2 samuel 19:22 - David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For don’t I know that I am king over Israel today?”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "2 samuel 19:22" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 19:22 is spoken by King David as he's returning to Jerusalem after Absalom's rebellion was crushed. It's a moment of tension and potential reprisal, and David is trying to prevent bloodshed. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah...": David is addressing Joab and Abishai, who were his nephews (sons of his sister Zeruiah) and powerful military commanders. He's essentially saying, "Why are you interfering?" or "What business is this of yours?" The phrase "What have I to do with you?" can also imply annoyance or a desire to distance himself from their actions.
"...that you should be adversaries to me today?": David sees them as obstacles or even opponents in his goals for the day. He's implying that their actions are working against his wishes and perhaps threatening to disrupt the peace and reconciliation he's hoping to achieve.
"Shall any man be put to death today in Israel?": This is the key to the verse. David is making it clear that he doesn't want any executions to happen on this day of his return. He wants to usher in an era of peace and forgiveness, not vengeance.
"For don’t I know that I am king over Israel today?”: This statement is about asserting his authority. He is reminding Joab and Abishai, and anyone else who might be thinking about retribution, that he is in charge and that his decisions must be respected. The phrase "today" is significant - he's emphasizing that this day, his return to power, is a day of mercy and unity under his rule.
In essence, David is trying to prevent Joab and Abishai (who were known for their ruthlessness and often acted independently) from taking revenge on those who had supported Absalom's rebellion. He wants to establish himself as a merciful and unifying king, not a vengeful tyrant. He's reminding everyone that he is back in control and intends to use his power to promote reconciliation.
Context is crucial:
To fully understand the verse, consider the context of 2 Samuel 19:
Absalom's Rebellion: Absalom, David's son, had led a rebellion against him, forcing David to flee Jerusalem.
Absalom's Death: Joab, against David's express orders, killed Absalom.
The Return: Now, after the rebellion was crushed, David is returning to Jerusalem.
Potential for Vengeance: Many people had supported Absalom, and there was a strong temptation for David's supporters to take revenge.
Shimei's Cursing: Earlier in chapter 16, Shimei had cursed David, but in chapter 19 he came to David to apologize. Abishai suggested killing Shimei for cursing the king. This incident directly preceeds 19:22 and illustrates the vengeful attitude that David is trying to curb.
This context helps to show the difficulty David faced in trying to bring peace and unity to the kingdom after such a divisive rebellion. He wanted to avoid a bloodbath and establish a stable reign.
2 samuel 19:22 - David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For don’t I know that I am king over Israel today?”
What does "2 samuel 19:22" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 19:22 is spoken by King David as he's returning to Jerusalem after Absalom's rebellion was crushed. It's a moment of tension and potential reprisal, and David is trying to prevent bloodshed. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah...": David is addressing Joab and Abishai, who were his nephews (sons of his sister Zeruiah) and powerful military commanders. He's essentially saying, "Why are you interfering?" or "What business is this of yours?" The phrase "What have I to do with you?" can also imply annoyance or a desire to distance himself from their actions.
"...that you should be adversaries to me today?": David sees them as obstacles or even opponents in his goals for the day. He's implying that their actions are working against his wishes and perhaps threatening to disrupt the peace and reconciliation he's hoping to achieve.
"Shall any man be put to death today in Israel?": This is the key to the verse. David is making it clear that he doesn't want any executions to happen on this day of his return. He wants to usher in an era of peace and forgiveness, not vengeance.
"For don’t I know that I am king over Israel today?”: This statement is about asserting his authority. He is reminding Joab and Abishai, and anyone else who might be thinking about retribution, that he is in charge and that his decisions must be respected. The phrase "today" is significant - he's emphasizing that this day, his return to power, is a day of mercy and unity under his rule.
In essence, David is trying to prevent Joab and Abishai (who were known for their ruthlessness and often acted independently) from taking revenge on those who had supported Absalom's rebellion. He wants to establish himself as a merciful and unifying king, not a vengeful tyrant. He's reminding everyone that he is back in control and intends to use his power to promote reconciliation.
Context is crucial:
To fully understand the verse, consider the context of 2 Samuel 19:
Absalom's Rebellion: Absalom, David's son, had led a rebellion against him, forcing David to flee Jerusalem.
Absalom's Death: Joab, against David's express orders, killed Absalom.
The Return: Now, after the rebellion was crushed, David is returning to Jerusalem.
Potential for Vengeance: Many people had supported Absalom, and there was a strong temptation for David's supporters to take revenge.
Shimei's Cursing: Earlier in chapter 16, Shimei had cursed David, but in chapter 19 he came to David to apologize. Abishai suggested killing Shimei for cursing the king. This incident directly preceeds 19:22 and illustrates the vengeful attitude that David is trying to curb.
This context helps to show the difficulty David faced in trying to bring peace and unity to the kingdom after such a divisive rebellion. He wanted to avoid a bloodbath and establish a stable reign.