2 Samuel 19:3

3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle.

2 Samuel 19:3 in Other Translations

3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.

3 They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle.

3 The army straggled back to the city that day demoralized, dragging their tails.

3 So they returned to the city quietly that day like people come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle.

2 Samuel 19:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 19:3

And the people got them by stealth that day into the city
Did not march into it in companies, in a public and triumphant manner, as conquerors used to do; but entered in a private manner, one by one, or a very few together, not caring to be seen or known, at least by the king, as fearing they had incurred his displeasure: but

as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle;
as if they had been conquered, and not conquerors; nay, had acted a cowardly part, and ran away; and so cared not to be seen, lest they should be reproached, or suffer for their cowardice.

2 Samuel 19:3 In-Context

1 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”

2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.”

3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle.

4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.