2 Samuel 15:8
ESV
For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’"
NIV
While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron. ’ "
NASB
For your servant made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’?'
CSB
For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying: If the Lord really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron."
NLT
For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem.'
KJV
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.
NKJV
For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”
What does 2 Samuel 15:8 mean?
Absalom knows his father well. The first time he wanted to leave Jerusalem to betray his father's trust, he claimed he wanted to celebrate the sheep-shearing. David, the shepherd-king, probably felt sentimental about such a feast. If David had been less emotional and more thoughtful, he might have guessed Absalom's plan to murder his brother (2 Samuel 12:23–29).If there's one thing David loves more than tending sheep, it's worshiping God. Absalom asks David if he can go to Hebron, where he was born and spent his early years, to bless God for bringing him home from exile (2 Samuel 15:7). That exile was imposed because he murdered his brother (2 Samuel 13:37–38). Possibly glad that his wayward son is showing devotion to God, David sends him with his blessing (2 Samuel 15:9).
It was common during this era for people to make conditional vows to the Lord: If the Lord does "x," then I will do "y." In this case, Absalom claims that while in exile, he vowed to offer special worship to God at Hebron he could return to his position in David's court at Jerusalem. David could hardly say no. Failing to keep a vow to God was a great offense to God and deeply foolish.
But Absalom isn't going to Hebron to meet with God. He's going to meet with men he's spent four years grooming to rebel against his father and install him as king. To build up his numbers, he brings two hundred men from Jerusalem who have no idea what's going on. The longer they're away, the more people join. By the time Absalom turns back for Jerusalem, David must flee or risk warfare in his own city (2 Samuel 15:13–17).
