2 Samuel 19 6

2 Samuel 19:6 kjv

In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

2 Samuel 19:6 nkjv

in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.

2 Samuel 19:6 niv

You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead.

2 Samuel 19:6 esv

because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.

2 Samuel 19:6 nlt

You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased.

2 Samuel 19 verses

2 Samuel 19 6 Meaning

This verse conveys Joab's sharp and direct rebuke of King David. It states that David's overwhelming grief for his rebellious son Absalom demonstrates a severe disregard for the commanders and loyal servants who risked their lives for him and secured a victory against Absalom's rebellion. Joab accuses David of valuing Absalom's life more than the lives of all his faithful followers, implying that had Absalom lived and all others died, David would have been pleased. This highlights David's misplaced affection and leadership failure in that critical moment.

2 Samuel 19 6 Context

This verse is spoken by Joab, David's military commander, immediately following the decisive defeat of Absalom's rebellion. The immediate context (2 Samuel 19:1-8) reveals David's profound and prolonged grief over Absalom's death, which has cast a pall over the victory celebration. David's weeping in the city gate demoralized his victorious army, making their triumph feel like a defeat. His loyal soldiers, who had just risked their lives to save his kingship and their own families, were humiliated and reluctant to appear before him. Joab, understanding the severe threat this posed to the kingdom's stability and the army's morale, confronts David directly and forcefully, laying bare the implications of his misplaced sorrow. Historically, kings were expected to rejoice with their victorious armies and reward their loyalty. David's reaction went against all customary expectations for a monarch and endangered his future rule. This verse encapsulates Joab's brutal, yet necessary, truth-telling in a critical moment.

2 Samuel 19 6 Word analysis

• For you have declared this day (כִּי הֶעֶמַדְתָּ הַיּוֹם):
  • כִּי (ki): "For" or "because," indicating a causal explanation for Joab's assessment.
  • הֶעֶמַדְתָּ (he'emadta): Hiphil perfect of עָמַד ('amad), meaning "you have set up," "made stand," or "declared." It signifies a firm establishment or revelation of intent. David's actions had made it glaringly clear.
  • הַיּוֹם (hayyom): "This day." Emphasizes the immediate, public, and undeniable nature of David's declaration through his actions.
• that you care nothing (לְאַהֲבָה) for your commanders (שָׂרִים) or your servants (וַעֲבָדִים):
  • לְאַהֲבָה (le'ahavah): Often rendered "to love." Here, "that you love," but in a negative construction implying "care for," "have affection for," or "value." The nuance is crucial: David's actions demonstrated he had no love/care for them.
  • שָׂרִים (sarim): "Commanders," "princes," "officers." These are the military leaders who organized the battle and led the loyal troops.
  • וַעֲבָדִים (va'avadim): "And servants." Refers to all the loyal retainers and soldiers, not just the military leaders, but also those serving David personally.
• for this day I perceive (כִּי יָדַעְתִּי הַיּוֹם):
  • יָדַעְתִּי (yada'ti): "I know" or "I have perceived/understood." This verb denotes experiential knowledge, a deep and certain understanding gained through observation. Joab has witnessed David's behavior and fully grasped its implications.
  • הַיּוֹם (hayyom): Again, "this day," reinforcing the present reality and urgency of the observation.
• that if Absalom had lived (כִּי לוּ אִבְשָׁלוֹם חַי) and all of us had died today (וַאֲנַחְנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ הַיּוֹם מֵתִים):
  • לוּ (lu): "If only," or "would that." A particle expressing a hypothetical or counterfactual condition, making the strong comparison.
  • אִבְשָׁלוֹם חַי (Avshalom chay): "Absalom lived" or "Absalom were alive." The direct antagonist of the loyalty.
  • וַאֲנַחְנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ (va'anachnu kullanu): "And all of us." Encompasses every loyal person, emphasizing the collective sacrifice made.
  • מֵתִים (metim): "Dying" or "dead." Refers to the collective sacrifice the loyal forces made in opposing Absalom.
• then it would have pleased you well (אָז הֵיטִיב בְּעֵינֶיךָ):
  • הֵיטִיב בְּעֵינֶיךָ (heitiv b'eineikha): "It would have been good in your eyes," or "it would have pleased you well." This phrase literally means "to be right/good in your eyes." It suggests that such a scenario would have been entirely agreeable and desirable to David, directly contrasting his sorrow over the current victory.

2 Samuel 19 6 Bonus section

The exchange in 2 Samuel 19:6 (and the verses immediately surrounding it) offers a significant theological and ethical lesson on the nature of leadership within a covenant community.

• Moral Ambiguity of Leaders: This passage demonstrates that even a king "after God's own heart" (1 Sam 13:14) can make significant moral and practical errors driven by personal emotion. It shows that godly leaders are still fallible human beings susceptible to intense grief that can impair their judgment.
• The Prophet-like Role: Joab, while often portrayed as ruthless, here assumes a role akin to a prophet, speaking a harsh truth to power that is essential for the king's good and the nation's well-being. This reflects the biblical principle that even kings are accountable, and those close to them sometimes bear the burden of holding them to account, albeit at personal risk.
• Importance of Gratitude and Affirmation: David's actions conveyed profound ingratitude, not only in overlooking their valor but actively making them feel shamed. Leaders are called to affirm and appreciate the service and sacrifices of their subordinates. The lack of appreciation can erode loyalty and commitment, serving as a warning to those in positions of authority across all walks of life.
• Consequences of Rebellion: While David mourned Absalom, Absalom's death was a direct consequence of his rebellion against God's anointed king and against the societal order. The text implicitly reminds the reader that justice, even painful, has been served. David's grief effectively elevated the fate of the rebel above the loyalty of the faithful, an inversion of righteous order.

2 Samuel 19 6 Commentary

2 Samuel 19:6 represents a pivotal moment of confrontation where Joab, acting as a brutal but necessary truth-teller, forces David to face the devastating implications of his personal grief overshadowing his duties as king. David's mourning for Absalom, while understandable from a father's perspective, had become a public declaration that he valued a treacherous son more than the loyal men who risked and gave their lives to save him and the kingdom.

Joab's accusation, that David would have been "pleased" if Absalom had lived and his loyal supporters had all died, is hyperbolic but powerfully effective. It lays bare the perverse outcome of David's sorrow, showing that it had twisted the perception of victory into defeat for his soldiers. This misalignment of the king's heart with the reality of the people's sacrifice posed a significant threat to his reign, demoralizing the army, breeding resentment, and potentially inciting further unrest.

The verse underscores the critical tension between personal emotion and public responsibility, especially for leaders. A king is expected to put the welfare and morale of his people first. David's display of grief threatened the social fabric and military order of the kingdom, prompting Joab's sharp intervention to protect David's throne and the future of Israel. Joab's rebuke, though harsh, ultimately served to jolt David back to his kingly duties, preventing further destabilization and securing his authority. It highlights the importance of recognizing and honoring the sacrifices made by those who are faithful, rather than allowing misplaced affections to dictate actions and priorities.