2 Samuel 18 · Verse 11

2 Samuel 18:11

And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
2 Samuel 18:11, King James Version

2 Samuel 18:11 in other translations

BSB“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!”
WEBJoab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a sash.”
ASVAnd Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest it, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten pieces of silver, and a girdle.
YLTAnd Joab saith to the man who is declaring it to him, ‘And lo, thou hast seen--and wherefore didst thou not smite him there to the earth--and on me to give to thee ten silverlings and one girdle?'
DARBYAnd Joab said to the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten silver pieces and a girdle.
BBEAnd Joab said to the man who had given him the news, If you saw this, why did you not put your sword through him, and I would have given you ten bits of silver and a band for your robe?
WebsterAnd Joab said to the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

What does 2 Samuel 18:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 18:11-12
11-12. Joab said unto the man that told him, ... I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle--that is, would have raised him from the ranks to the status of a commissioned officer. Besides a sum of money, a girdle, curiously and richly wrought, was among the ancient Hebrews a mark of honor, and sometimes bestowed as a reward of military merit. This soldier, however, who may be taken as a fair sample of David's faithful subjects, had so great a respect for the king's wishes, that no prospect of reward would have tempted him to lay violent hands on Absalom. But Joab's stern sense of public duty, which satisfied him that there could be neither safety to the king, nor peace to the kingdom, nor security to him and other loyal subjects, so long as that turbulent prince lived, overcame his sensibilities, and looking upon the charge given to the generals as more befitting a parent than a prince, he ventured to disobey it. 2Sa 18:14-32. He Is Slain by Joab.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 And a girdle - The military belt was the chief ornament of a soldier, and was highly prized in all ancient nations; it was also a rich present from one chieftain to another. Jonathan gave his to David, as the highest pledge of his esteem and perpetual friendship, 1Sam 18:4. And Ajax gave his to Hector, as a token of the highest respect. - Hom. Il. vii., ver. 305.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:9-18

Let young people look upon Absalom, hanging on a tree, accursed, forsaken of heaven and earth; there let them read the Lord's abhorrence of rebellion against parents. Nothing can preserve men from misery and contempt, but heavenly wisdom and the grace of God.

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 18:9-18 →

2 Samuel 18:11 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.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יוֹאָ֗בyo.'AvJoabH3097
לָאִישׁ֙la.'Ishto the manH376
הַמַּגִּ֣ידha.ma.Gidwho had toldH5046
ל֔וֹloto <the> him
וְהִנֵּ֣הve.hi.Nehand there!H2009
רָאִ֔יתָra.'I.tayou sawH7200
וּמַדּ֛וּעַu.ma.Du.a'and why?H4069
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
הִכִּית֥וֹhi.ki.Todid you strike down himH5221
שָׁ֖םshamthereH8033
אָ֑רְצָה'A.re.tzah[the] ground towardsH776
וְעָלַ֗יve.'a.Laiand on meH5921
לָ֤תֶתLa.tetto giveH5414
לְךָ֙le.Khato <the> you
עֲשָׂ֣רָה'a.Sa.rahtenH6235
כֶ֔סֶףKhe.sefsilverH3701
וַחֲגֹרָ֖הva.cha.go.Rahand a beltH2290
אֶחָֽת\׃'e.ChatoneH259

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 18:10

    And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

  • 2 Samuel 18:11

    And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

  • 2 Samuel 18:12

    And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

Read all of 2 Samuel 18

2 Samuel 18:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Joab respondió al hombre que le daba la nueva: Y viéndolo tú, ¿por qué no le heriste luego allí echándole á tierra? y sobre mí, que te hubiera dado diez siclos de plata, y un talabarte.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Joab dit à l’homme qui le lui rapportait: Et voici, tu l’as vu, et pourquoi ne l’as-tu pas abattu là par terre? Et ç’aurait été à moi de te donner dix pièces d’argent et une ceinture.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da sprach Joab zu dem Manne, der es ihm berichtete: Siehe, wenn du ihn gesehen hast, warum hast du ihn nicht daselbst zu Boden geschlagen? und an mir war es, dir zehn Sekel Silber und einen Gürtel zu geben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ait Joab viro qui nuntiaverat ei: Si vidisti, quare non confodisti eum cum terra, et ego dedissem tibi decem argenti siclos, et unum balteum?