2 Samuel 15:3

3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”

2 Samuel 15:3 in Other Translations

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

3 Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you."

3 Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it.

3 Then Absalom would say, "Look, you've got a strong case; but the king isn't going to listen to you."

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

3 Absalom would say, "Your case is good and proper, but the king hasn't appointed anyone to hear it."

3 Absalom said to him, "Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you."

3 Absalom would say, "Look, your claims are based on the law. So you have every right to make them. But the king doesn't have anyone here who can listen to your case."

2 Samuel 15:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:3

And Absalom said unto him
After some further talk, and finding he had a suit at law to bring on, and either seeing it drawn up in writing, or hearing his account of it, at once declared, without hearing the other party:

see, thy matters [are] good and right;
thy cause is a good cause, and if it could be heard by proper persons there is no doubt but things would go on thy side, and thou wouldest carry thy cause:

but [there is] no man [deputed] of the king to hear thee;
the king is grown old himself and his sons are negligent, and do not attend to business, and there are none besides them appointed to hear causes; and he suggested, as appears by what follows, that he was not in commission, but if he was, or should he appointed a judge, he would attend to business, and people should not go away after this manner, without having justice administered unto them,

2 Samuel 15:3 In-Context

1 In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.

2 He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”

4 And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”

5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 12:2