2 Samuel 18:13
◄  2 Samuel 18:13  ►
New International Version (©2011)
And if I had put my life in jeopardy --and nothing is hidden from the king--you would have kept your distance from me."

New Living Translation (©2007)
And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son--and the king would certainly find out who did it--you yourself would be the first to abandon me."

English Standard Version (©2001)
On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
If I had jeopardized my own life--and nothing is hidden from the king--you would have abandoned me."

International Standard Version (©2012)
If I had taken his life, the king would have uncovered everything about it, and you would never have protected me!"

NET Bible (©2006)
If I had acted at risk of my own life--and nothing is hidden from the king!--you would have abandoned me."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
If I had done something treacherous to him, would you have stood by me? Like everything else, it wouldn't stay hidden from the king."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Otherwise I should have dealt falsely against my own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.

American King James Version
Otherwise I should have worked falsehood against my own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.

American Standard Version
Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me .

Douay-Rheims Bible
Yea and if I should have acted boldly against my own life, this could not have been hid from the king, and wouldst thou have stood by me?

Darby Bible Translation
Or I should have acted falsely against mine own life, for there is no matter concealed from the king, and thou wouldest have set thyself against me.

English Revised Version
Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life, (and there is no matter hid from the king,) then thou thyself wouldest have stood aloof.

Webster's Bible Translation
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against my own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldst have set thyself against me.

World English Bible
Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me."

Young's Literal Translation
or I had done against my soul a vain thing, and no matter is hid from the king, and thou -- thou dost station thyself over-against.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

18:9-18 Let young people look upon Absalom, hanging on a tree, accursed, forsaken of heaven and earth; there let them read the Lord's abhorrence of rebellion against parents. Nothing can preserve men from misery and contempt, but heavenly wisdom and the grace of God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - Against mine own life. Again the K'tib is better: "Or had I wrought perfidiously against his life - and nothing is hidden from the king - so wouldst thou have set thyself against me." Not only was the man faithful to the king, but he was perfectly aware of Joab's unscrupulous character. If only Absalom were put out of the way, Joab would have readily consented to the execution of the unimportant person who had been the means of gratifying his wish.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life,.... Or "soul"; he should not only have exposed his life to danger, but acted falsely to the king, by going contrary to his orders; yea, would have done that which was contrary to his own conscience; and if he had buoyed himself up with the hope of impunity, or of a reward, he should have found himself mistaken; the textual reading is, "against his life" (l), or "soul", the life of Absalom, by taking it away:

for there is no matter hid from the king; this, though done ever so secretly, would have come to his knowledge by some means or another, and then I should have incurred his displeasure, and suffered for it:

and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me; to accuse and bring him to justice; he would have been so far from protecting him, that he would have been the first man that would have insisted on it that he should be punished for it; or why dost not thou thyself set thyself against him, and smite him? thou mayest if thou pleasest, yonder he hangs, go and smite him.

(l) , Sept. "contra animam illius", Piscator.

2 Samuel 18:13 Parallel Commentaries

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Absalom Killed
…12And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 13Otherwise I should have worked falsehood against my own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me. 14Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with you. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the middle of the oak. …

2 Samuel 14:19 The king asked, "Isn't the hand of Joab with you in all this?" The woman answered, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant.
2 Samuel 14:20 Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God--he knows everything that happens in the land."