2 Samuel 18:33
2 Samuel 18:33 in Multiple Translations
The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
¶ And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Then the king was much moved, and went up into the room over the door, weeping, and saying, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! if only my life might have been given for yours, O Absalom, my son, my son!
The king broke down. He went up to the room over the gate and cried. As he walked, he sobbed out, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I'd died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
And the King was mooued, and went vp to the chamber ouer the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my sonne Absalom, my sonne, my sonne Absalom: woulde God I had dyed for thee, O Absalom, my sonne, my sonne.
And the king trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, 'My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.'
The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! O that I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
The king therefore being much moved, went up to the high chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went he spoke in this manner: My son Absalom, Absalom my son: would to God that I might die for thee, Absalom my son, my son Absalom.
The king realized that he meant that Absalom was dead, so he became ◄extremely distressed/overcome with grief►, and he went up to the room above the gateway and cried. While he was going up, he kept crying out, “O, my son Absalom! My son! O, my son Absalom, I desire/wish that I had died instead of you!”
David got very upset. He went inside and cried. As he went in, he called out, “Absalom. My son Absalom. I want to be dead instead of you. You were my son.”
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Samuel 18:33
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Study Notes — 2 Samuel 18:33
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Samuel 18:33 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Sermons on 2 Samuel 18:33
Context — David Mourns for Absalom
33The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 19:4 | But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 12:10–23 | Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.” After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.” When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” “He is dead,” they replied. Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate. “What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.” David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” |
| 3 | Proverbs 17:25 | A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. |
| 4 | Psalms 103:13 | As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. |
| 5 | Proverbs 10:1 | The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. |
| 6 | Romans 9:3 | For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, |
| 7 | Exodus 32:32 | Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” |
| 8 | James 5:17 | Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. |
2 Samuel 18:33 Summary
[King David was very sad when he heard that his son Absalom had died, and he cried out in grief, wishing that he could have died instead of his son. This shows us that even though Absalom had done some very wrong things, King David still loved him deeply as his son. We can learn from King David's example that it's okay to express our emotions and grieve over loss, as seen in Psalms 51:17. King David's love for Absalom also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, as stated in John 3:16.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was King David so distraught over the death of Absalom, considering Absalom's rebellion against him?
King David's grief was rooted in his deep love for his son, despite Absalom's actions, as seen in 2 Samuel 18:33, and reflects the unconditional love that God has for us, as stated in Psalms 103:13.
What does King David's cry 'If only I had died instead of you' reveal about his character?
This cry reveals King David's willingness to sacrifice himself for the sake of his son, demonstrating a selfless love similar to what Jesus Christ showed for us, as seen in John 15:13 and Romans 5:8.
How does King David's reaction to Absalom's death compare to his reaction to the death of other enemies?
King David's reaction to Absalom's death is distinct from his reactions to the deaths of other enemies, highlighting the complexity of his emotions as a father and a king, and reminding us that our responses to different situations can vary greatly, as noted in Proverbs 24:17-18.
What can we learn from King David's expression of grief in this verse?
We can learn that it is okay to express our emotions and grieve deeply over loss, just as King David did, and that this expression can be a natural part of the healing process, as supported by Psalms 51:17 and Matthew 5:4.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can demonstrate selfless love to those around me, just as King David showed to Absalom?
- How do I respond to difficult news or situations, and what can I learn from King David's example in this verse?
- In what ways can I balance my roles and responsibilities, just as King David had to balance being a king and a father?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to show more compassion and empathy, as King David did towards Absalom?
- How can I apply the principle of unconditional love, as seen in King David's love for Absalom, to my relationships with others?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 18:33
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 18:33
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 18:33
Barnes' Notes on 2 Samuel 18:33
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:33
Sermons on 2 Samuel 18:33
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Genesis) Genesis 37:34-36 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the grief of Jacob over the loss of his son Joseph. Jacob is seen mourning for his son and refusing to be comforted. The speaker suggests tha |
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(2 Samuel) the Death of Absalom by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Absalom's crime and his ultimate fate. The preacher mentions that some ancient rabbis believed that Absalom's crime was so sever |
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O America, America by Dan Biser | This sermon emphasizes the urgency for prayer, repentance, and seeking God's intervention in the face of societal decline and moral decay. It draws parallels from biblical stories |
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Anguish of Parents at the Perverseness of Children by Edward Payson | Edward Payson preaches about the grief of King David upon hearing of his son Absalom's death, emphasizing the anguish of a parent fearing for the eternal fate of their unprepared c |
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Despising a Holy God by Art Katz | Art Katz emphasizes the gravity of sin as an offense against a holy God, drawing from Psalm 51:4 where David acknowledges his transgressions. He argues that until we recognize sin |
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(2 Samuel) Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the tragic events that unfolded in Israel when Absalom, the son of King David, sought revenge for the violation of his sister Tamar. Absalom |
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Avoiding Sin's Sudden Traps by Mack Tomlinson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of David and Bathsheba from the Bible. David, while casually observing the sunset, sees Bathsheba and is immediately tempted by her |