2 Samuel 20:18
“Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speake in old time, saying, They shall surely aske counsell at Abel: and so they ended the matter.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
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2 Samuel 20:18 Context
16¶ Then cried a wise woman out of the citie, Heare, heare; say, I pray you, vnto Ioab, Come neere hither, that I may speake with thee. 17And when he was come neere vnto her, the woman said, Art thou Ioab? And he answered, I am he: Then shee said vnto him, Heare the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I doe heare. 18Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speake in old time, saying, They shall surely aske counsell at Abel: and so they ended the matter. 19I am one of them that are peaceable and faithfull in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: Why wilt thou swallow vp the inheritance of the Lord ? 20And Ioab answered and saide, Farre be it, farre be it from me, that I should swallow vp or destroy.
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Other Translations for 2 Samuel 20:18
Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter].
- King James Version
Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask {advice} at Abel,' and thus they ended {the dispute.}
- New American Standard Version (1995)
Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask `counsel' at Abel: and so they ended `the matter'.
- American Standard Version (1901)
Then she said, In the old days, there was a saying, Let them put the question in Abel and in Dan, saying, Has what was ordered by men of good faith in Israel ever come to an end?
- Basic English Bible
And she spoke saying, They were wont to speak in old time saying, Just inquire in Abel; and so they ended.
- Darby Bible
Then she spoke, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They will surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
- Webster's Bible
Then she spoke, saying, "They were used to say in old times, 'They shall surely ask counsel at Abel;' and so they settled it.
- World English Bible
and she speaketh, saying, `They spake often in former times, saying, Let them diligently ask at Abel, and so they finished.
- Youngs Literal Bible
Then she spoke, saying: 'They were wont to speak in old time, saying: They shall surely ask counsel at Abel; and so they ended the matter.
- Jewish Publication Society Bible
Wesley's Notes for 2 Samuel 20:18
20:18 Ask counsel - This city which thou art about to destroy, is no mean and contemptible one, but so honourable and considerable for its wisdom, that when any differences arose among any of the neighbours, they used proverbially to say, We will ask the opinion and advice as the men of Abel about it, and we will stand to their arbitration; and so all parties were satisfied, and disputes ended.