Bible Strands
2 Samuel 19:6
You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! For you have made it clear today that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you!
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Joab confronts King David immediately after the battle with Absalom, rebuking the king for publicly mourning his defeated son while ignoring the victorious commanders and soldiers who saved his life.
The words — The Hebrew phrase לְאַֽהֲבָה שֹׂנְאֶ֔י/ךָ (le./'a.ha.Vah so.ne.'Ei./kha) literally renders "by loving [those who] hate you," paired with הִגַּ֣דְתָּ (hi.Gad.ta), "you have made known," to describe David’s publicly displayed favoritism.
The thread — This rebuke echoes the theme of unjust leadership condemned in Job 34:18 and the warning against false testimony in Proverbs 19:9, while mirroring Joab’s earlier confrontation in 2 Samuel 3:24 over royal favor.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that public mourning must not override justice or gratitude to those who serve, forcing a reader to evaluate whether personal grief corrupts necessary leadership decisions.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 3:24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!
- Job 34:18 who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
- Proverbs 19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
- Acts 23:5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”