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Tuesday, April 7th, 2026
Tuesday in Easter Week
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

2 Samuel 19:1

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!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   David;   Joab;   Parents;   Reproof;   Sorrow;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Joab;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Mephibosheth;   Samuel, Books of;   Shimei;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Samuel, Books of;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;  

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

Contextual Overview

1Joab 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! 5But in private Joab rebuked the king: "Now you've done it—knocked the wind out of your loyal servants who have just saved your life, to say nothing of the lives of your sons and daughters, wives and concubines. What is this—loving those who hate you and hating those who love you? Your actions give a clear message: officers and soldiers mean nothing to you. You know that if Absalom were alive right now, we'd all be dead—would that make you happy? Get hold of yourself; get out there and put some heart into your servants! I swear to God that if you don't go to them they'll desert; not a soldier will be left here by nightfall. And that will be the worst thing that has happened yet." 8 So the king came out and took his place at the city gate. Soon everyone knew: "Oh, look! The king has come out to receive us." And his whole army came and presented itself to the king. But the Israelites had fled the field of battle and gone home.

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 set out for Sodom, but Abraham stood in God 's path, blocking his way.
Genesis 19:1
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting at the city gate. He saw them and got up to welcome them, bowing before them and said, "Please, my friends, come to my house and stay the night. Wash up. You can rise early and be on your way refreshed." They said, "No, we'll sleep in the street."

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


 
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