2 Samuel 18:13 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against {me}.”

2 Samuel 18:13

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest {him}, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten {shekels} of silver, and a girdle.

And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand {shekels} of silver in mine hand, {yet} would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none {touch} the young man Absalom. {receive: Heb. weigh upon mine hand} {Beware...: Heb. Beware whosoever ye be of, etc}

Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against {me}.

Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he {was} yet alive in the midst of the oak. {with...: Heb. before thee} {midst: Heb. heart}

And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

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2 Samuel 18:1

"And David numbered the people that {were} with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them."

2 Samuel 18:2

"And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also."

2 Samuel 18:3

"But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now {thou art} worth ten thousand of us: therefore now {it is} better that thou succour us out of the city. {care...: Heb. set their heart on us} {worth...: Heb. as ten thousand of us} {succour: Heb. be to succour or help}"

2 Samuel 18:4

"And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands."

2 Samuel 18:5

"And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, {Deal} gently for my sake with the young man, {even} with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom."

2 Samuel 18:6

"So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;"

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