2 Samuel 15:2

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him,“What city are you from?” The person would answer,“I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.”

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Exod 18:14 : 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said,“What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”
  • Exod 18:16 : 16 When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.”
  • Exod 18:26 : 26 They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.
  • Ruth 4:1 : 1 Boaz Settles the Matter Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! Boaz said,“Come here, what’s-your-name, and sit down.” So he came and sat down.
  • 2 Sam 19:8 : 8 So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, they all came before him.David Goes Back to JerusalemBut the Israelite soldiers had all fled to their own homes.
  • 1 Kgs 3:16-28 : 16 Solomon Demonstrates His Wisdom Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of the women said,“My master, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was with me in the house. 18 Then three days after I had my baby, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one else in the house except the two of us. 19 This woman’s child suffocated during the night when she rolled on top of him. 20 She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your servant was sleeping. She put him in her arms, and put her dead son in my arms. 21 I got up in the morning to nurse my son, and there he was, dead! But when I examined him carefully in the morning, I realized it was not my baby.” 22 The other woman said,“No! My son is alive; your son is dead!” But the first woman replied,“No, your son is dead; my son is alive.” Each presented her case before the king. 23 The king said,“One says,‘My son is alive; your son is dead,’ while the other says,‘No, your son is dead; my son is alive.’” 24 The king ordered,“Get me a sword!” So they placed a sword before the king. 25 The king then said,“Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other!” 26 The real mother spoke up to the king, for her motherly instincts were aroused. She said,“My master, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don’t kill him!” But the other woman said,“Neither one of us will have him! Let them cut him in two!” 27 The king responded,“Give the first woman the living child; don’t kill him. She is the mother.” 28 When all Israel heard about the judicial decision which the king had rendered, they respected the king, for they realized that he possessed divine wisdom to make judicial decisions.
  • Job 24:14 : 14 Before daybreak the murderer rises up; he kills the poor and the needy; in the night he is like a thief.
  • Prov 4:16 : 16 For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.
  • Matt 27:1 : 1 Jesus Brought Before Pilate When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Sam 15:3-7
    5 verses
    87%

    3 Absalom would then say to him,“Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.”

    4 Absalom would then say,“If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

    5 When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him.

    6 Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.

    7 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.

  • 1 Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.

  • 78%

    23 Absalom Has Amnon Put to Death Two years later Absalom’s sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

    24 Then Absalom went to the king and said,“My shearers have begun their work. Let the king and his servants go with me.”

  • 78%

    28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king’s face.

    29 Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come.

    30 So he said to his servants,“Look, Joab has a portion of field adjacent to mine and he has some barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set Joab’s portion of the field on fire.

    31 Then Joab got up and came to Absalom’s house. He said to him,“Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?”

    32 Absalom said to Joab,“Look, I sent a message to you saying,‘Come here so that I can send you to the king with this message:“Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.”’ Let me now see the face of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!”

    33 So Joab went to the king and informed him. The king summoned Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him.

  • 78%

    10 Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said,“When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume that Absalom rules in Hebron.”

    11 Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning.

    12 While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser, to come from his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.

    13 David Flees from Jerusalem Then a messenger came to David and reported,“The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!”

    14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem,“Come on! Let’s escape! Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring disaster on us and kill the city’s residents with the sword.”

  • 77%

    8 So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, they all came before him.David Goes Back to JerusalemBut the Israelite soldiers had all fled to their own homes.

    9 All the people throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves saying,“The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies. He rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.

    10 But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?”

  • 75%

    24 Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River.

    25 Absalom had made Amasa general in command of the army in place of Joab.(Now Amasa was the son of an Israelite man named Jether, who had married Abigail the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.)

    26 The army of Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

  • 34 In the meantime Absalom fled. When the servant who was the watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west on a road beside the hill.

  • 15 The Advice of Ahithophel Now when Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel was with him.

  • 2 Sam 18:4-5
    2 verses
    75%

    4 Then the king said to them,“I will do whatever seems best to you.”So the king stayed beside the city gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.

    5 The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai:“For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.” Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.

  • 1 David Permits Absalom to Return to Jerusalem Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see Absalom.

  • 2 Sam 17:4-5
    2 verses
    74%

    4 This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders of Israel.

    5 But Absalom said,“Call for Hushai the Arkite, and let’s hear what he has to say.”

  • 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel,“Give us your advice. What should we do?”

  • 18 Prior to this Absalom had set up a monument and dedicated it to himself in the King’s Valley, reasoning“I have no son who will carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and to this day it is known as Absalom’s Memorial.

  • 9 At this very moment he is hiding out in one of the caves or in some other similar place. If it should turn out that he attacks our troops first, whoever hears about it will say,‘Absalom’s army has been slaughtered!’

  • 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

  • 74%

    29 The king replied,“How is the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz replied,“I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was all about.”

    30 The king said,“Turn aside and take your place here.” So he turned aside and waited.

  • 17 Absalom said to Hushai,“Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

  • 34 But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if you go back to the city and say to Absalom,‘I will be your servant, O king! Previously I was your father’s servant, and now I will be your servant.’

  • 73%

    23 So Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

    24 But the king said,“Let him go over to his own house. He may not see my face.” So Absalom went over to his own house; he did not see the king’s face.

    25 Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. From the soles of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance.

  • 29 So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed. Then all the king’s sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.

  • 4 The king covered his face and cried out loudly,“My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

  • 37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

  • 26 Then Absalom said,“If you will not go, then let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king replied to him,“Why should he go with you?”

  • 32 The king asked the Cushite,“How is the young man Absalom?” The Cushite replied,“May the enemies of my lord the king and all who have plotted against you be like that young man!”

  • 9 Then Absalom happened to come across David’s men. Now as Absalom was riding on his mule, it went under the branches of a large oak tree. His head got caught in the oak and he was suspended in midair, while the mule he had been riding kept going.

  • 21 Then the king said to Joab,“All right! I will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom!”