2 Samuel 20:19
New International Version
We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

New Living Translation
I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the LORD?”

English Standard Version
I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the LORD?”

Berean Standard Bible
I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

King James Bible
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

New King James Version
I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”

New American Standard Bible
I am one of those who are ready for peace and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”

NASB 1995
“I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”

NASB 1977
“I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”

Legacy Standard Bible
I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to put to death a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?”

Amplified Bible
I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up (devour) the inheritance of the LORD?”

Christian Standard Bible
I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel, but you’re trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the LORD’s inheritance? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am a peaceful person, one of the faithful in Israel, but you’re trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the LORD’s inheritance?”

American Standard Version
I am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?

Contemporary English Version
We are Israelites, and we want peace! You can trust us. Why are you trying to destroy a town that's like a mother in Israel? Why do you want to wipe out the LORD's people?"

English Revised Version
I am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We are peaceful and faithful Israelites. Are you trying to destroy a mother city in Israel? Why should you swallow up what belongs to the LORD?"

Good News Translation
Ours is a great city, one of the most peaceful and loyal in Israel. Why are you trying to destroy it? Do you want to ruin what belongs to the LORD?"

International Standard Version
I'm one of the peaceful and faithful citizens of Israel. You're trying to destroy a city that's a mother in Israel. Why are you devouring the heritage of the LORD?"

Majority Standard Bible
I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD?s inheritance??

NET Bible
I represent the peaceful and the faithful in Israel. You are attempting to destroy an important city in Israel. Why should you swallow up the LORD's inheritance?"

New Heart English Bible
that which the faithful of Israel established has been carried out.? You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"

Webster's Bible Translation
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

World English Bible
I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up Yahweh’s inheritance?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I [am] of the peaceable, faithful ones of Israel; you are seeking to destroy a city and mother in Israel; why do you swallow up the inheritance of YHWH?”

Young's Literal Translation
I am of the peaceable -- faithful ones of Israel; thou art seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel; why dost thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?

Smith's Literal Translation
I peaceful of the faithful of Israel: thou seeking to kill a city and a mother in Israel: wherefore wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Am not I she that answer truth in Israel, and thou seekest to destroy the city, and to overthrow a mother in Israel? Why wilt thou throw down the inheritance of the Lord?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Am I not the one who responds with the truth in Israel? And yet you are seeking to overthrow the city, and to overturn a mother in Israel! Why would you cast down the inheritance of the Lord?”

New American Bible
or ended in Israel.’ You are seeking to batter down a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you wish to swallow up the heritage of the LORD?”

New Revised Standard Version
I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the LORD?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I am of those who have suffered the pangs of childbirth in Israel; you seek to destroy a child and his mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the LORD?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I have paid birth pangs, I am of Israel, of whom you seek to kill a boy and his mother in Israel, and will you swallow up the inheritance of LORD JEHOVAH?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
We are of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel; seekest thou to destroy a city and a mother in Israel? why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I am a peaceable one of the strong ones in Israel; but thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother city in Israel: why dost thou seek to ruin the inheritance of the Lord?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sheba's Rebellion
18Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. 19I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?” 20“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!…

Cross References
Proverbs 11:11
By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

Ecclesiastes 9:14-15
There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. / Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

Judges 5:24-27
Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. / He asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds. / She reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she shattered and pierced his temple. ...

2 Samuel 14:2-20
So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time. / Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth. / When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!” ...

1 Samuel 25:18-35
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys / and said to her young men, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. / As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them. ...

2 Kings 19:32-34
So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. / He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city, declares the LORD. / I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Isaiah 37:33-35
So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. / He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city,’ declares the LORD. / ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Jeremiah 29:7
Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Ezekiel 22:30
I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Luke 10:5-6
Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ / If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.

Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.


Treasury of Scripture

I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why will you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

peaceable

Genesis 18:23
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Romans 13:3,4
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: …

1 Timothy 2:2
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

a mother

Judges 5:7
The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

Ezekiel 16:45-49
Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite…

swallow

2 Samuel 17:16
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

Numbers 16:32
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

Numbers 26:10
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.

the inheritance

2 Samuel 21:3
Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: …

Deuteronomy 32:9
For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

Jump to Previous
City Destroy Destruction End Faithful Heritage Inheritance Israel Lord's Mother Mother-Town Ones Peaceable Peaceful Purpose Seek Seekest Seeking Swallow Trying Want Wilt
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City Destroy Destruction End Faithful Heritage Inheritance Israel Lord's Mother Mother-Town Ones Peaceable Peaceful Purpose Seek Seekest Seeking Swallow Trying Want Wilt
2 Samuel 20
1. By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba rebels in Israel
3. David's ten concubines are put in confinement for life
4. Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab
14. Joab pursues Sheba to Abel
16. A wise woman saves the city by Sheba's head
23. David's officers














I am among the peaceful
The Hebrew word for "peaceful" is "shalom," which encompasses not only peace but also completeness, welfare, and harmony. In the context of ancient Israel, being "among the peaceful" suggests a commitment to maintaining the social and spiritual order that God intended for His people. This phrase highlights the speaker's identity as one who values and upholds the covenantal peace that God established with Israel.

and faithful in Israel
The term "faithful" is derived from the Hebrew word "emunah," which signifies steadfastness, trustworthiness, and fidelity. In the historical context of Israel, being faithful was synonymous with adhering to the laws and commandments given by God. This phrase underscores the speaker's dedication to living a life that is aligned with God's will, serving as a model for others in the community.

but you are trying to destroy
The act of destruction here is not merely physical but also spiritual and communal. The Hebrew root "shachat" implies corruption and ruin. The speaker is addressing the moral and ethical implications of the actions being taken against the city, emphasizing the gravity of disrupting the God-ordained order and the community's well-being.

a city that is a mother in Israel
The phrase "a mother in Israel" is rich with cultural and historical significance. In ancient times, a "mother" city was one that provided leadership, protection, and sustenance to its inhabitants and surrounding areas. This metaphor elevates the city's status, indicating its importance in the social and spiritual fabric of the nation. It suggests that the city plays a nurturing and guiding role, much like a mother would for her children.

Why would you swallow up
The imagery of "swallowing up" conveys a sense of complete and utter destruction. The Hebrew word "bala" is often used to describe the engulfing or consuming of something entirely. This phrase questions the rationale behind such total devastation, urging the listener to consider the consequences of their actions on the community and their relationship with God.

the LORD’s inheritance?
The term "inheritance" refers to the land and people of Israel, which are considered God's possession and gift to His chosen people. The Hebrew word "nachalah" signifies a heritage or possession that is passed down through generations. This phrase serves as a reminder of the divine covenant and the sacred responsibility to protect and preserve what God has entrusted to His people. It calls for a reflection on the spiritual and communal duties that come with being part of God's inheritance.

Verse 19. - I am one of them that are, etc. The Authorized Version translates in this way, because, while "I" is singular, "peaceable" and "faithful" are plural. Really this construction shows that the woman speaks in the name of the city, and consequently the Authorized Version, while preserving the grammar, loses the sense. It should be translated, we are peaceable, faithful people in Israel. A city and a mother; that is, a mother city, a metropolis, the chief town of that district.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I [am]
אָנֹכִ֕י (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

[among the] peaceable
שְׁלֻמֵ֖י (šə·lu·mê)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate

[and] faithful
אֱמוּנֵ֣י (’ĕ·mū·nê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 539: To confirm, support

in Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

but you are
אַתָּ֣ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

trying
מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ (mə·ḇaq·qêš)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

to destroy
לְהָמִ֨ית (lə·hā·mîṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

a city
עִ֤יר (‘îr)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

that is a mother
וְאֵם֙ (wə·’êm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

in Israel.
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (bə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

Why
לָ֥מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

would you swallow up
תְבַלַּ֖ע (ṯə·ḇal·la‘)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1104: To swallow down, swallow up, engulf

the LORD’s
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

inheritance?”
נַחֲלַ֥ת (na·ḥă·laṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion


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OT History: 2 Samuel 20:19 I am of those who are peaceable (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 20:18
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