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Read 2 Samuel 15:1-14

Prayer

1. The Problem Word - 2 Samuel 15:7

   1. Four or Forty?

      The part of the passage that was brought to my attention was the word ‘forty’ in verse 7. If you go online to Google and search ‘bible hub 2 Samuel 15:7’ you will discover no less than 30 different texts for your consideration on this verse. You will also discover that about half of them reflect the ‘forty’ reading, and about half reflect the alternate ‘four’ reading.

   2. Much Agreement & Disagreement

      Whenever there is this much ‘agreement and disagreement’ in English translations, it is best to go back to the original language and the earliest translations. I did just that. Before I share what I found, let me share the root of the issue.

   3. Singular or Plural?

      The difference lies in the Hebrew word. Whether it is translated ‘four’ or ‘forty’ it is the same word. The difference is that ‘four’ is the singular form of the word, and ‘forty’ is the plural form of that same word. That’s just how Hebrew works. So, the difference between the two is a slight addition to the word in the case of ‘forty’. This addition is slight enough that many have assumed it was added. Both forms (four and forty) are very common in the Old Testament.



2. The Proposed Correction - ‘Four’

   1. Josephus - 1st Century AD

   2. Vulgate - Latin - Translated by Jerome - Late 4th Century AD (382)

   3. Syriac - Aramaic - 5th Century AD

   4. Some Scholars




3. The Preferred Answer - ‘Forty’

   1. Masoretic Text - Hebrew - Copy of the Original - 7th-10th Century AD

      I could find no record of any other Hebrew text in existence today that supports ‘four’ vs ‘forty’, and thus ‘four’ is advanced as a correction of the Masoretic Text.

   2. Septuagint - Greek - Translated by 70 Hebrews - 2nd-3rd Century BC

   3. More Obscure Reading

      Forty is the more difficult reading, and thus we would tend to lean to that as a copyist would not invent difficulty, but could potentially invent an easier reading. If forty is incorrect, there is less probability for its inclusion. The only possibility would be that a scribe was just used to writing the mark for the plural with forty and accidentally included it. But, this seems unlikely.

   4. Other Scholars

      Many modern literal translations have kept ‘forty’, suggesting that any scholars behind them would support that reading.

Questions?

1. An Enigma

   1. Context is King

      The question becomes then, what does the context tell us? Context is king, after all. Well, this is a case in which context is more subtle than meets the eye. This is why we are encouraged to ‘study’ Scripture, and meditate on it, not only just read it.

   2. If the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense.

      For interpretation, we would say, if the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense. And that is true in this case. However, as we have seen, when trying to determine the correct ‘reading’ of the text, the more obscure reading is preferable. Thus, we must seek the plain sense with the more difficult reading rather than taking a shortcut on the sense at the expense of the reading.



2. An Example

   1. 2 Samuel 23:34

      34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

   2. 2 Samuel 11:3

      3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

   To understand why ‘forty’ is the correct interpretation, let me share an example of 2 Samuel's subtle storyline. In 2 Samuel 23:34 we are told that Eliam was the son of Ahithophel, and was one of David’s chief men. He was also the father of Bathsheba according to 2 Samuel 11:3. This makes Ahithophel the grandfather of Bathsheba. Ahithiophel sided with Absalom in Absalom’s attempt to take the throne from David. Though none of this is directly stated, it is subtly included.



3. An Explanation

   1. Absalom’s Return

      1. 2 Sam 13:28-29, 38

         28-29 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you,`Strike Amnon!' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant." 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.

         38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

      2. 2 Sam 14:28, 33

         28 And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king's face.

         33 So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.

      At the beginning of chapter 15, Absalom had only recently returned to Jerusalem. He fled to Geshur after he had Amnon killed and was there for three years (2 Sam 13:28-29, 38). Then, Joab convinced David to let Absalom return to Jerusalem. But, he was there for two whole years before he finally got to see David (2 Sam 14:28, 33).

   2. Absalom’s Robbery

      1. 2 Samuel 15:6

         The first several verses of chapter 15 explain for us how Absalom set about to rob the kingdom from his father, David. The line for us is at the end of verse 6:

         So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

         This is a very significant statement because this narrative really isn’t the story of Absalom, it is the story of David. David won the hearts of Israel and Judah way back when he began serving under King Saul, shortly after slaying Goliath.

      2. 1 Sam. 18:16

         But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

   3. Absalom’s Rebellion

      1. Many Theories

         Many theories have been advanced as to how the ‘forty’ in verse 7 could make sense. One of the most probable ones is that it marks forty years since David’s anointing as king by Samuel. The verse can also be translated ‘and it came to pass at the end of forty years’, which is yet another tip off to the fact that it serves as a reference to the end of an era, not a chronological note of Absalom’s part of the story.

      2. The Best Understanding

         In my research on the subject, I read an article online from a fellow named Matthew Gage (https://www.baptistbasics.org/2022/02/10/ii-samuel-157-forty-years-or-four-years/). This got me to look closer at the ‘hearts of the people’ angle. Personally, I think this supplies the best understanding. The story at a high level is about David. The whole saga of Absalom’s rebellion, and much of what transpires in the rest of 2 Samuel, are to be understood as consequences resulting from David’s sin with Bathsheba. Regardless of exactly how you take it, David’s reign was never the same after Absalom.

Questions?

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