But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don’t you speak a word of bringing the king back?”
- KJV And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
- NKJV But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
- NASB However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?”
- NLT Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?”
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
The people noted that Absalom, whom they had anointed, was dead, and asked why no one was acting to bring David back. It matters because their rebellion had collapsed, leaving them seeking their true king.
Overview
With Absalom slain, the tribes faced the consequences of their misplaced loyalty and sought to right it. Their question reveals both regret and readiness to restore David. The episode pictures how God overrules human rebellion and draws people back to the king He appointed, foreshadowing the gathering of all peoples to Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Hos 8:4They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
- Judg 18:9They answered, “Come on, let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and it is very good. Why would you fail to act? Do not hesitate to go there and take possession of the land!
- 2 Sam 18:14But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.
- 2 Sam 15:12–13While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 19:10 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.