2 Samuel 15:7
New International Version
At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

New Living Translation
After four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the LORD and fulfill a vow I made to him.

English Standard Version
And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

Berean Standard Bible
After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.

King James Bible
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

New King James Version
Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
Now it came about at the end of four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to the LORD, in Hebron.

NASB 1995
Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

NASB 1977
Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.

Amplified Bible
And after four years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to the LORD at Hebron [my birthplace].

Christian Standard Bible
When four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And after four years, Abishlum said to the King: “I shall go finish my vows that I have vowed to LORD JEHOVAH in Khebruun

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass after forty years, that Abessalom said to his father, I will go now, and pay my vows, which I vowed to the Lord in Chebron.

Contemporary English Version
Four years later, Absalom said to David, "Please, let me go to Hebron. I have to keep a promise that I made to the LORD,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And after forty years, Absalom said to king David: Let me go, and pay my vows which I have vowed to the Lord in Hebron.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Four years later Absalom said to the king, "Let me go to Hebron and keep the vow I made to the LORD.

Good News Translation
After four years Absalom said to King David, "Sir, let me go to Hebron and keep a promise I made to the LORD.

International Standard Version
And so it was that forty years after Israel had demanded a king, Absalom asked the king, "Please let me go to Hebron so I can pay my vow that I made to the LORD,

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king: 'I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, at the end of forty years, that Absalom says to the king, “Please let me go, and I complete my vow that I vowed to YHWH in Hebron,

Majority Standard Bible
After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.

New American Bible
After a period of four years, Absalom said to the king: “Please let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

NET Bible
After four years Absalom said to the king, "Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the LORD while I was in Hebron.

New Revised Standard Version
At the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron and pay the vow that I have made to the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
It happened at the end of four years, that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

World English Bible
At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at the end of forty years, that Absalom saith unto the king, 'Let me go, I pray thee, and I complete my vow, that I vowed to Jehovah in Hebron,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Absalom's Conspiracy
6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 7After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD. 8For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’ ”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 3:2
And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

2 Samuel 3:3
his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

A.

2 Samuel 13:38
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

1 Samuel 16:1,13
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons…

let me go

2 Samuel 13:24-27
And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant…

pay

1 Samuel 16:2
And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

Proverbs 21:27
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

Isaiah 58:4
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

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Absalom Ab'salom Complete Effect End Forty Four Fulfill Hebron Oath Pay Please Vow Vowed
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2 Samuel 15
1. Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel.
7. By pretense of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron
10. He makes there a great conspiracy
13. David upon the news flees from Jerusalem
19. Ittai will leave him
24. Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark
30. David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping,
31. He curses Ahithophel's counsel
32. Hushai is sent back with instructions














(7) After forty years.--The reading is certainly incorrect. Absalom was born after David began his reign in Hebron, and his whole reign was only forty years. Absalom therefore was not yet forty at his death. The reading found in the Syriac and most MSS. of the Vulgate, and adopted by Josephus, four years, is probably correct. It remains uncertain from what point this four years is to be reckoned; probably it is from Absalom's return to Jerusalem.

Pay my vow . . . in Hebron.--We have no means of knowing whether this vow was real or fictitious; certainly Absalom now uses it as a pretext, and yet there is nothing improbable in his having actually made such a vow during his exile. Hebron was the place of his birth and childhood, as well as a holy city from very ancient times, and was thus a suitable place for the performance of his vow; it was also at a convenient distance from Jerusalem, and had been the royal city of David for the first seven years of his reign. It was thus well adapted to be the starting place of Absalom's rebellion, and it is not unlikely, moreover, that the men of Hebron may have resented the transfer of the capital to Jerusalem, and therefore have lent a willing ear to Absalom. Like many other culprits, Absalom veils his crime under the cloak of religion, pretending submission to his father, and receiving his blessing at the very moment when he is striking at his crown and his life.

Verse 7. - After forty years. As Absalom was born in Hebron after David was made king (2 Samuel 3:3), and as David's whole reign lasted only forty years and six months, the reading "forty" is evidently incorrect. Suggestions, such, for instance, as that the forty years are to be reckoned from the desire of the Israelites to have a king, or from the anointing of David by Samuel, are merely methods of evading a difficulty. The Syriac, however, and the Vulgate - except the Codex Amiatinus, which reads "forty," supported by Josephus and some manuscripts have "four years," which would give ample, yet not too long, time for the growth of Absalom's popularity, and of dissatisfaction at David's tardy administration of justice. In Hebron. Absalom chose this town, beth as being his birthplace, and also because it was on the road to Geshur (1 Samuel 27:8), whither flight might be necessary should the enterprise fail. He hoped also to win to his cause some of the powerful tribe of Judah, though it generally was the mainstay of David's throne. Local sacrifices were still customary (see note on 1 Samuel 16:2), and the visit of the king's son for such a purpose would be celebrated by a general holiday and much feasting at Hebron. As Ewald remarks, David's confidence and want of suspicion were the results of a noble-minded generosity. And besides, there was no state police ever on the watch, and ready to put an unfavourable construction on all that was done; and probably David was even pleased at his son's popularity, and took his professions as proof that he would be a just and wise ruler on succeeding to his father's place. Perhaps, too, he was glad at this indication of religious feeling on Absalom's part; for a father is sure to look on the better side of his son's acts. He had been tardy enough in fulfilling his vow, but it seemed to David that conscience had at last prevailed, and that right was to be done.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
After
מִקֵּ֖ץ (miq·qêṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7093: An extremity, after

four
אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

years
שָׁנָ֑ה (šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

had passed,
וַיְהִ֕י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

Absalom
אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the king,
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

“Please
נָּ֗א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

let me go
אֵ֣לֲכָה (’ê·lă·ḵāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to Hebron
בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃ (bə·ḥeḇ·rō·wn)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2275: Hebron -- 'association, league', a city in southern Judah

to fulfill
וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם (wa·’ă·šal·lêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate

a vow
נִדְרִ֛י (niḏ·rî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5088: A promise, a thing promised

I have made
נָדַ֥רְתִּי (nā·ḏar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5087: To promise

to the LORD.
לַֽיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: 2 Samuel 15:7 It happened at the end of forty (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 15:6
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