2 Samuel 14:31
New International Version
Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house, and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

New Living Translation
Then Joab came to Absalom at his house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

English Standard Version
Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

Berean Standard Bible
Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

King James Bible
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

New King James Version
Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

New American Standard Bible
Then Joab got up, came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my plot on fire?”

NASB 1995
Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

NASB 1977
Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my portion of land on fire?”

Amplified Bible
Then Joab took action and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?"”

American Standard Version
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

Contemporary English Version
Joab went to Absalom's house and demanded, "Why did your servants set my field on fire?"

English Revised Version
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Joab immediately went to Absalom at his home. "Why did your servants set my field on fire?" he asked.

Good News Translation
Joab went to Absalom's house and demanded, "Why did your servants set fire to my field?"

International Standard Version
At this, Joab got up, went to Absalom's home, and demanded of him, "Why did your servants set fire to my grain field?"

Majority Standard Bible
Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

NET Bible
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?"

New Heart English Bible
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom, to his house, and said to him, Why have thy servants set my field on fire?

World English Bible
Then Joab arose and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joab rises and comes to Absalom in the house, and says to him, “Why have your servants burned the portion that I have with fire?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Joab riseth and cometh unto Absalom in the house, and saith unto him, 'Why have thy servants burned the portion that I have with fire?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joab will rise and come to Absalom to the house, and say to him, Wherefore did thy servants set on fire the portion which is to me?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said: Why have thy servants set my corn on fire?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Joab rose up, and he went to Absalom at his house, and he said, “Why have your servants set fire to my grain field?”

New American Bible
Joab went to Absalom in his house and asked him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Joab rose and went to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Joab arose and came to Absalom's house and said to Absalom, Why have your servants set my field on fire?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yuab arose and he went to the house of Abishlum and Yuab said to Abishlum: “Why have your Servants burned my field with fire?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him: 'Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joab arose, and came to Abessalom into the house, and said to him, Why have thy servants set my field on fire?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Absalom Reconciled to David
30Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?” 32“Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 13:28-29
Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!” / So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.

2 Samuel 15:1-6
Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. / He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” / Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.” ...

2 Samuel 18:9-15
Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair. / When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!” / “You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!” ...

2 Samuel 3:27-30
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. / Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. / May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” ...

1 Kings 2:28-34
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ...

Genesis 4:8
Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis 37:18-28
Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. / “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another. / “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!” ...

Numbers 16:1-3
Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted / a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly. / They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

Judges 9:1-6
Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother, / “Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.” / And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” ...

1 Samuel 18:10-11
The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, / and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

1 Samuel 20:30-33
Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? / For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!” / “Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?” ...

1 Kings 1:5-10
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him. / (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.) / So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. ...

Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests / and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. / So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Matthew 27:3-5
When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. / “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” / So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, Why have your servants set my field on fire?

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2 Samuel 14
1. Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah to incline the king's heart to fetch Absalom,
21. brings him home to Jerusalem
25. Absalom's beauty, hair, and children
28. After two years, Absalom is brought into the king's presence by Joab














Then Joab arose
The phrase "Then Joab arose" indicates a decisive action taken by Joab, a key military commander under King David. The Hebrew root for "arose" is קוּם (qum), which often signifies rising up with purpose or intent. Joab's rising is not merely physical but also symbolic of his readiness to confront a situation that demands his attention. Historically, Joab is known for his loyalty to David, yet he is also a man of action, often taking matters into his own hands. This moment reflects his proactive nature and his role as a mediator in the complex dynamics of David's court.

came to Absalom’s house
The act of coming to "Absalom’s house" signifies a direct approach to conflict resolution. Absalom, David's son, is a central figure in the narrative, known for his ambition and eventual rebellion against his father. The Hebrew word for "house" is בַּיִת (bayit), which can mean both a physical dwelling and a household or family. This visit is not just to a location but to the heart of familial and political tension. Joab's visit underscores the personal and political stakes involved, as Absalom's actions have broader implications for the kingdom.

and demanded
The word "demanded" conveys a sense of urgency and authority. The Hebrew root שָׁאַל (sha'al) can mean to ask, inquire, or demand, depending on the context. Joab's demand is not a mere question but an assertion of his authority and a call for accountability. This reflects the hierarchical nature of ancient Near Eastern societies, where social order and respect for authority were paramount. Joab's demand highlights his position and the seriousness of the situation.

Why have your servants set my field on fire?
This question reveals the immediate cause of Joab's visit: the burning of his field by Absalom's servants. The act of setting a field on fire is both a literal and symbolic gesture. In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, fields were vital for sustenance and economic stability. The Hebrew word for "field" is שָׂדֶה (sadeh), representing not just land but livelihood. The fire symbolizes destruction and a breach of peace, reflecting Absalom's desperation to gain Joab's attention. This act of arson is a turning point, illustrating the lengths to which Absalom will go to assert his presence and influence. The historical context of land disputes and the significance of agriculture in biblical times add depth to this confrontation, emphasizing the gravity of Absalom's actions and the ensuing conflict.

Verse 31. - Then Joab arose. This high-handed proceeding forced Joab to pay the wished for visit. But, while we cannot acquit Absalom of petulance, we must not regard his act as one of angry revenge; had it been so, Joab would have openly resented it, and he was quite capable of making even the heir apparent feel his anger. It was probably intended as a rough practical joke, which taught Joab better manners, and which he must laugh at, though with inward displeasure.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Joab
יוֹאָ֔ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

came
וַיָּבֹ֥א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Absalom’s
אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

house
הַבָּ֑יְתָה (hab·bā·yə·ṯāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

and demanded,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

did your servants
עֲבָדֶ֛ךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

set my field
הַחֶלְקָ֥ה (ha·ḥel·qāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2513: Smoothness, flattery, an allotment

on fire?”
הִצִּ֧יתוּ (hiṣ·ṣî·ṯū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3341: To burn, set on fire, to desolate


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OT History: 2 Samuel 14:31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 14:30
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