TRV
Translation
King James Version
Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
KJV (with Strong's)
Now therefore arise H6965, go forth H3318, and speak H1696 comfortably H3820 unto thy servants H5650: for I swear H7650 by the LORD H3068, if thou go not forth H3318, there will not tarry H3885 one H376 with thee this night H3915: and that will be worse H7489 unto thee than all the evil H7451 that befell H935 thee from thy youth H5271 until now.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now get up, go out and speak heart-to-heart with your servants. For I swear by ADONAI that if you don't go out, not one man will stay here with you tonight - and that will be worse for you than all the misfortunes you have suffered from your youth until now."
Berean Standard Bible
Now therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the adversity that has befallen you from your youth until now!”
American Standard Version
Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants; for I swear by Jehovah, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry a man with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that hath befallen thee from thy youth until now.
World English Bible Messianic
Now therefore arise, go out, and speak to comfort your servants; for I swear by the LORD, if you don’t go out, not a man will stay with you this night. That would be worse to you than all the evil that has happened to you from your youth until now.”
Geneva Bible (1599)
Nowe therefore vp, come out, and speake comfortably vnto thy seruants: for I sweare by the Lord, except thou come out, there will not tarie one man with thee this night: and that wil be worse vnto thee, then all the euill that fell on thee from thy youth hitherto.
Young's Literal Translation
`And now, rise, go out and speak unto the heart of thy servants, for by Jehovah I have sworn, that--thou art not going out--there doth not lodge a man with thee to-night; and this is worse for thee than all the evil that hath come upon thee from thy youth till now.'
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In the KJVVerse 8,519 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on 2 Samuel 19 verses 1–8
1 ¶ And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
Soon after the messengers had brought the news of the defeat and death of Absalom to the court of Mahanaim, Joab and his victorious army followed, to grace the king's triumphs and receive his further orders. Now here we are told,
I. What a damp and disappointment it was to them to find the king in tears for Absalom's death, which they construed as a token of displeasure against them for what they had done, whereas they expected him to have met them with joy and thanks for their good services: It was told Joab, v. 1 The report of it ran through the army (Sa2 19:2), how the king was grieved for his son. The people will take particular notice what their princes say and do. The more eyes we have upon us, and the greater our influence is, the more need we have to speak and act wisely and to govern our passions strictly. When they came to the city they found the king in close mourning, Sa2 19:4. He covered his face, and would not so much as look up, nor take any notice of the generals when they attended him. It could not but surprise them to find, 1. How the king proclaimed his passion, of which he ought to have been ashamed, and which he would have striven to smother and conceal if he had consulted either his reputation for courage, which was lessened by his mean submission to the tyranny of so absurd a passion, or his interest in the people, which would be prejudiced by his discountenancing what was done in zeal for his honour and the public safety. Yet see how he avows his grief: He cries with a loud voice, O my son Absalom! "My servants have all come home safe, but where is my son? He is dead; and, dying in sin, I fear he is lost for ever. I cannot now say, I shall go to him, for my soul shall not be gathered with such sinners; what shall be done for thee, O Absalom! my son, my son!" 2. How he prolonged his passion, even till the army had come up to him, which must be some time after he received the first intelligence. If he had contented himself with giving vent to his passion for an hour or two when he first heard the news, it would have been excusable, but to continue it thus for so bad a son as Absalom, like Jacob for so good a son as Joseph, with a resolution to go to the grave mourning and to stain his triumphs with his tears, was very unwise and very unworthy. Now see how ill this was taken by the people. They were loth to blame the king, for whatever he did used to please them (Sa2 3:36), but they took it as a great mortification to them. Their victory was turned into mourning, Sa2 19:2. They stole into the city as men ashamed, Sa2 19:3. In compliment to their sovereign, they would not rejoice in that which they perceived so afflictive to him, and yet they could not but be uneasy that they were thus obliged to conceal their joy. Superiors ought not to put such hardships as these on their inferiors.
II. How plainly and vehemently Joab reproved David for this indiscreet management of himself in this critical juncture. David never more needed the hearts of his subjects than now, nor was ever more concerned to secure his interest in their affections; and therefore whatever tended to disoblige them now was the most impolitic thing he could do, and the greatest wrong imaginable to his friends that adhered to him. Joab therefore censures him, Sa2 19:5-7. He speaks a great deal of reason, but not with the respect and deference which he owed to his prince. Is is fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? A plain case may be fairly pleaded with those that are above us, and they may be reproved for what they do amiss, but it must not be done with rudeness and insolence. David did indeed need to be roused and alarmed; and Joab thought it no time to dally with him. If superiors do that which is foolish, they must neither think it strange nor take it ill if their inferiors tell them of it, perhaps too bluntly. 1. Joab magnifies the services of David's soldiers: "This day they have saved thy life, and therefore deserve to be taken notice of, and have reason to resent it if they be not." It is implied that Absalom, whom he honoured with his tears, sought his ruin and the ruin of his family, while those whom by his tears he puts a slight upon were such as preserved from ruin him and all that was dear to him. Great mischiefs have arisen to princes from the contempt of great merits. 2. He aggravates the discouragement David had given them: "Thou hast shamed their faces; for, while they have shown such a value for thy life, thou hast shown no value for theirs, but preferrest a spoiled wicked youth, a false traitor to his king and country, whom we are happily rid of, before all thy wise counsellors, brave commanders, and loyal subjects. What can be more absurd than to love thy enemies and hate thy friends?" 3. He advises him to present himself immediately at the head of his troops, to smile upon them, welcome them home, congratulate their success, and return them thanks for their services. Even those that may be commanded yet expect to be thanked when they do well, and ought to be. 4. He threatens him with another rebellion if he would not do this, intimating that rather than serve so ungrateful a prince he himself would head a revolt from him, and then (so confident is Joab of his own interest in the people) "there will not tarry with thee one man. If I go, they will go. Thou hast now nothing to mourn for: but, if thou persist, I will give thee something to mourn for (as Josephus expresses it) with a true and more bitter mourning."
III. How prudently and mildly David took the reproof and counsel given him, Sa2 19:8. He shook off his grief, anointed his head, and washed his face, that he might not appear unto men to mourn, and then made his appearance in public in the gate, which was as the guild-hall of the city. Hither the people flocked to him to congratulate his and their safety, and all was well. Note, When we are convinced of a fault, we must amend, though we are told of it by our inferiors, and indecently, or in heat and passion.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–8. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Second Samuel 19:7 marks a pivotal moment in the aftermath of Absalom's rebellion, where King David's military commander, Joab, confronts the king's debilitating grief. David's excessive mourning over his rebellious son, even after a decisive victory that preserved his throne, had severely demoralized his loyal army. Joab's stern ultimatum forces David to set aside personal sorrow and fulfill his royal duty to acknowledge and encourage his victorious soldiers, thereby averting a potentially catastrophic defection and ensuring the stability of his kingdom and the continuity of his divinely appointed reign.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent Literary Devices to convey the urgency and gravity of Joab's message and to compel King David to action. The most prominent is the Ultimatum, delivered directly and without equivocation, leaving David with no alternative but immediate action. This is powerfully reinforced by Hyperbole in Joab's declaration that the consequence of inaction would be "worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now." This exaggeration is not meant to be taken literally, but to emphasize the extreme peril David faced, designed to shock him out of his stupor and underscore the catastrophic implications of his continued inaction. The phrase "speak comfortably unto thy servants" is a beautiful Idiom (דַּבֵּר עַל־לֵב, dabber al-lev), literally "speak to the heart," which conveys the profound need for genuine, heartfelt communication that goes beyond mere words to restore morale and connection. Finally, the entire speech functions as a Rhetorical Confrontation, where Joab, though a subordinate, assumes a prophetic-like authority to challenge the king for the good of the kingdom, using a blend of logical consequence and emotional appeal to compel David to fulfill his royal responsibilities.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This pivotal moment in David's reign offers profound theological insights into the nature of leadership, divine appointment, and human fallibility. While David was a man "after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14), his personal grief here threatened to derail God's purposes for his kingdom. Joab's intervention, though harsh, served as a divine instrument, a necessary "hard truth" to recall David to his God-given duty. It underscores that even divinely chosen leaders are not immune to human weakness and require wise, courageous counsel to remain faithful to their calling. The passage implicitly affirms that God's kingdom is advanced not just through a leader's piety, but also through their practical, compassionate engagement with those they lead, reflecting God's own care for His people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of 2 Samuel 19:7 serves as a timeless reminder that leadership, whether in a family, a church, a workplace, or a nation, is not merely about position or power, but fundamentally about service and responsibility to those entrusted to one's care. David's failure to acknowledge his loyal army, consumed by his personal sorrow, illustrates the critical need for leaders to manage their personal struggles in a way that does not compromise their public duties. It challenges us to consider how our own emotional states might impact our ability to lead, serve, and appreciate those around us. This passage calls us to cultivate a posture of gratitude, to proactively recognize and affirm the efforts of others, and to understand that genuine appreciation is a cornerstone of strong relationships and effective community. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of having trusted advisors who possess the courage to speak difficult truths, even when uncomfortable, for the greater good of the collective.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was Joab so harsh with King David?
Answer: Joab's harshness stemmed from a desperate and pragmatic understanding of the immediate and dire threat to David's kingdom. David's excessive mourning for Absalom, a rebel who sought his life, was deeply demoralizing to the loyal army who had just risked everything to save David's throne. They felt unappreciated and shamed for their victory. Joab recognized that if David did not immediately re-engage with his troops and acknowledge their sacrifice, the army would likely desert him, leading to the complete collapse of his reign. His bluntness, though disrespectful by normal courtly standards, was a necessary shock to awaken David to his royal responsibilities and avert a catastrophic outcome, demonstrating a fierce loyalty to David's kingship and the welfare of Israel.
Was David wrong to grieve for Absalom?
Answer: David's grief for his son, Absalom, was a natural human emotion, and in itself, not inherently wrong. The Bible often portrays David as a man of deep emotions, capable of profound sorrow, as seen in his lament over Saul and Jonathan in 2 Samuel 1. However, the problem arose from the excessive and public nature of his grief, particularly in the context of a hard-won victory against Absalom's rebellion. His mourning overshadowed the celebration of his loyal army's sacrifice and the preservation of his kingdom. It sent a message that he valued his rebellious son's life more than the lives of his loyal soldiers. While personal grief is valid, a king's public duties often require him to set aside private emotions for the welfare of his people. David's failure to balance his personal sorrow with his public responsibility jeopardized the loyalty of his army and the stability of his reign, highlighting a common tension for those in leadership.
What does "speak comfortably unto thy servants" truly mean?
Answer: The phrase "speak comfortably unto thy servants" uses a beautiful Hebrew idiom, דַּבֵּר עַל־לֵב (dabber al-lev), which literally means "speak to the heart." It signifies far more than just saying kind words. It means to speak in a way that is reassuring, consoling, and genuinely appreciative, touching the deepest part of a person's being. For the soldiers, it meant David needed to affirm their worth, acknowledge their sacrifice, and restore their morale by showing them that their efforts were valued and that he, their king, truly cared for them. It was a call for heartfelt communication that would heal their wounded spirits and re-establish their loyalty, a principle of effective and compassionate leadership applicable in all contexts.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dramatic confrontation in 2 Samuel 19:7, where Joab compels David to rise from his grief and attend to his people, powerfully foreshadows the perfect leadership and compassionate care of Jesus Christ. David, despite being a "man after God's own heart," was a flawed earthly king, prone to personal weakness that could jeopardize his kingdom. His temporary failure to "speak comfortably" to his servants, consumed by his own sorrow, highlights the limitations of even the best human leaders. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true King, never prioritizes His own comfort or grief over the needs of His people. He is the Good Shepherd who always "goes forth" to seek and save the lost, laying down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). He never neglects His "servants" but continually "speaks comfortably" to our hearts, offering true rest to the weary and heavy-laden (Matthew 11:28-30). Unlike David, who needed Joab's harsh intervention, Christ perfectly balances divine authority with profound empathy, understanding our weaknesses as one who was tempted in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15-16). His ultimate act of self-sacrifice on the cross demonstrates a love and commitment to His followers that transcends any earthly king's duty, ensuring that not one of His own will ever "tarry" or be abandoned, for He promises to be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20), a fulfillment of God's perfect, unwavering covenant love.