2 Samuel 15:9 Meaning and Explanation
“And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David grants permission with a blessing of peace, and Absalom departs for Hebron.
What Does 2 Samuel 15:9 Mean?
David answers his son with a father's blessing: Go in peace. Trusting the vow at face value, the king sends Absalom away, and Absalom rises and goes to Hebron, the very place from which his revolt will be proclaimed.
The word peace lands with heavy irony, for Absalom carries war in his heart even as his father speaks blessing over him. A trusting love can be wounded by the one it shelters. Yet there is dignity in David's openness; better to be the father betrayed than the son betraying. The scene quietly anticipates a greater Son of David who would also be sent out, and betrayed, with the language of friendship on the betrayer's lips.
2 Samuel 15:9 in the Original Language
shalom (שָׁלוֹם), 'peace' -- wholeness and well-being, spoken in blessing even as Absalom hides his treachery.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 15:9
What does 2 Samuel 15:9 mean?
David grants permission with a blessing of peace, and Absalom departs for Hebron.