2 Samuel 15:7 kjv
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
2 Samuel 15:7 nkjv
Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD.
2 Samuel 15:7 niv
At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, "Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.
2 Samuel 15:7 esv
And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.
2 Samuel 15:7 nlt
After four years, Absalom said to the king, "Let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the LORD and fulfill a vow I made to him.
2 Samuel 15 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 15:1-6 | After this, Absalom bought chariots and horses... so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. | Absalom's preceding manipulation |
| 2 Sam 14:28 | Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem... and saw not the king's face. | Absalom's return and calculated delay |
| 2 Sam 2:1-4 | After this David inquired of the LORD... and they anointed David king over the house of Judah. | Hebron as David's original capital and anointing |
| Ps 55:21 | The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. | Deceptive speech concealing malice |
| Prov 26:23-26 | As an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross, so are fervent lips and a wicked heart... Though his hatred be covered by deceit... | Concealed hatred and lying lips |
| Mt 23:27-28 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. | Hypocrisy and outward piety hiding inner corruption |
| Acts 5:1-4 | But a certain man named Ananias... sold a possession, And kept back part of the price... why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? | Lying to God and sacred pretenses |
| Num 30:2 | If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath... he shall not break his word... | Seriousness and binding nature of vows |
| Deut 23:21-23 | When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it... that which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform. | Obligation to fulfill vows |
| Eccl 5:4-5 | When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools... Better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. | Importance of keeping vows, warning against abuse |
| Ps 41:9 | Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. | Betrayal by a trusted confidant (Absalom vs. David) |
| Ps 12:2 | They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. | Deceitful speech and hypocrisy |
| Jer 9:8 | Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him. | Deceit and hidden motives |
| Hos 10:4 | They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants... judgment springs up like poisonous weeds. | Empty promises and false oaths |
| Jude 1:11 | Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and given themselves over to the error of Balaam for gain, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. | Rebellious actions against God's established order |
| Rom 16:18 | For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. | Manipulation through pleasing speech |
| 1 Sam 18:21 | Saul thought, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” | Strategic deception for malicious ends (Saul against David) |
| Job 13:4 | But you are forgers of lies; you are all worthless physicians. | General condemnation of liars and deceivers |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies... and in their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. | Falsehood for personal gain |
| Isa 29:13 | The Lord says: “These people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me..." | Lip service lacking genuine devotion |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. | Consequences of deceptive sin |
| Lk 20:20 | So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said... | Pretended piety for malicious intent |
2 Samuel 15 verses
2 Samuel 15 7 Meaning
This verse details Absalom's deceptive petition to King David, his father, seeking permission to travel to Hebron under the guise of fulfilling a sacred vow to the LORD. This pious pretext concealed his true intent: to launch a well-orchestrated rebellion and usurp his father's throne, capitalizing on a location deeply symbolic of David's own rise to power.
2 Samuel 15 7 Context
This verse occurs at a critical juncture in King David’s reign, immediately following a period of increasing political discontent and Absalom's strategic efforts to win popular favor. Absalom, David's third son, had been reconciled with David after two years of exile for the murder of Amnon. However, this reconciliation did not restore his full status or resolve the underlying tension. Absalom, being a charismatic figure (2 Sam 14:25), methodically endeared himself to the people, acting as a pseudo-judge, intercepting those seeking justice, and sowing seeds of discontent against David's administration (2 Sam 15:1-6). By this point, Absalom had already "stolen the hearts of the men of Israel" (2 Sam 15:6). His request to go to Hebron for a "vow" is the calculated culmination of his plot, a masterstroke of religious and political deception designed to catch David unaware and secure a strategic base for rebellion. The cultural context views a vow made to the LORD as a sacred obligation, making David's refusal difficult and Absalom's request seemingly pious, thus masking his rebellious agenda effectively.
2 Samuel 15 7 Word analysis
- And it came to pass after forty years: The Hebrew text is וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה (vay'hi mikketz arba'im shana). This phrase has been a significant point of scholarly discussion. While some ancient texts and modern translations read "four years," referring possibly to four years after Absalom's return from exile or from the onset of his political maneuvering, the Masoretic Text (the standard Hebrew text) reads "forty years." If taken literally, "forty years" would place the rebellion too late in David's reign, well past any reasonable timeline. Some interpret "forty years" as a rounded number indicating a long, indefinite period, or perhaps referring to forty years since David was anointed king over Israel, highlighting the length of his reign and possible perceived weakening. However, the prevailing view among scholars is that "four years" (found in some Greek Septuagint manuscripts and the Syriac Peshitta) is the more likely original reading, fitting better with the narrative's chronology and Absalom's activities described just before this verse. This detail underscores the text's potential transmission challenges and encourages careful contextual analysis rather than rigid literalism when specific numbers seem to contradict other narrative elements.
- that Absalom said: Absalom's action initiates the overt phase of his rebellion, using seemingly polite language.
- unto the king: Addressing David, his father, demonstrates outward submission while inwardly planning overthrow.
- I pray thee, let me go: The Hebrew particle נָא (na) here functions as an appeal or plea, giving the request a humble and polite tone. This is part of Absalom's calculated act of piety and obedience to lull David into granting permission.
- and pay my vow: Hebrew וַאֲשַׁלֵּם אֶת-נִדְרִי (va'ashallem et-nidri), meaning "and I may fulfill my vow." This is a highly significant phrase as vows to the LORD were sacred and binding in Israelite law (Deut 23:21-23). Absalom is invoking religious obligation as a cover for his nefarious political ambition, making it difficult for David to deny without appearing irreligious or obstructive to pious duty.
- which I have vowed unto the LORD: The Hebrew לַיהוָה (laYHWH) specifically indicates the vow was made to God. This amplifies the religious solemnity and deceptive nature of Absalom's petition. By invoking the divine name, he sought to elevate his seemingly innocent request beyond suspicion, presenting himself as a devout individual whose spiritual commitment outweighed any earthly concerns. This serves as a polemic against the superficiality of outward religious observance devoid of true heart-obedience.
- in Hebron: Hebrew בְּחֶבְרוֹן (b'Chevron). Hebron was strategically chosen. It was David's first capital where he reigned over Judah for seven years (2 Sam 2:1-4). It was also an ancient city with strong tribal and religious connections (Abraham buried Sarah there, Gen 23:19). For Absalom, launching his rebellion from Hebron capitalized on its historical and political significance, especially to the Southern tribes, appealing to regional loyalties against Jerusalem and David's central authority. It symbolically echoed David's own ascent and suggested Absalom's claim to be a legitimate successor, drawing on old allegiances.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis: