The Meaning of 2 Samuel 14:30 Explained

2 Samuel 14:30

KJV: Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

YLT: And he saith unto his servants, 'See, the portion of Joab is by the side of mine, and he hath barley there; go, and burn it with fire;' and the servants of Absalom burn the portion with fire.

Darby: Then he said to his servants, See, Joab's allotment is near mine and he has barley there: go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the allotment on fire.

ASV: Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore he said  unto his servants,  See,  Joab's  field  is near  mine,  and he hath barley  there; go  and set  it on fire.  And Absalom's  servants  set  the field  on fire. 

What does 2 Samuel 14:30 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 14:18-33 - Restored Though Unrepentant
Joab knew perfectly that David was well pleased to recall Absalom, in response, as it appeared, to the request of the most powerful of his subjects. But Joab was equally satisfied that Absalom was now in a position to execute plans for personal advancement. His refusal to meet Absalom was perhaps only a blind. David, at least, was bitterly to rue his weakness in restoring his wayward son without the latter's penitence.
Absalom's behavior was based in the extreme. Beauty of body and deformity of soul often coexist in the same individual. A flower-covered grave may hide gross corruption. See in his case an illustration of what would happen if sin could be forgiven apart from repentance and regeneration. Justification without sanctification would turn heaven into hell. There must be deep soul-work, if we are to come forth into the light of the love of God. The barley-field, set on fire to bring about this meeting between Absalom and Joab, suggests how often God has to fire our choice possessions, that, as the flame flares up to heaven, we may be induced to seek the presence of Him whom we have deeply wronged. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 14

1  Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah to incline the king's heart to fetch Absalom,
21  brings him home to Jerusalem
25  Absalom's beauty, hair, and children
28  After two years, Absalom is brought into the king's presence by Joab

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 14:30 mean?

So he said to his servants See field is of Joab near mine and he has there barley go - and set it on fire And set servants of Absalom - the field on fire -
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֶל־ עֲבָדָ֜יו רְאוּ֩ חֶלְקַ֨ת יוֹאָ֤ב אֶל־ יָדִי֙ וְלוֹ־ שָׁ֣ם שְׂעֹרִ֔ים לְכ֖וּ [והוצתיה] (וְהַצִּית֣וּהָ) בָאֵ֑שׁ וַיַּצִּ֜תוּ עַבְדֵ֧י אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם אֶת־ הַחֶלְקָ֖ה בָּאֵֽשׁ פ

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  So  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
עֲבָדָ֜יו  his  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
רְאוּ֩  See 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
חֶלְקַ֨ת  field  is 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חֶלְקָה 
Sense: portion, parcel.
יוֹאָ֤ב  of  Joab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.
אֶל־  near 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יָדִי֙  mine 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְלוֹ־  and  he  has 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person masculine singular
שְׂעֹרִ֔ים  barley 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שְׂעֹרָה  
Sense: barley.
לְכ֖וּ  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
[והוצתיה]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
(וְהַצִּית֣וּהָ)  and  set  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural, third person feminine singular
Root: יָצַת  
Sense: to kindle, burn, set on fire.
בָאֵ֑שׁ  on  fire 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
וַיַּצִּ֜תוּ  And  set 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָצַת  
Sense: to kindle, burn, set on fire.
עַבְדֵ֧י  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם  of  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַחֶלְקָ֖ה  the  field 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶלְקָה 
Sense: portion, parcel.
בָּאֵֽשׁ  on  fire 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation