New American Standard Bible 1995

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2 Samuel

14

:

28

Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king's face.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Now Absalom "my father is peace," two Isr. Noun H53 אַבְשָׁלֹ֛ום av·sha·lo·vm
Analysis:
Read more about: So
lived to sit, remain, dwell Verb H3427 וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב vai·ye·shev
two full day Noun H3117 יָמִ֑ים ya·mim;
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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years a year Noun H8141 שְׁנָתַ֣יִם she·na·ta·yim
in Jerusalem, probably "foundation of peace," capital city of all Isr. Noun H3389 בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם bi·ru·sha·lim
Analysis:
Read more about: Jerusalem
and did not see to see Verb H7200 רָאָֽה׃ ra·'ah.
the king's king Noun H4428 הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ ham·me·lech
face. face, faces Noun H6440 וּפְנֵ֥י u·fe·nei

Locations

Jerusalem

JERUSALEMje-roo'-sa-lem:I. THE NAME1. In Cuneiform2. In Hebrew3. In Greek and Latin4. The Meaning of Jerusalem5. Other NamesII. GEOLOGY, CLIMATE AND SPRINGS1. Geology2. Climate and Rainfall3. The Natural SpringsIII. THE NATURAL SITE1. The Mountains Around2. The Valleys3. The HillsIV. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF JERUSALEM1. Description of Josephus2. Summary of the... View Details

Parallel Verses

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New American Standard Bible 1995 Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king's face.
King James Bible Now So Absalom lived dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and did saw not see the king's face.
Hebrew Greek English Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king's face.