fled.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 2974, bc 1030, An, Ex, Is 461

sheepshearers: Genesis 38:12, Genesis 38:13, 1 Samuel 25:2, 1 Samuel 25:4, 1 Samuel 25:36, 2 Kings 3:4, 2 Chronicles 26:10

invited: 1 Kings 1:9, 1 Kings 1:19, 1 Kings 1:25

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:13 - deceitfully Esther 5:10 - refrained Proverbs 10:18 - that hideth Mark 6:21 - when John 11:54 - Ephraim

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass after two full years,.... Two complete years after the rape was committed; so long Absalom kept it in his mind, and was contriving how to avenge it; he let it alone so long, that it might be thought by the king and Amnon, and all the family, that it was quite worn out of his mind, and entirely forgotten by him, and therefore might the more safely confide in him:

that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim; though a prince, the son of a king, he had his flocks, and attended to the care of them, and had shearers to shear them at the proper time of the year, which it now was. The Chinese shear their sheep three times a year, the spring, summer, and autumn; but the first time of shearing yields the best wool g. The place of shearing them was, no doubt, near where they were kept in Baalhazor, in the plain of Hazor, as the Targum, and so some versions; which was a city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:25; and near to Ephraim; not that it was a city in the tribe of Ephraim, as Josephus says h; but it was near to another city called Ephraim, perhaps the same as in 2 Chronicles 13:19 and in

John 11:54; it lay to the northeast of Jerusalem, as you go to Jericho, and is thought by Reland i to lie between Bethel and Jericho; and, according to Eusebius k, it was eight miles from Jerusalem; though Jerom l, through mistake, says twenty; and both these places, according to Bunting m, were eight miles from Jerusalem; it seems to be the same place that was spoken of in the Misnah n, called Ephraim in the valley, and which is said to be the second place in the land of Israel for fine flour, and might have its name from its fruitfulness:

and Absalom invited all the king's sons; to the sheepshearing: that is, to the feast which was usually made at such times, and still is; see Genesis 38:12.

g Semedo's History of China, part 1. ch. 3. h Antiqu. l. 7. c. 8. sect. 2. i Palestina Illustrat. tom. 1. p. 377. k Apud Reland, ib. & p. 490. & tom. 2. p. 765. l De loc. Heb. fol. 91. A. m Travels, &c. p. 143, 363. n Menachot, c. 8. sect. l.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Sheepshearing was always a time of feasting (marginal references). Baal-hazor is not known.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 13:23. Absalom had sheep-shearers — These were times in which feasts were made, to which the neighbours and relatives of the family were invited.


 
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