2 Samuel 19 3

2 Samuel 19:3 kjv

And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

2 Samuel 19:3 nkjv

And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

2 Samuel 19:3 niv

The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle.

2 Samuel 19:3 esv

And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.

2 Samuel 19:3 nlt

They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle.

2 Samuel 19 verses

2 Samuel 19 3 Meaning

This verse describes the unexpected and solemn manner in which David's victorious army returned to Jerusalem after defeating Absalom's forces. Instead of returning with shouts of joy and triumph, they "stole away," slinking back into the city quietly and furtively, as if they had been defeated or were deeply ashamed. This behaviour stemmed from King David's intense public mourning for his rebellious son, Absalom, which overshadowed their victory and caused the soldiers to feel dishonored and apprehensive about the king's disposition.

2 Samuel 19 3 Context

This verse is set immediately following David's personal anguish over the death of Absalom (2 Sam 18:33), even though his forces had achieved a decisive victory against the rebellion. Chapter 19 opens with a universal report of the king's mourning, which deeply affected the entire army (2 Sam 19:2). The people, despite winning the battle and restoring David's throne, were profoundly unsettled by the king's sorrow for their slain enemy. This unprecedented situation where a victor mourned more than he celebrated his triumph created an atmosphere of demoralization and shame among his loyal supporters, directly influencing their quiet and hesitant return, as depicted in this verse. It reflects the deeply strained relationship between a grieving monarch and his victorious but uncelebrated army, laying the groundwork for Joab's sharp rebuke to David that follows.

2 Samuel 19 3 Word analysis

• And the people:
  • וְהָעָם (vəhā‘ām): Hebrew for "and the people," signifying the collective body of David's soldiers. This refers to all those who fought for David and returned. The focus is on their collective action.
• stole away:
  • יַתְגַּנֵּב (yatth'gan·nēv): From the root גנב (ganav), meaning "to steal" or "to sneak." The verb is in the Hithpael imperfect, which emphasizes a reflexive, iterative, or intensified action. Here, it means to make oneself sneak away, to slink, to go furtively or stealthily. It conveys a strong sense of avoidance, secrecy, and perhaps guilt or embarrassment. It's not a normal, open departure but one characterized by dissimulation and lack of confidence.
• that day:
  • בַּיּוֹם (bay·yōwm): "On the day," specifying the precise timing, immediately after the battle and David's open mourning. This implies the quick turnaround in their mood due to the king's reaction.
• into the city:
  • אֶל-הָעִיר (ʾel-hā‘îr): "To the city." This is Jerusalem, the capital and King David's residence. Their destination points to their return to normalcy, but their manner of entering contradicts the expectation of a victorious procession into the capital.
• as people steal away:
  • כַּאֲשֶׁר יִתְגַּנֵּב (kaʾăšer yitəgan·nēv): A simile ("as when") repeating the verb "steal away." This reiteration emphasizes the comparison and ensures the reader fully grasps the nature of their shameful return, likening it to a defeated flight rather than a victorious parade.
• who are ashamed:
  • נִכְלָמִים (nikh·lā·mîm): From the root כּלם (kālam), meaning "to be shamed, disgraced, confounded." This is a Niphal participle, describing a state of being shamed or put to shame. Their shame is not from defeat, but from the peculiar and disheartening situation of a king who openly mourns his rebellious son while ignoring his loyal saviors. They feel dishonored and their triumph diminished.
• when they flee:
  • בְּרֻחָם (bəru·ḥām): From the root בּרח (barach), meaning "to flee" or "to escape." This infinitive construct points to the act of flight. This specific kind of fleeing is associated with cowardice, defeat, and disgrace.
• in battle:
  • בַּמִּלְחָמָה (bam·mil·ḥā·māh): "In the war" or "in the battle." This explicitly sets the context of their shame to that of a military engagement. The imagery evokes soldiers abandoning the field in defeat, not those returning from a hard-won victory.

2 Samuel 19 3 Bonus section

The immediate shame felt by the people here reveals the delicate balance between a king's personal grief and his public duty. For an ancient Near Eastern monarch, publicly lamenting a rebel son, especially at the expense of celebrating his loyal, victorious army, was highly unconventional and detrimental to leadership. It inverted the expected roles, creating a psychological burden on the soldiers who likely felt their sacrifice was unappreciated. This perceived slight by the king could quickly erode their allegiance, as their success felt like a source of shame rather than honor. The narrative emphasizes the severe potential for political fallout if a leader’s emotional processing compromises the honour and affirmation due to their supporters.

2 Samuel 19 3 Commentary

This verse paints a striking picture of disillusionment and suppressed emotion among David's victorious army. The anticipated joy of victory was replaced by an pervasive atmosphere of shame, not because they lost, but because their king failed to acknowledge their triumph, choosing instead to mourn the very one they had defeated. The repeated phrase "stole away" vividly illustrates their furtive return, conveying a deep sense of embarrassment and awkwardness. Their behaviour mirrors that of defeated soldiers, highlighting the unique tragedy of a civil war where a king’s personal grief overshadows the valour of his loyal subjects. This situation carried profound political implications, as it risked alienating David’s supporters and destabilizing his newly re-established rule, showing how a leader's emotional state can gravely impact the morale and loyalty of his followers.