The Meaning of 2 Samuel 20:18 Explained

2 Samuel 20:18

KJV: Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

YLT: and she speaketh, saying, 'They spake often in former times, saying, Let them diligently ask at Abel, and so they finished.

Darby: And she spoke saying, They were wont to speak in old time saying, Just inquire in Abel; and so they ended.

ASV: Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter .

Discover 2 Samuel 20:18

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 2 Samuel 20:18?

MEANING: What does 2 Samuel 20:18 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 20:18 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 2 Samuel 20:18?

What is the context of 2 Samuel 20:18?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter].

What does 2 Samuel 20:18 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 20:14-26 - One Head Saves Many

This wise woman, by her intervention, saved many lives, and reminds us of the value of presence of mind in a great crisis. She gave Joab to understand, first, that he ought to have given the inhabitants of Abel the opportunity of saying whether or not they intended to fight for Sheba, Deuteronomy 20:10, etc.; and, secondly, that he ought to have taken into account the peaceableness and fidelity of the citizens of that city. A great deal of misunderstanding and bloodshed would be prevented if contending parties would only confer with each other. There is crying and universal need for boards of compulsory arbitration.

Sheba's head saved the city. Bishop Hall says: "Spiritually the case is ours; every man's breast is a city enclosed; every sin is a traitor that lurks within the walls. If we love the head of one traitor above the life of our soul, we shall justly perish. We cannot be more willing to part with our sin than our merciful God is to withdraw His judgments." Oh, that every reader of these lines would heed the command of the Savior, Matthew 5:29-30, so as to enter into everlasting life! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 20

¹ By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba rebels in Israel
³ David's ten concubines are put in confinement for life
⁴ Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab
¹⁴ Joab pursues Sheba to Abel
¹⁶ A wise woman saves the city by Sheba's head
²³ David's officers

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 20:18 mean?

So she spoke saying they used to talk in former [times] saying surely they shall seek [guidance] at Abel so they would end [disputes]

וַתֹּ֖אמֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֨ר יְדַבְּר֤וּ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁאֹ֧ל יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ בְּאָבֵ֖ל וְכֵ֥ן הֵתַֽמּוּ

וַתֹּ֖אמֶר	So she spoke
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לֵאמֹ֑ר	saying
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
דַּבֵּ֨ר	they used
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive absolute Root: דָּבַר Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
יְדַבְּר֤וּ	to talk
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: דָּבַר Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙	in former [times]
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Adjective, feminine singular Root: רִאשֹׁון Sense: first, primary, former.
לֵאמֹ֔ר	saying
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שָׁאֹ֧ל	surely
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute Root: שָׁאַל Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ	they shall seek [guidance]
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: שָׁאַל Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
בְּאָבֵ֖ל	at Abel
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: אָבֵל Sense: city in northern Israel near Bethmaachah.
וְכֵ֥ן	so
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb Root: כֵּן Sense: so, therefore, thus.
הֵתַֽמּוּ	they would end [disputes]
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural Root: תָּמַם Sense: to be complete, be finished, be at an end.

What are the major concepts related to 2 Samuel 20:18?

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Similar Scriptures for 2 Samuel 20:18

Deuteronomy 20:10-11 [2]