2 Samuel 20:19

Complete Jewish Bible

We are among those in Isra'el who are peaceful and faithful. Why are you destroying a city and a mother in Isra'el? Why swallow up the inheritance of Adonai ?"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel, but you’re trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the Lord’s inheritance?”

Hebrew Names Version
I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Yisra'el: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Yisra'el: why will you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

King James Version
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord ?

Lexham English Bible
I am one of the faithful representatives of Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow the inheritance of Yahweh?"

English Standard Version
I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord ?"

New Century Version
I am one of the peaceful, loyal people of Israel. You are trying to destroy an important city of Israel. Why must you destroy what belongs to the Lord ?"

New English Translation
I represent the peaceful and the faithful in Israel. You are attempting to destroy an important city in Israel. Why should you swallow up the Lord 's inheritance?"

Amplified Bible
"I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up (devour) the inheritance of the LORD?"

New American Standard Bible
"I am one of those who are ready for peace and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
I am one of them, that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: and thou goest about to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou deuoure the inheritance of the Lorde?

Legacy Standard Bible
I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to put to death a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?"

Contemporary English Version
We are Israelites, and we want peace! You can trust us. Why are you trying to destroy a town that's like a mother in Israel? Why do you want to wipe out the Lord 's people?"

Darby Translation
I am peaceable [and] faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?

Easy-to-Read Version
I am one of many peaceful, loyal people in this town. You are trying to destroy an important city of Israel. Why do you want to destroy something that belongs to the Lord ?"

George Lamsa Translation
I am of those who have suffered the pangs of childbirth in Israel; you seek to destroy a child and his mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the LORD?

Good News Translation
Ours is a great city, one of the most peaceful and loyal in Israel. Why are you trying to destroy it? Do you want to ruin what belongs to the Lord ?"

Literal Translation
I am of the peaceful, faithful ones of Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
This is ye noble and faithfull cite in Israel, and wilt thou destroye the cite and the mother in Israel? Why wilt thou swalowe vp the enheritaunce of the LORDE?

American Standard Version
I am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?

Bible in Basic English
Your purpose is the destruction of a mother-town in Israel: why would you put an end to the heritage of the Lord?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
I am one of them that are peaceable & faithfull in Israel, and thou goest about to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: Why wilt thou deuour the inheritaunce of the Lorde?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
We are of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel; seekest thou to destroy a city and a mother in Israel? why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?'

King James Version (1611)
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithfull in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: Why wilt thou swallow vp the inheritance of the Lord ?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
I am a peaceable one of the strong ones in Israel; but thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother city in Israel: why dost thou seek to ruin the inheritance of the Lord?

English Revised Version
I am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

Berean Standard Bible
I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD's inheritance?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whethir Y am not, that answere treuthe to Israel? and sekist thou to distrie a citee, and to distrie a modir citee in Israel? whi castidist thou doun the eritage of the Lord?

Young's Literal Translation
I [am] of the peaceable -- faithful ones of Israel; thou art seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel; why dost thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?

Update Bible Version
I am of those that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why will you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?

Webster's Bible Translation
I [am one of them that are] peaceable [and] faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

World English Bible
I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why will you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?

New King James Version
I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"

New Living Translation
I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the Lord ?"

New Life Bible
I am one of peace and faith in Israel. You want to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the gift of the Lord?"

New Revised Standard
I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord ?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I, am of the peaceable among the faithful in Israel, - thou, art seeking to put to death a city, and a mother in Israel, wherefore wouldst thou swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Am not I she that answer truth in Israel, and thou seekest to destroy the city, and to overthrow a mother in Israel? Why wilt thou throw down the inheritance of the Lord?

Revised Standard Version
I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city which is a mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the LORD?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ Sheva went through all the tribes of Isra'el, to Avel and Beit-Ma‘akhah, and to all the Berim; they assembled and followed him. ¹⁵ Yo'av's troops came and put him under siege in Avel of Beit-Ma‘akhah — they put up a ramp in the moat against the city wall; and all the people with Yo'av battered the wall in order to bring it down. ¹⁶ Then a wise woman in the city shouted, "Listen! Listen! Please tell Yo'av, ‘Come over here, so that I can speak with you.'" ¹⁷ He approached her, and the woman asked, "Are you Yo'av?" He answered, "I am." She said to him, "Listen to what your servant has to say." He answered, "I'm listening." ¹⁸ Then she said, "In the old days they used to say, ‘They will ask advice at Avel'; and that would end the discussion. ¹⁹ We are among those in Isra'el who are peaceful and faithful. Why are you destroying a city and a mother in Isra'el? Why swallow up the inheritance of Adonai ?" ²⁰ Yo'av answered, "Heaven forbid! Heaven forbid that I should swallow or destroy anything! ²¹ That's not how it is. Rather, a man from the hills of Efrayim, Sheva the son of Bikhri, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Just turn him over to me, and I will leave the city." The woman said to Yo'av, "All right, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." ²² Then the woman went to all the people with her wise plan. They cut off the head of Sheva the son of Bikhri and threw it out to Yo'av. So he sounded the shofar, and they left the city, sending each man to his tent; while Yo'av returned to the king in Yerushalayim.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

peaceable: Genesis 18:23, Romans 13:3, Romans 13:4, 1 Timothy 2:2

a mother: Judges 5:7, Ezekiel 16:45-49

swallow: 2 Samuel 17:16, Numbers 16:32, Numbers 26:10, Psalms 124:3, Jeremiah 51:34, Jeremiah 51:44, Lamentations 2:2, Lamentations 2:5, Lamentations 2:16, 1 Corinthians 15:54, 2 Corinthians 5:4

the inheritance: 2 Samuel 21:3, Exodus 19:5, Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 32:9, 1 Samuel 26:19

Reciprocal: Psalms 35:25 - We have Psalms 120:7 - for peace Micah 2:8 - securely Romans 12:18 - General 2 Corinthians 2:7 - swallowed

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I [am one of them that are] peaceable [and] faithful in Israel,.... Her meaning is, that she was of a city which consisted of peaceable and faithful men, that were peaceable among themselves, and faithful to their king, who never were concerned in any insurrection or rebellion, not in the late one under Absalom:

thou seekest to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel; a metropolitan city, which had several towns and villages under its jurisdiction, which were as daughters to it. Some think she means herself, because very old, supposed c to be Serah, the daughter of Asher, a son of Jacob, which is improbable:

wilt why thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? a city which is a part of the land, that is the Lord's inheritance.

c Jarchi & Kimchi in loc. Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2 Reg. fol. 79. L.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I am one ... - The woman speaks in the name of the whole city, which she means to say was peaceable and loyal.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 20:19. I - peaceable and faithful in Israel — I am for peace, not contention of any kind; I am faithful-I adhere to David, and neither seek nor shall sanction any rebellion or anarchy in the land. Why then dost thou proceed in such a violent manner? Perhaps the woman speaks here in the name and on behalf of the city: "I am a peaceable city, and am faithful to the king."

A mother in Israel — That is, a chief city of a district; for it is very likely that the woman speaks of the city, not of herself.