Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Joab was told, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.”
- KJV And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
- NKJV And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
- NASB Then it was reported to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and he mourns for Absalom.”
- NLT Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom.
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
Word reaches Joab that the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. David's grief begins to overshadow the army's victory.
Overview
News of David's mourning over Absalom comes to Joab, setting up the coming confrontation in which Joab rebukes the king for shaming his loyal soldiers (19:5-7). The verse marks the tension between David's private grief and his public duty as king. It opens a chapter on the costly, complicated work of leading and restoring a kingdom after rebellion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 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 18:5Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
- 2 Sam 18:12The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’
- 2 Sam 18:20But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
- Prov 17:25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
- 2 Sam 18:33The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
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 19:1 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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