2 Samuel 15 4

2 Samuel 15:4 kjv

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

2 Samuel 15:4 nkjv

Moreover Absalom would say, "Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice."

2 Samuel 15:4 niv

And Absalom would add, "If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice."

2 Samuel 15:4 esv

Then Absalom would say, "Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice."

2 Samuel 15:4 nlt

I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!"

2 Samuel 15 verses

2 Samuel 15 4 Meaning

2 Samuel 15:4 reveals Absalom's cunning strategy to undermine King David's authority and win the favor of the people. He frequently expressed a feigned desire to be the land's judge, promising swift and true justice to anyone who approached him with a legal dispute. This was a populist maneuver designed to present himself as a more accessible and effective leader than his father, exploiting any perceived grievances or difficulties in obtaining justice under David's reign. His intent was not to serve the people genuinely but to build a loyal following as a prelude to his rebellion and usurpation of the throne.

2 Samuel 15 4 Context

2 Samuel chapter 15 marks the beginning of Absalom's full-scale rebellion against his father, King David. Prior to this, Absalom had been forgiven by David for the murder of Amnon (his half-brother) and allowed to return to Jerusalem after a period of exile. While Absalom was eventually reconciled with David, he was never restored to his full position or privy to all of David's affairs. Verse 4 details one aspect of Absalom's systematic plot, which is further explained in verses 1-6. For four years leading up to the rebellion, Absalom strategically positioned himself at the city gate—a common place for legal proceedings—to intercept citizens traveling to the king for judgment. The king was the ultimate judicial authority in ancient Israel. Absalom capitalized on any perceived inaccessibility or delay in justice from David, perhaps due to the increasing complexities of David's kingdom or David's own advancing age and potential personal difficulties. By regularly performing this routine, Absalom subtly cultivated a public image of himself as a more concerned, accessible, and efficient provider of justice, directly challenging the king's judicial role and gradually stealing the hearts of the people, preparing them for his eventual coup.

2 Samuel 15 4 Word analysis

• And (וַיֹּאמֶר - Vayō'mer): The Hebrew imperfect tense (here functioning as a waw consecutive) indicates a continuous, repetitive action. Absalom did not just say this once, but regularly, implying a sustained, calculated effort.
• Absalom (אַבְשָׁלוֹם - ’Abšālōm): David's third son, known for his beauty and charisma. His name means "father of peace" or "my father is peace," ironically contrasting sharply with his rebellious and war-causing actions.
• would say (וַיֹּאמֶר - Vayō'mer): Reinforces the persistent nature of his deception. He didn't merely think it; he verbalized it to a receptive public.
• Oh that I were made judge (מִי יִתְּנֵנִי שֹׁפֵט - mî yittnēnî shofēṭ): Literally, "Who will give me as judge?" This expresses a fervent, almost lament-like wish, but used manipulatively. Shofēṭ (judge) refers to a person authorized to adjudicate disputes and administer justice, a role supremely held by the king in Israel (2 Sam 8:15). By wishing for this role, Absalom directly targeted David's primary duty and privilege.
• in the land (בָּאָרֶץ - bā'āreṣ): Refers to the whole land of Israel, indicating the broad scope of his ambition and desire for universal authority, not just a local position.
• that every man (כִּי־יִהְיֶה־לּוֹ רִיב וּמִשְׁפָּט אִישׁ אִישׁ - kî-yihyeh-llō rîḇ ûmišpāṭ ’îš ’îš): The doubled ’îš ("man, man") intensifies the phrase to mean "any man whatsoever" or "every single man." This highlights Absalom's feigned universal concern and willingness to entertain all disputes.
• who has a lawsuit or a case (רִיב וּמִשְׁפָּט - rîḇ ûmišpāṭ): Rîḇ refers to a legal controversy or contention, while mishpāṭ signifies a judicial decision, a judgment, or a just case. Absalom targeted the legal grievances of the people.
• might come to me (וּבָא אֵלָי - ūḇā ’ēlāy): Implies direct accessibility and bypassing of traditional, perhaps slower, bureaucratic channels. He presented himself as the swift solution, in contrast to what he implied about David's system.
• and I would give him justice! (וְצִדַּקְתִּיּוֹ - wəṣidaqtîyyô): The verb tsādaq means "to be righteous," "to be justified," or "to declare innocent." Here, in the hiphil conjugation, it means "to cause to be righteous," "to justify," or "to declare right/innocent." Absalom promised a favorable and quick outcome, an affirmation of their claims, implicitly suggesting David's court failed to do so.

Words-group analysis:

• "Oh that I were made judge in the land": This phrase encapsulates Absalom's bold, yet manipulative, usurpation of royal function. He casts himself as the savior for a perceived inadequacy in the current justice system, subtly implying King David's neglect of a core kingly duty. It sets the stage for him to displace his father by demonstrating a more capable facade.
• "that every man who has a lawsuit or a case might come to me": This highlights his populist appeal. By inviting every man directly, he projected an image of personal concern and immediate access, differentiating himself from the King who, by necessity, was less accessible to common disputes due to his position and the structure of government. This bypasses the hierarchy and appeals directly to the common people's desire for quick and personal attention.
• "and I would give him justice!": This is the core of his false promise. It suggests not just fairness, but a certain outcome, feeding into people's natural desire for vindication and implying that under him, their cases would be justly and perhaps favorably resolved. It leveraged people's trust and painted David's court as lacking genuine or expedient justice.

2 Samuel 15 4 Bonus section

Absalom's strategy in 2 Samuel 15:4 resonates throughout history as a common tactic for ambitious individuals seeking power. They often capitalize on public discontent, offer themselves as a more accessible and righteous alternative to established authority, and make promises of quick, personalized solutions to systemic issues. This stands in stark contrast to biblical principles of leadership which emphasize humility, genuine service, and a heart for God's justice, not one's own aggrandizement. True justice, according to scripture, flows from God (Deut 32:4), is administered by leaders who fear Him (Exod 18:21), and seeks righteousness for all, not just for personal gain or popularity. Absalom's actions demonstrate that superficial solutions offered by those driven by pride can appear attractive but ultimately lead to chaos and destruction (Prov 16:18).

2 Samuel 15 4 Commentary

2 Samuel 15:4 perfectly illustrates demagoguery and the deceptive path to rebellion. Absalom did not overtly declare war or criticize David publicly at first. Instead, he employed a shrewd political strategy: he identified a real or perceived weakness in the administration (access to royal justice), strategically positioned himself to be seen as the solution, and then leveraged that perceived inadequacy to gather personal support. His constant lament, "Oh that I were judge," was not a statement of humble service but a calculated jab at David's effectiveness and an advertisement for himself. He painted a picture of quick, decisive justice that implicitly contrasted with the established, likely slower, royal court system. This pretense of concern for the common people’s grievances, promising swift justice for all, effectively "stole the hearts of the men of Israel" (v. 6), transforming potential loyalists into followers of his ambitious, self-serving agenda. His pursuit of justice was merely a veneer for his ambition to seize the throne.