2 Samuel 15:8

8 for your servant made a vow while I [was] staying in Geshur in Aram, saying, '{If Yahweh will indeed let me return} to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.'"

2 Samuel 15:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:8

For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria,
&c.] When at his grandfather's court there:

saying, if the Lord will bring me again indeed to Jerusalem;
which he might be sincerely desirous of:

then I will serve the Lord;
but it is a question whether he ever made a vow to this purpose, or concerned himself about serving the Lord; but it rather may be, this was a lie of his, now framed in order to get leave of the king to go to Hebron.

2 Samuel 15:8 In-Context

6 Absalom did like this to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

7 It happened at the end of four years [that] Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to Yahweh in Hebron,

8 for your servant made a vow while I [was] staying in Geshur in Aram, saying, '{If Yahweh will indeed let me return} to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.'"

9 Then the king said to him, "Go in peace." So he got up and went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent scouts throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall shout 'Absalom has become king in Hebron!'"

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally (following Qere) "If returning Yahweh will return me"