2 Samuel 15:8

Arabic Bible ERV 2009

قَطَعْتُ ذاكَ الوَعْدَ بينما كُنْتُ لا أزالُ أعيشُ فِي جَشُورَ، فِي أرامَ، فَقُلْتُ: ‹إنْ أعادَني اللهُ إلَى مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ خَدَمْتُهُ.›»

What Does This Mean?

This verse is spoken by Absalom to King David. He promises to serve the LORD if he is allowed to return to Jerusalem, as he had vowed while in exile in Geshur. The key message is about making promises to God and fulfilling them.

Explained for Children

Imagine you made a promise to your friend that if they help you clean your room, you'll share your favorite toy with them. Absalom is like that, but he's promising God that if he gets to go back home to Jerusalem, he'll do special things to show how much he loves God.

Historical Background

The Book of 2 Samuel was written by multiple authors, including Samuel, Nathan, and Gad. This book was written around 850 BC, detailing the reign of King David and his sons. The cultural setting reflects the beliefs and social norms of ancient Israel, where promises to God held significant weight.

Living It Out Today

Consider a scenario where an employee vows to work extra hard if given a promotion. Just as Absalom promised to serve God upon his return, this employee commits to better performance. This reflects the importance of fulfilling our promises and commitments.

Topics

• faith
• promise
• commitment
• service
• return
• vow

Related Verses

• Joshua 24:22
• Deuteronomy 7:8
• Psalms 116:18
• Matthew 5:33
• Luke 1:73

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Absalom's vow about?

Absalom vowed that if he returned to Jerusalem, he would serve the Lord, showing his commitment to fulfilling his promises to God.

Why is Geshur important in this verse?

Geshur is significant because it was where Absalom was in exile. The location highlights the seriousness of his vow and the desire to return to God's land.

How does this relate to making promises today?

This verse teaches that promises should be taken seriously and fulfilled, just as Absalom promised to serve God if he returned to Jerusalem.

What can we learn about Absalom's character from this verse?

Absalom shows a level of faithfulness in his vow, indicating a respect for God's will and the importance of keeping one's word, even under difficult circumstances.