2 Samuel 20 · Verse 18

2 Samuel 20:18

Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

2 Samuel 20:18, King James Version

2 Samuel 20:18 in other translations

BSB	Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.
WEB	Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.
ASV	Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
YLT	and she speaketh, saying, ‘They spake often in former times, saying, Let them diligently ask at Abel, and so they finished.
DARBY	And she spoke saying, They were wont to speak in old time saying, Just inquire in Abel; and so they ended.
BBE	Then she said, In the old days, there was a saying, Let them put the question in Abel and in Dan, saying, Has what was ordered by men of good faith in Israel ever come to an end?
Webster	Then she spoke, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They will surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

What does 2 Samuel 20:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 20:18-20

18-20. They were wont to speak in old time--The translation of the Margin gives a better meaning, which is to this effect: When the people saw thee lay siege to Abel, they said, Surely he will ask if we will have peace, for the law (De 20:10) prescribes that he should offer peace to strangers, much more then to Israelitish cities; and if he do this, we shall soon bring things to an amicable agreement, for we are a peaceable people. The answer of Joab brings out the character of that ruthless veteran as a patriot at heart, who, on securing the author of this insurrection, was ready to put a stop to further bloodshed and release the peaceable inhabitants from all molestation. 2Sa 20:23-26. David's Great Officers.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 18 They shall surely ask counsel at Abel - This is a proverb, but from what it originated we know not; nor can we exactly say what it means: much must be supplied to bring it to speak sense. Abel was probably famed for the wisdom of its inhabitants; and parties who had disputes appealed to their judgment, which appears to have been in such high reputation as to be final by consent of all parties. To this the wise woman refers, and intimates to Joab that he should have proceeded in this way before he began to storm the city, and destroy the peaceable inhabitants.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:14-22

Justly is that place attacked, which dares to harbour a traitor; nor will the heart fare better which indulges rebellious lusts, that will not have Christ to reign over them. A discreet woman, by her prudent management, satisfied Joab, and yet saved the city. Wisdom is not confined to rank or sex; it consists not in deep knowledge; but in understanding how to act as matters arise, that troubles may be turned away…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 20:14-22 →

2 Samuel 20:18 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.

וַתֹּ֖אמֶרva.To.merand she saidH559

לֵאמֹ֑רle.Mor<to> sayingH559

דַּבֵּ֨רda.Bersurely <speak>H1696

יְדַבְּר֤וּye.da.be.Ruthey spokeH1696

בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙va.ri.sho.Nahat the former [time]H7223

לֵאמֹ֔רle.Mor<to> sayingH559

שָׁאֹ֧לsha.'Olcertainly <to ask>H7592

יְשָׁאֲל֛וּye.sha.'a.Luthey will askH7592

בְּאָבֵ֖לbe.'a.Velat AbelH59

וְכֵ֥ןve.Khenand thusH3651

הֵתַֽמּוּ\׃he.Ta.muthey ceasedH8552

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 20:18

Deuteronomy 20:10-11
When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

They were wont, etc. or, They plainly spake in thebeginning, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so make an end.
De 20:10,11

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

Context

2 Samuel 20:17
And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
2 Samuel 20:18
Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
2 Samuel 20:19
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?

Read all of 2 Samuel 20

2 Samuel 20:18 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces tornó ella á hablar, diciendo: Antiguamente solían hablar, diciendo: Quien preguntare, pregunte en Abel: y así concluían.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et elle parla et dit: On avait coutume autrefois de parler, disant: Demandez seulement à Abel, et ainsi on en finissait.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und sie sprach und sagte: Früher pflegte man zu sprechen und zu sagen: Man frage nur in Abel; und so war man fertig.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Rursumque illa: Sermo, inquit, dicebatur in veteri proverbio: Qui interrogant, interrogent in Abela: et sic perficiebant.