2 Samuel 15 · Verse 7

2 Samuel 15:7

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, King James Version

2 Samuel 15:7 in other translations

BSBAfter four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.
WEBAt the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.
ASVAnd it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, at the end of forty years, that Absalom saith unto the king, ‘Let me go, I pray thee, and I complete my vow, that I vowed to Jehovah in Hebron,
DARBYAnd it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay in Hebron my vow which I have vowed to Jehovah.
BBENow at the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, Let me go to Hebron and give effect to the oath which I made to the Lord:
WebsterAnd it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

What does 2 Samuel 15:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 15:7-9
7-9. after forty years--It is generally admitted that an error has here crept into the text, and that instead of "forty," we should read with the Syriac and Arabic versions, and Josephus, "four years"--that is, after Absalom's return to Jerusalem, and his beginning to practice the base arts of gaining popularity. my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord--during his exile in Geshur. The purport of it was, that whenever God's providence should pave the way for his re-establishment in Jerusalem, he would offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Hebron was the spot selected for the performance of this vow, ostensibly as being his native place (2Sa 3:3), and a famous high place, where sacrifices were frequently offered before the temple was built; but really as being in many respects the most suitable for the commencement of his rebellious enterprise. David, who always encouraged piety and desired to see religious engagements punctually performed, gave his consent and his blessing. 2Sa 15:10-12. He Forms a Conspiracy.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 After forty years - There is no doubt that this reading is corrupt, though supported by the commonly printed Vulgate, the Septuagint, and the Chaldee. But the Syriac has arba shanin, Four years; the Arabic the same arba shinin, Four years; and Josephus has the same; so also the Sixtine edition of the Vulgate, and several MSS. of the same version. Theodoret also reads four, not forty; and most learned men are of opinion that ארבעים arbaim, Forty, is an error for אברע arba, Four; yet this reading is not supported by any Hebrew MS. yet discovered. But two of those collated by Dr. Kennicott have יום yom instead of שנה shanah, i.e., forty Days, instead of forty Years; and this is a reading more likely to be true than that in the commonly received text. We know that Absalom did stay Three years with his grandfather at Geshur, 2Sam 13:38; and this probably was a year after his return: the era, therefore, may be the time of his slaying his brother Amnon; and the four years include the time from his flight till the conspiracy mentioned here.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:7-12
See how willing tender parents are to believe the best concerning their children. But how easy and how wicked is it, for children to take advantage of good parents, and to deceive them with the show of religion! The principal men of Jerusalem joined Absalom's feast upon his sacrifice. Pious persons are glad to see others appear religious, and this gives occasion for deceptions. The policy of wicked men, and the subtlety of Satan, are exerted to draw good persons to countenance base designs.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 15:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֕יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
מִקֵּ֖ץmi.Ketzfrom [the] end ofH7093
אַרְבָּעִ֣ים'ar.ba.'ImfortyH705
שָׁנָ֑הsha.Nahyear[s]H8141
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙'av.sha.lOmAbsalomH53
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
אֵ֣לֲכָה'E.la.khahlet me goH1980
נָּ֗אNa'pleaseH4994
וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛םva.'a.sha.Lemso I may payH7999
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
נִדְרִ֛יnid.Rivow myH5088
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
נָדַ֥רְתִּיna.Dar.tiI vowedH5087
לַֽיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehto YahwehH3068
בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן\׃be.chev.Ronin HebronH2275

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 15:7

  • Isaiah 58:4

    Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

  • 2 Samuel 13:24-27

    And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

  • 1 Samuel 16:1-2

    And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth–lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.

  • 2 Samuel 13:38

    So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

  • Proverbs 21:27

    The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

  • Matthew 23:13

    But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

  • Matthew 2:8

    And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

  • 1 Samuel 16:13

    Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021. An. Ex. Is. 470. forty years.As David reigned in the whole only forty years, this reading is evidently corrupt, though supported by the commonly printed Vulgate, LXX., and Chaldee. But the Syriac, Arabic, Josephus, Theodoret, the Sixtine edition of the Vulgate, and several MSS. of the same version, read four years; and it is highly probable that {arbâim,} forty, is an error for {arbâ,} four, though not supported by any Hebrew MS. yet discovered. Two of those collated by Dr. Kennicott, however, have {yom,} "day," instead of {shanah,} "year," i.e., forty days instead of forty years; but this is not sufficient to outweigh the other authorities.
13:38; 1Sa 16:1,13
let me go.
13:24-27
pay.
1Sa 16:2; Pr 21:27; Isa 58:4; Mt 2:8; 23:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 15:6

    And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

  • 2 Samuel 15:7

    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 15:8

    For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.

Read all of 2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y al cabo de cuarenta años aconteció que Absalom dijo al rey: Yo te ruego me permitas que vaya á Hebrón, á pagar mi voto que he prometido á Jehová:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva au bout de 40 ans, qu’Absalom dit au roi: Je te prie, que je m’en aille et que j’acquitte à Hébron mon vœu que j’ai voué à l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah am Ende von vierzig Jahren, da sprach Absalom zu dem König: Laß mich doch hingehen und zu Hebron mein Gelübde erfüllen, das ich Jehova gelobt habe;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Post quadraginta autem annos, dixit Absalom ad regem David: Vadam, et reddam vota mea quæ vovi Domino in Hebron.