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At the endוַיְהִי מִקֵּץof fortyאַרְבָּעִיםyearsשָׁנָהAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“Pleaseנָּאlet me goאֵלֲכָהand payוַאֲשַׁלֵּםmy vowנִדְרִיthatאֲשֶׁרI vowedנָדַרְתִּיto YHWH,לַיהוָהin Hebron.בְּחֶבְרוֹן
2 Samuel 15:7
Study it in the app“At the end of forty years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow that I vowed to YHWH, in Hebron.”
With the Hebrew beneath
2 Samuel 15:7, word by word
- At the endיְהִיyehi
happen
For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.
Where else “yehi” appears- At the endקֵּץkets
end
What comes when something finishes: "some days later".
Where else “kets” appears- of fortyאַרְבָּעִיםarbaim
forty
Forty.
Where else “arbaim” appears- yearsשָׁנָהshana
year
Each full turn of the seasons, by which time is counted.
Where else “shana” appears- Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםavshalom
Absalom
Absalom: third son of David, born of Maacah; he rebelled against his father (2 Samuel 13–18). The name, also written in a longer form (Abishalom), means "father of peace"; it is borne also by the father of Maacah, Rehoboam's wife.
Where else “avshalom” appears- saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- the kingמֶּלֶךְmelech
king
A king who rules a people.
Where else “melech” appears- let me goאֵלֲכָהelacha
go
To head for a place, to leave where one is in order to reach another.
Where else “elacha” appears- and payאֲשַׁלֵּםashalem
repay
To settle a debt, give back; keep a vow.
Where else “ashalem” appears- my vowנִדְרִnidri
vow
Vow: a solemn promise made to God; also the thing promised.
Where else “nidri” appears- I vowedנָדַרְתִּיnadarti
vow
Make a vow: promise something to God.
Where else “nadarti” appears- to YHWHיהוָהyhva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yhva” appears- in Hebronחֶבְרוֹןchevron
Hebron
See it on the mapWhere else “chevron” appears
Translation note
The Hebrew says “forty years”; the text does not say from what point they are counted. It is translated as written.
Places in this verse
Hebron
Today: Hebron (Al-Khalil), West Bank
A city in the hills of Judea, about 19 miles (30 km) south of Jerusalem.
Abraham lived nearby and bought the cave there where he buried Sarah (Gen 23:2). David was anointed king of Judah at Hebron (2 Sam 2:1-4).
The context
6Absalom did this way to all Israel who came for judgment to the king; and Absalom stole the heart of the men of Israel.
7 · This verse (above)
8For your servant made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If YHWH will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve YHWH.’”