See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me.”
- BSB See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
- NKJV See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
- NASB See, I am going to wait at the river crossing places of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
- NLT I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David will wait at the wilderness fords until word reaches him from the priests. He commits to patient watchfulness while trusting God.
Overview
David arranges to halt at the river crossings of the wilderness to await intelligence from Zadok and Abiathar. His careful planning complements his earlier surrender to God's will. The verse shows that faith does not preclude wise, deliberate action as one waits on the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 2 Sam 17:16Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
- 2 Sam 15:23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
- 2 Sam 17:1Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
- 2 Sam 16:2And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 15:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.