2 Kings 18:5
And the king commanded Joab, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Save me the boy Absalom. And all the people heard the king giving charge to all the princes concerning Absalom.
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Et præcepit rex Joab, et Abisai, et Ethai, dicens : Servate mihi puerum Absalom. Et omnis populus audiebat præcipientem regem cunctis principibus pro Absalom.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- καὶ ἐνετείλατο ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ Ἰωὰβ καὶ τῷ Ἀβεισὰ καὶ τῷ Ἐθθεὶ λέγων Φείσασθέ μου τοῦ παιδαρίου τοῦ Ἀβεσσαλώμ· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἤκουσεν ἐντελλομένου τοῦ βασιλέως πᾶσιν τοῖς ἄρχουσιν ὑπὲρ Ἀβεσσαλώμ.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת י֠וֹאָב וְאֶת אֲבִישַׁ֤י וְאֶת אִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאַט לִ֖י לַנַּ֣עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וְכָל הָעָ֣ם שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּצַוֺּ֥ת הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת כָּל הַשָּׂרִ֖ים עַל דְּבַ֥ר אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם
Haydock's commentary
Save me: do not hurt, ver. 12. St. Augustine (Doct. iii. 23.) concludes, that David wished to allow his son time for repentance. (Menochius)
He seems to have been sure of victory. (Abulensis)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St Ambrose On the Duties of the Clergy, Chapter XXII. We must observe a right standard between too great mildness and excessive harshness. They who endeavour to creep into the hearts of others by a false show of mildness gain nothing substantial or lasting. This the example of Absalom plainly enough shows
115. Those spoilt and ambitious men chose what for a time seemed an honour to them, and was pleasing and enjoyable. But whilst that delay took place, which the prophet, being prudent above all, thought ought to intervene, they could no longer hold out or bear it. Then David having no doubt about the victory commended his son to those who went out to fight, so that they should spare him. He would not engage in the battle himself lest he should seem to be taking up arms against one who was still his son, though attempting to destroy his father.