2 Samuel 20 19

2 Samuel 20:19 kjv

I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

2 Samuel 20:19 nkjv

I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"

2 Samuel 20:19 niv

We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD's inheritance?"

2 Samuel 20:19 esv

I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the LORD?"

2 Samuel 20:19 nlt

I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the LORD?"

2 Samuel 20 verses

2 Samuel 20 19 Meaning

This verse presents a profound appeal from a wise woman of Abel Beth-Maachah to Joab, the commander of David's army, during the siege of her city. She identifies herself and her city as loyal and peaceful members of the covenant nation, effectively challenging Joab's justification for their destruction. Her most powerful argument is that to "swallow up" her city, which she terms "a mother in Israel," would be to annihilate a sacred portion of the "inheritance of the Lord," elevating the military conflict to a theological affront.

2 Samuel 20 19 Context

2 Samuel chapter 20 describes the rebellion of Sheba, a Benjamite, who calls for Israel to abandon David and rally behind him, sparking a renewed wave of civil unrest after Absalom's defeat. Joab, David's military commander, swiftly pursues Sheba, trapping him within the walled city of Abel Beth-Maachah. As Joab prepares to breach the city, a wise woman emerges, seeking a parley with Joab. Verse 19 is part of her persuasive discourse, an astute argument intended to dissuade Joab from destroying her city. She directly challenges Joab's actions by asserting her city's innocence and appealing to their sacred identity as part of God's chosen inheritance. Historically, the period after Absalom's rebellion was one of instability for David's kingdom, with lingering divisions between Judah and the rest of Israel, creating fertile ground for further insurrection like Sheba's. Cities in ancient Israel held significant importance as centers of community, economy, and often, worship, underscoring the severity of a threat to their existence.

2 Samuel 20 19 Word analysis

• "I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel" (אָנֹכִי מִשְּׁלוֹמֵי אֱמוּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – ’ānōḵî miš-šĕlômê ’ĕmûnê yiśrā’ēl):
• "peaceable" (שְׁלוֹמֵי - shlomei): Derived from "shalom" (שָׁלוֹם), signifying completeness, soundness, prosperity, and internal/external tranquility. Here, it denotes that the inhabitants are not rebellious; they uphold harmony and covenant loyalty. It implies their allegiance is with King David and the established order.
• "faithful" (אֱמוּנֵי - emunei): From "emunah" (אֱמוּנָה), meaning firmness, trustworthiness, fidelity, and reliability. This further reinforces their loyalty and integrity within the covenant community. They are trustworthy citizens.
• "in Israel": Emphasizes their identity as part of the covenant nation, distinct from any foreign entity or rebellious faction, strengthening their claim to protection under God's promises to His people.
• "you seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel" (אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהָמִית עִיר וְאֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל – ’attāh mĕḇaqqēš ləhāmît ‘îr wə-’ēm bə-yiśrā’ēl):
• "seek to destroy" (מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהָמִית - mevaqqesh lehamit): A strong phrase indicating a deliberate intention to utterly eliminate or bring to death. The woman confronts Joab’s direct and lethal objective.
• "city that is a mother in Israel" (עִיר וְאֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל - ‘îr ve’em b’Yisrael): This is a significant metaphorical description. "Mother" (אֵם – em) implies foundational status, a source of life, provision, and perhaps a city from which others originated (like a mother city with its dependent villages). It signifies the city’s importance, vitality, and perhaps even its antiquity and respect. It parallels Deborah’s designation in Judges 5:7, linking this city to a protective, nurturing, and integral role within the nation. Destroying such a city would be like killing the heart of a family.
• "Why will you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?" (לָמָּה תְבַלַּע אֶת נַחֲלַת יְהוָה – lāmmāh teḇalla‘ ’et naḥălat YHWH):
• "swallow up" (תְבַלַּע - tevalia): A vivid and aggressive verb meaning to engulf, consume, or devour completely, leaving no trace. It implies a total, destructive absorption. This verb underscores the totality of the devastation that Joab’s actions would inflict.
• "the inheritance of the Lord" (נַחֲלַת יְהוָה - nachalat YHWH): This is the theological lynchpin of her argument. "Inheritance" (נַחֲלָה – nachalah) refers to that which is specifically allocated, owned, or possessed. In the biblical context, "the inheritance of the Lord" overwhelmingly refers to Israel itself, the land, and the people whom God chose as His special possession (e.g., Deut 4:20, Ps 78:71). By destroying this city, Joab would not just be attacking David’s subjects, but violating God’s sacred property, His very own chosen people. This places Joab's actions within a covenantal framework, directly challenging their legitimacy from a divine perspective.

2 Samuel 20 19 Bonus section

• The Power of the Spoken Word: This verse highlights the profound impact of well-reasoned and Spirit-inspired speech. The wise woman, unnamed and seemingly vulnerable, uses wisdom to sway a formidable military leader, underscoring that spiritual insight can be more powerful than brute force (Prov 15:23).
• Divine Intervention through Unexpected Vessels: God often works through unexpected individuals or marginalized figures to achieve His purposes. The wise woman of Abel Beth-Maachah exemplifies how God can raise up even a single voice to avert disaster, demonstrating His sovereign care for His people (Isa 42:3).
• The Sanctity of God's People: The term "inheritance of the Lord" profoundly establishes the special status of God's chosen people. It implies divine ownership and protection, teaching that harm to them is an affront to their Owner. This principle extends to the church as God's spiritual inheritance in the New Testament (Eph 1:11-14).
• Leadership and Discernment: Joab, despite his brutal efficiency, demonstrated a capacity for discernment and responsiveness to wisdom here, contrasting with his rash actions at other times. His willingness to listen, even in the midst of siege, prevented a greater moral and potentially theological blunder.

2 Samuel 20 19 Commentary

2 Samuel 20:19 is a masterclass in diplomacy and spiritual persuasion. The wise woman, confronting Joab's relentless military advance, shrewdly appeals to his honor, reason, and perhaps, his fear of God. She first establishes the innocence and loyalty of her city's inhabitants, presenting them as quintessential "peaceable and faithful" members of the covenant nation, not Sheba's co-conspirators. She then amplifies the gravity of Joab's intention, highlighting that he seeks to "destroy a city that is a mother in Israel," appealing to a sense of national pride and historical reverence. Her climactic question, "Why will you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?", shifts the frame entirely, from a military siege against rebels to a potential sacrilege against God Himself. This theological argument is potent: to destroy a part of Israel is to consume God’s own treasured possession, an act with profound covenantal implications. Her words are not mere emotional pleading but a powerful rhetorical and theological challenge that effectively halts Joab, demonstrating that even in wartime, covenant identity and God's proprietary claim over His people carry immense weight.