For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
Complete Jewish Bible:
For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, look - I am the first one of all the house of Yosef to come today and go down to meet my lord the king."
Berean Standard Bible:
For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
American Standard Version:
For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
¶ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
¶ And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name [was] Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
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Commentary for 2 Samuel 19:20
2 Samuel 19:20 is a part of the narrative that follows King David's temporary exile from Jerusalem during the rebellion led by his son Absalom. After Absalom's defeat and death, David returns to his throne, and the tribes of Israel, who had supported Absalom, must reconcile with the king.
In this verse, an unnamed servant, likely a leader among the tribes of Israel, acknowledges his wrongdoing in supporting Absalom against King David. By stating, "For thy servant doth know that I have sinned," the servant expresses repentance and recognition of his disloyalty. His declaration, "I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king," indicates his initiative to be the first among the tribe of Joseph (which includes the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh) to seek reconciliation with David. This act demonstrates his eagerness to restore his relationship with the king and to set an example for others to follow in seeking forgiveness and reestablishing order in the kingdom.
The themes present in this verse include repentance, loyalty, and the importance of reconciliation after conflict. Historically, this verse reflects the complex dynamics of tribal politics in ancient Israel, as well as the challenges faced by David in reasserting his authority after a significant internal threat to his kingship. It also highlights the theme of forgiveness, as David eventually pardons those who had turned against him, which is a recurring motif in the books of Samuel, showcasing David's ability to balance justice with mercy.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H5650 There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עֶבֶד Transliteration: ʻebed Pronunciation: eh'-bed Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
Strong's Number: H3045 There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָדַע Transliteration: yâdaʻ Pronunciation: yaw-dah' Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
Strong's Number: H2398 There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חָטָא Transliteration: châṭâʼ Pronunciation: khaw-taw' Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
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.
Strong's Number: H7223 There are 174 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: רִאשׁוֹן Transliteration: riʼshôwn Pronunciation: ree-shone' Description: or רִאשֹׁן; from רִאשָׁה; first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun); ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past.
Strong's Number: H3117 There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יוֹם Transliteration: yôwm Pronunciation: yome Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
Strong's Number: H1004 There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בַּיִת Transliteration: bayith Pronunciation: bah'-yith Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
Strong's Number: H3130 There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יוֹסֵף Transliteration: Yôwçêph Pronunciation: yo-safe' Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף.
Strong's Number: H3381 There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָרַד Transliteration: yârad Pronunciation: yaw-rad' Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
Strong's Number: H7125 There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: קִרְאָה Transliteration: qirʼâh Pronunciation: keer-aw' Description: from קָרָא; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite); [idiom] against (he come), help, meet, seek, [idiom] to, [idiom] in the way.
Strong's Number: H113 There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אָדוֹן Transliteration: ʼâdôwn Pronunciation: aw-done' Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.
Strong's Number: H4428 There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מֶלֶךְ Transliteration: melek Pronunciation: meh'-lek Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.