Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”
Parallel translations
- KJV Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
- BSB And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
- NKJV Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”
- NASB Moreover, Absalom would say, “Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!”
- NLT I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”
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
Absalom wishes aloud that he were judge so everyone could get justice from him. He openly courts the people's loyalty by promising what David supposedly withholds.
Overview
By lamenting that he holds no judicial office, Absalom presents himself as the answer to the people's frustrations. His promise of impartial justice is a hollow pretext masking raw ambition for power. The appeal is seductive because it dresses self-interest in the language of fairness, a tactic David's true heir, Christ, reverses by genuinely securing justice and righteousness for his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Judg 9:29I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army, and come out!”
- Luke 14:8–11“When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him,
- 2 Pet 2:19promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.
- Prov 27:2Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
- Prov 25:6Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
- Judg 9:1–5Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
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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 15:4 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
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