2 Samuel 15:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

Complete Jewish Bible:

A messenger came to David saying, "The men of Isra'el have aligned themselves with Avshalom."

Berean Standard Bible:

Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

American Standard Version:

And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And there came{H935} a messenger{H5046} to David{H1732}, saying{H559}, The hearts{H3820} of the men{H376} of Israel{H3478} are after{H310} Absalom{H53}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Judges 9:3

  • And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He [is] our brother.

Matthew 27:22

  • Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? [They] all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

2 Samuel 15:6

  • And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Psalms 62:9

  • Surely men of low degree [are] vanity, [and] men of high degree [are] a lie: to be laid in the balance, they [are] altogether [lighter] than vanity.

Matthew 21:9

  • And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

2 Samuel 3:36

  • And all the people took notice [of it], and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

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Commentary for 2 Samuel 15:13

2 Samuel 15:13 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of King David's reign over Israel. The verse reads, "And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom." This message to David encapsulates the growing threat to his kingship as a result of a conspiracy led by his son, Absalom.

The historical context of this verse is set during a period of internal strife within the united kingdom of Israel. Absalom had been plotting to usurp his father's throne, a plan that involved winning the hearts of the Israelites by presenting himself as a more just and accessible leader than David. For some time, Absalom had been stealing the loyalty of the people, a fact that now becomes undeniable to David through the messenger's report.

The themes present in this verse include betrayal, as Absalom's actions are a direct challenge to the king he is supposed to honor and obey. It also touches on the complexity of family dynamics, as David faces a rebellion from his own son. Additionally, the verse highlights the political instability of the time, reflecting the fragile nature of power and the ease with which public favor can shift. The message to David serves as a catalyst for the subsequent narrative, where he must flee Jerusalem, demonstrating the personal and national crises that can arise from such a breach of trust and loyalty. This event is a significant turning point in David's life, leading to a civil war and having lasting implications for his reign and the future of Israel's monarchy.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H935
    There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בּוֹא
    Transliteration: bôwʼ
    Pronunciation: bo
    Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
  2. Strong's Number: H5046
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָגַד
    Transliteration: nâgad
    Pronunciation: naw-gad'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter.
  3. Strong's Number: H1732
    There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּוִד
    Transliteration: Dâvid
    Pronunciation: daw-veed'
    Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
  4. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  5. Strong's Number: H3820
    There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לֵב
    Transliteration: lêb
    Pronunciation: labe
    Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom.
  6. Strong's Number: H376
    There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִישׁ
    Transliteration: ʼîysh
    Pronunciation: eesh
    Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
  7. Strong's Number: H3478
    There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
    Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
    Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
    Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
  8. Strong's Number: H310
    There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַחַר
    Transliteration: ʼachar
    Pronunciation: akh-ar'
    Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
  9. Strong's Number: H53
    There are 2955 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֲבִישָׁלוֹם
    Transliteration: ʼĂbîyshâlôwm
    Pronunciation: ab-ee-shaw-lome'
    Description: or (shortened) אַבְשָׁלוֹם ; from אָב and שָׁלוֹם; father of peace (i.e. friendly); Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite; Abishalom, Absalom.