Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, June 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

New Century Version

2 Samuel 18:14

Joab said, "I won't waste time here with you!" Absalom was still alive in the oak tree, so Joab took three spears and stabbed him in the heart.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   Dart;   Ephraim;   Oak;   Thompson Chain Reference - Absalom;   Joab;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Arms, Military;   Oak-Tree, the;   Spear;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ahimaaz;   Joab;   Oak;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   David;   Joab;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Arms;   Fox;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amasa;   Dart;   Joab;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Abishai;   Armour, Arms;   Joab;   Oak;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Dart;   Joab ;   Oak;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   Armor;   Arms;   David;   Joab;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Arms, Armor;   Jo'ab;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Trees;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Armor;   Dart;   Oak;   Terebinth;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Dart;   Heart;   Medicine;   Treason;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you!” He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s chest. While Absalom was still alive in the oak tree,
Hebrew Names Version
Then said Yo'av, I may not wait thus with you. He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Avshalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
King James Version
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Lexham English Bible
Joab said, "No longer will I wait in your presence." Then he took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.
English Standard Version
Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.
New English Translation
Joab replied, "I will not wait around like this for you!" He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree.
Amplified Bible
Joab said, "I will not waste time with you." So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive [and caught] in the midst of the tree.
New American Standard Bible
Then Joab said, "I will not waste time here with you." So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then saide Ioab, I will not thus tary with thee. And he tooke three dartes in his hande, and thrust them through Absalom, while he was yet aliue in the middes of the oke.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Joab said, "I will not wait around here before you." So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Contemporary English Version
Joab said, "I'm not going to waste any more time on you!" Absalom was still alive, so Joab took three spears and stuck them through Absalom's chest.
Complete Jewish Bible
Yo'av said, "I can't waste time arguing with you!" He took three darts in his hand and rammed them through Avshalom's heart while he was still alive, hanging from the terebinth.
Darby Translation
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom's body, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth.
Easy-to-Read Version
Joab said, "I will not waste my time here with you!" Absalom was still alive and hanging in the oak tree. Joab took three sticks in his hand and hit him in the heart.
George Lamsa Translation
Then Joab said to him, That is not true, I will do it now myself. Then Joab took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive and hanging from the oak.
Good News Translation
"I'm not going to waste any more time with you," Joab said. He took three spears and plunged them into Absalom's chest while he was still alive, hanging in the oak tree.
Literal Translation
And Joab said, I will not wait this wait before you. And he took three darts in his hand and struck them into Absalom's heart while he was alive, in the midst of the oak.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ioab sayde: Not so, I wil vpon him before thy face. Then toke Ioab thre speares in his hande, and thrust Absalom thorow ye hert, while he was yet alyue vpon the Oke.
American Standard Version
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Bible in Basic English
Then Joab said, I would have made it safe for you. And he took three spears in his hand, and put them through Absalom's heart, while he was still living, in the branches of the tree.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then sayde Ioab, I may not stand thus tarying with thee: And he toke three dartes in his hande, & thrust them through Absalom whyle he was yet alyue in the middes of the oke.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then said Joab: 'I may not tarry thus with thee.' And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth.
King James Version (1611)
Then said Ioab, I may not tary thus with thee. And hee tooke three darts in his hand, and thrust them thorow the heart of Absalom, while hee was yet aliue in the midst of the Oke.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Joab said, I will begin this; I will not thus remain with thee. And Joab took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Abessalom, while he was yet alive in the heart of the oak.
English Revised Version
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Joab seide, Not as thou wolt, `Absolon schal be kept, but Y schal asaile hym bifor thee. Therfore Joab took thre speris in his hond, and fitchide tho in the herte of Absolon. And whanne he spraulide, yit cleuynge in the ook,
Young's Literal Translation
And Joab saith, `Not right -- I tarry before thee;' and he taketh three darts in his hand, and striketh them into the heart of Absalom, while he [is] alive, in the midst of the oak.
Update Bible Version
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with you. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak.
World English Bible
Then said Joab, I may not wait thus with you. He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
New King James Version
Then Joab said, "I cannot linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.
New Living Translation
"Enough of this nonsense," Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom's heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree.
New Life Bible
Then Joab said, "I will not waste time here with you." He took three spears in his hand and threw them through Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the oak.
New Revised Standard
Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." He took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the oak.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Joab said, Not thus, may I tarry before thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absolom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab said: Not as thou wilt, but I will set upon him in thy sight. So he took three lances in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom: and whilst he yet panted for life, sticking on the oak,
Revised Standard Version
Jo'ab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Ab'salom, while he was still alive in the oak.
THE MESSAGE
Joab said, "I can't waste my time with you." He then grabbed three knives and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive in the tree; by then Absalom was surrounded by ten of Joab's armor bearers; they hacked away at him and killed him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Joab said, "I will not waste time here with you." So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

Contextual Overview

9 Then Absalom happened to meet David's troops. As Absalom was riding his mule, it went under the thick branches of a large oak tree. Absalom's head got caught in the tree, and his mule ran out from under him. So Absalom was left hanging above the ground. 10 When one of the men saw it happen, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!" 11 Joab said to him, "You saw him? Why didn't you kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you a belt and four ounces of silver!" 12 The man answered, "I wouldn't touch the king's son even if you gave me twenty-five pounds of silver. We heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Be careful not to hurt young Absalom.' 13 If I had killed him, the king would have found out, and you would not have protected me!" 14 Joab said, "I won't waste time here with you!" Absalom was still alive in the oak tree, so Joab took three spears and stabbed him in the heart. 15 Ten young men who carried Joab's armor also gathered around Absalom and struck him and killed him. 16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, so the troops stopped chasing the Israelites. 17 Then Joab's men took Absalom's body and threw it into a large pit in the forest and filled the pit with many stones. All the Israelites ran away to their homes. 18 When Absalom was alive, he had set up a pillar for himself in the King's Valley. He said, "I have no son to keep my name alive." So he named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom's Monument even today.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

with thee: Heb. before thee

thrust them: 2 Samuel 18:5, Judges 4:21, Judges 5:26, Judges 5:31, Psalms 45:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:3

midst: Heb. heart, Matthew 12:40

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 12:10 - the sword 2 Samuel 18:9 - his head 2 Samuel 19:1 - General 2 Samuel 19:10 - is dead 2 Samuel 23:5 - Although 1 Kings 2:5 - Joab 1 Kings 2:28 - Joab had 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Absalom Job 20:25 - drawn Psalms 35:8 - into Psalms 55:15 - Let death Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Proverbs 30:17 - eye Galatians 3:13 - for

Cross-References

Genesis 17:21
But I will make my agreement with Isaac, the son whom Sarah will have at this same time next year."
Genesis 18:1
Later, the Lord again appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre. Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day.
Genesis 18:2
He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When Abraham saw them, he ran from his tent to meet them. He bowed facedown on the ground before them
Genesis 18:10
Then the Lord said, "I will certainly return to you about this time a year from now. At that time your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent which was behind him.
Numbers 11:23
But the Lord said to Moses, "Do you think I'm weak? Now you will see if I can do what I say."
Deuteronomy 7:21
Don't be afraid of them, because the Lord your God is with you; he is a great God and people are afraid of him.
Deuteronomy 30:3
Then the Lord your God will give you back your freedom. He will feel sorry for you, and he will bring you back again from the nations where he scattered you.
1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to his officer who carried his armor, "Come. Let's go to the camp of those men who are not circumcised. Maybe the Lord will help us. The Lord can give us victory if we have many people, or just a few."
2 Kings 4:16
Then Elisha said, "About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms." The woman said, "No, master, man of God, don't lie to me, your servant!"
Job 36:5
"God is powerful, but he does not hate people; he is powerful and sure of what he wants to do.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee,.... It is not worth while to talk with thee any longer, nor must I lose time, and neglect my opportunity; I do not desire you to go and smite him, I will go and do it myself:

and he took three darts in his hand; or three rods, which were either all iron, or however the tops of them were iron spikes:

and thrust them through the heart of Absalom; or through the midst of his body; for if he had thrust through his heart, properly speaking, he must have died instantly, whereas he seems to have lived after this:

while he [was] yet alive; Joab found him alive when he came to him, and so he was when he thrust his darts through him; and so he was afterward; for the words may be rendered, "being yet alive", even after the darts were fixed in him, and even so deeply as to pierce through his body:

in the midst, or "heart",

of the oak; into which the darts penetrated.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I may not tarry ... - i. e., lose time in such discourse.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 18:14. I may not tarry thus with thee — He had nothing to say in vindication of the purpose he had formed.

Thrust them through the heart of Absalom — He was determined to make sure work, and therefore he pierced his heart.

Joab should have obeyed the king's commandment: and yet the safety of the state required the sacrifice of Absalom. But independently of this, his life was quadruply forfeited to the law: -

1. In having murdered his brother Amnon.

2. In having excited an insurrection in the state.

3. In having taken up arms against his own father, Deuteronomy 21:18; Deuteronomy 21:21.

4. In having lain with his father's concubines, Leviticus 18:29. Long ago he should have died by the hand of justice; and now all his crimes are visited on him in his last act of rebellion. Yet, in the present circumstances, Joab's act was base and disloyal, and a cowardly murder.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile