2 Samuel 20:19

19 "I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. 1You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up 2the inheritance of the LORD?"

2 Samuel 20:19 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 20:19

I [am one of them that are] peaceable [and] faithful in
Israel
Her meaning is, that she was of a city which consisted of peaceable and faithful men, that were peaceable among themselves, and faithful to their king, who never were concerned in any insurrection or rebellion, not in the late one under Absalom:

thou seekest to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel;
a metropolitan city, which had several towns and villages under its jurisdiction, which were as daughters to it. Some think she means herself, because very old, supposed F3 to be Serah, the daughter of Asher, a son of Jacob, which is improbable:

wilt why thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?
a city which is a part of the land, that is the Lord's inheritance.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 Jarchi & Kimchi in loc. Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2 Reg. fol. 79. L.

2 Samuel 20:19 In-Context

17 So he approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening."
18 Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask advice at Abel,' and thus they ended the dispute.
19 "I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD ?"
20 Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
21 "Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."

Cross References 2

  • 1. Deuteronomy 20:10
  • 2. 1 Samuel 26:19; 2 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 21:3
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