1 Now Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 perceived H3045 that the king's H4428 heart H3820 was toward Absalom. H53
2 And Joab H3097 sent H7971 to Tekoah, H8620 and fetched H3947 thence a wise H2450 woman, H802 and said H559 unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, H56 and put on H3847 now mourning H60 apparel, H899 and anoint H5480 not thyself with oil, H8081 but be as a woman H802 that had a long H7227 time H3117 mourned H56 for the dead: H4191
3 And come H935 to the king, H4428 and speak H1696 on this manner H1697 unto him. So Joab H3097 put H7760 the words H1697 in her mouth. H6310
4 And when the woman H802 of Tekoah H8621 spake H559 to the king, H4428 she fell H5307 on her face H639 to the ground, H776 and did obeisance, H7812 and said, H559 Help, H3467 O king. H4428
5 And the king H4428 said H559 unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, H559 I am indeed H61 a widow H490 woman, H802 and mine husband H376 is dead. H4191
6 And thy handmaid H8198 had two H8147 sons, H1121 and they two H8147 strove together H5327 in the field, H7704 and there was none to part H5337 them, but the one H259 smote H5221 the other, H259 and slew H4191 him.
7 And, behold, the whole family H4940 is risen H6965 against thine handmaid, H8198 and they said, H559 Deliver H5414 him that smote H5221 his brother, H251 that we may kill H4191 him, for the life H5315 of his brother H251 whom he slew; H2026 and we will destroy H8045 the heir H3423 also: and so they shall quench H3518 my coal H1513 which is left, H7760 and shall not leave H7604 to my husband H376 neither name H8034 nor remainder H7611 upon H6440 the earth. H127
8 And the king H4428 said H559 unto the woman, H802 Go H3212 to thine house, H1004 and I will give charge H6680 concerning thee.
9 And the woman H802 of Tekoah H8621 said H559 unto the king, H4428 My lord, H113 O king, H4428 the iniquity H5771 be on me, and on my father's H1 house: H1004 and the king H4428 and his throne H3678 be guiltless. H5355
10 And the king H4428 said, H559 Whosoever saith H1696 ought unto thee, bring H935 him to me, and he shall not touch H5060 thee any more. H3254
11 Then said H559 she, I pray thee, let the king H4428 remember H2142 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers H1350 of blood H1818 to destroy H7843 any more, H7235 lest they destroy H8045 my son. H1121 And he said, H559 As the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 there shall not one hair H8185 of thy son H1121 fall H5307 to the earth. H776
12 Then the woman H802 said, H559 Let thine handmaid, H8198 I pray thee, speak H1696 one word H1697 unto my lord H113 the king. H4428 And he said, H559 Say on. H1696
13 And the woman H802 said, H559 Wherefore then hast thou thought H2803 such a thing against the people H5971 of God? H430 for the king H4428 doth speak H1696 this thing H1697 as one which is faulty, H818 in that the king H4428 doth not fetch home again H7725 his banished. H5080
14 For we must needs H4191 die, H4191 and are as water H4325 spilt H5064 on the ground, H776 which cannot be gathered up again; H622 neither doth God H430 respect H5375 any person: H5315 yet doth he devise H2803 means, H4284 that his banished H5080 be not expelled H5080 from him.
15 Now therefore that I am come H935 to speak H1696 of this thing H1697 unto my lord H113 the king, H4428 it is because the people H5971 have made me afraid: H3372 and thy handmaid H8198 said, H559 I will now speak H1696 unto the king; H4428 it may be that the king H4428 will perform H6213 the request H1697 of his handmaid. H519
16 For the king H4428 will hear, H8085 to deliver H5337 his handmaid H519 out of the hand H3709 of the man H376 that would destroy H8045 me and my son H1121 together H3162 out of the inheritance H5159 of God. H430
17 Then thine handmaid H8198 said, H559 The word H1697 of my lord H113 the king H4428 shall now be comfortable: H4496 for as an angel H4397 of God, H430 so is my lord H113 the king H4428 to discern H8085 good H2896 and bad: H7451 therefore the LORD H3068 thy God H430 will be with thee.
18 Then the king H4428 answered H6030 and said H559 unto the woman, H802 Hide H3582 not from me, I pray thee, the thing H1697 that I shall ask H7592 thee. And the woman H802 said, H559 Let my lord H113 the king H4428 now speak. H1696
19 And the king H4428 said, H559 Is not the hand H3027 of Joab H3097 with thee in all this? And the woman H802 answered H6030 and said, H559 As thy soul H5315 liveth, H2416 my lord H113 the king, H4428 none H376 can H786 turn to the right hand H3231 or to the left H8041 from ought that my lord H113 the king H4428 hath spoken: H1696 for thy servant H5650 Joab, H3097 he bade H6680 me, and he put H7760 all these words H1697 in the mouth H6310 of thine handmaid: H8198
20 To H5668 fetch about H5437 this form H6440 of speech H1697 hath thy servant H5650 Joab H3097 done H6213 this thing: H1697 and my lord H113 is wise, H2450 according to the wisdom H2451 of an angel H4397 of God, H430 to know H3045 all things that are in the earth. H776
21 And the king H4428 said H559 unto Joab, H3097 Behold now, I have done H6213 this thing: H1697 go H3212 therefore, bring H7725 the young man H5288 Absalom H53 again. H7725
22 And Joab H3097 fell H5307 to the ground H776 on his face, H6440 and bowed H7812 himself, and thanked H1288 the king: H4428 and Joab H3097 said, H559 To day H3117 thy servant H5650 knoweth H3045 that I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 my lord, H113 O king, H4428 in that the king H4428 hath fulfilled H6213 the request H1697 of his servant. H5650
23 So Joab H3097 arose H6965 and went H3212 to Geshur, H1650 and brought H935 Absalom H53 to Jerusalem. H3389
24 And the king H4428 said, H559 Let him turn H5437 to his own house, H1004 and let him not see H7200 my face. H6440 So Absalom H53 returned H5437 to his own house, H1004 and saw H7200 not the king's H4428 face. H6440
25 But in all Israel H3478 there was none H376 to be so much H3966 praised H1984 as Absalom H53 for his beauty: H3303 from the sole H3709 of his foot H7272 even to the crown of his head H6936 there was no blemish H3971 in him.
26 And when he polled H1548 his head, H7218 (for it was at every year's H3117 H3117 end H7093 that he polled H1548 it: because the hair was heavy H3513 on him, therefore he polled H1548 it:) he weighed H8254 the hair H8181 of his head H7218 at two hundred H3967 shekels H8255 after the king's H4428 weight. H68
27 And unto Absalom H53 there were born H3205 three H7969 sons, H1121 and one H259 daughter, H1323 whose name H8034 was Tamar: H8559 she was a woman H802 of a fair H3303 countenance. H4758
28 So Absalom H53 dwelt H3427 two full H3117 years H8141 in Jerusalem, H3389 and saw H7200 not the king's H4428 face. H6440
29 Therefore Absalom H53 sent H7971 for Joab, H3097 to have sent H7971 him to the king; H4428 but he would H14 not come H935 to him: and when he sent again H7971 the second time, H8145 he would H14 not come. H935
30 Therefore he said H559 unto his servants, H5650 See, H7200 Joab's H3097 field H2513 is near H413 mine, H3027 and he hath barley H8184 there; go H3212 and set H3341 it on fire. H784 And Absalom's H53 servants H5650 set H3341 the field H2513 on fire. H784
31 Then Joab H3097 arose, H6965 and came H935 to Absalom H53 unto his house, H1004 and said H559 unto him, Wherefore have thy servants H5650 set H3341 my field H2513 on fire? H784
32 And Absalom H53 answered H559 Joab, H3097 Behold, I sent H7971 unto thee, saying, H559 Come H935 hither, that I may send H7971 thee to the king, H4428 to say, H559 Wherefore am I come H935 from Geshur? H1650 it had been good H2896 for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see H7200 the king's H4428 face; H6440 and if there be H3426 any iniquity H5771 in me, let him kill H4191 me.
33 So Joab H3097 came H935 to the king, H4428 and told H5046 him: and when he had called H7121 for Absalom, H53 he came H935 to the king, H4428 and bowed H7812 himself on his face H639 to the ground H776 before H6440 the king: H4428 and the king H4428 kissed H5401 Absalom. H53
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 14
Commentary on 2 Samuel 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
2Sa 14:1-21. Joab Instructs a Woman of Tekoah.
2-21. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman—The king was strongly attached to Absalom; and having now got over his sorrow for the violent death of Amnon, he was desirous of again enjoying the society of his favorite son, who had now been three long years absent. But a dread of public opinion and a regard to the public interests made him hesitate about recalling or pardoning his guilty son; and Joab, whose discerning mind perceived this struggle between parental affection and royal duty, devised a plan for relieving the scruples, and, at the same time, gratifying the wishes, of his master. Having procured a countrywoman of superior intelligence and address, he directed her to seek an audience of the king, and by soliciting his royal interposition in the settlement of a domestic grievance, convinced him that the life of a murderer might in some cases be saved. Tekoah was about twelve miles south of Jerusalem, and six south of Beth-lehem; and the design of bringing a woman from such a distance was to prevent either the petitioner being known, or the truth of her story easily investigated. Her speech was in the form of a parable—the circumstances—the language—the manner—well suited to the occasion, represented a case as like David's as it was policy to make it, so as not to be prematurely discovered. Having got the king pledged, she avowed it to be her design to satisfy the royal conscience, that in pardoning Absalom he was doing nothing more than he would have done in the case of a stranger, where there could be no imputation of partiality. The device succeeded; David traced its origin to Joab; and, secretly pleased at obtaining the judgment of that rough, but generally sound-thinking soldier, he commissioned him to repair to Geshur and bring home his exiled son.
7. they shall quench my coal which is left—The life of man is compared in Scripture to a light. To quench the light of Israel (2Sa 21:17) is to destroy the king's life; to ordain a lamp for any one (Ps 132:17) is to grant him posterity; to quench a coal signifies here the extinction of this woman's only remaining hope that the name and family of her husband would be preserved. The figure is a beautiful one; a coal live, but lying under a heap of embers—all that she had to rekindle her fire—to light her lamp in Israel.
9. the woman said … O king, the iniquity be on me—that is, the iniquity of arresting the course of justice and pardoning a homicide, whom the Goel was bound to slay wherever he might find him, unless in a city of refuge. This was exceeding the royal prerogative, and acting in the character of an absolute monarch. The woman's language refers to a common precaution taken by the Hebrew judges and magistrates, solemnly to transfer from themselves the responsibility of the blood they doomed to be shed, either to the accusers or the criminals (2Sa 1:16; 3:28); and sometimes the accusers took it upon themselves (Mt 27:25).
13-17. Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God, &c.—Her argument may be made clear in the following paraphrase:—You have granted me the pardon of a son who had slain his brother, and yet you will not grant to your subjects the restoration of Absalom, whose criminality is not greater than my son's, since he killed his brother in similar circumstances of provocation. Absalom has reason to complain that he is treated by his own father more sternly and severely than the meanest subject in the realm; and the whole nation will have cause for saying that the king shows more attention to the petition of a humble woman than to the wishes and desires of a whole kingdom. The death of my son is a private loss to my family, while the preservation of Absalom is the common interest of all Israel, who now look to him as your successor on the throne.
2Sa 14:22-33. Joab Brings Absalom to Jerusalem.
22. To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight—Joab betrayed not a little selfishness amid his professions of joy at this act of grace to Absalom, and flattered himself that he now brought both father and son under lasting obligations. In considering this act of David, many extenuating circumstances may be urged in favor of it; the provocation given to Absalom; his being now in a country where justice could not overtake him; the risk of his imbibing a love for heathen principles and worship; the safety and interests of the Hebrew kingdom; together with the strong predilection of the Hebrew people for Absalom, as represented by the stratagem of Joab—these considerations form a plausible apology for David's grant of pardon to his bloodstained son. But, in granting this pardon, he was acting in the character of an Oriental despot rather than a constitutional king of Israel. The feelings of the father triumphed over the duty of the king, who, as the supreme magistrate, was bound to execute impartial justice on every murderer, by the express law of God (Ge 9:6; Nu 35:30, 31), which he had no power to dispense with (De 18:18; Jos 1:8; 1Sa 10:25).
25, 26. But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty—This extraordinary popularity arose not only from his high spirit and courtly manners, but from his uncommonly handsome appearance. One distinguishing feature, seemingly an object of great admiration, was a profusion of beautiful hair. Its extraordinary luxuriance compelled him to cut it "at every year's end;" lit., "at times," "from time to time," when it was found to weigh two hundred shekels—equal to one hundred twelve ounces troy; but as "the weight was after the king's shekel," which was less than the common shekel, the rate has been reduced as low as three pounds, two ounces [Bochart], and even less by others.
28. So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face—Whatever error David committed in authorizing the recall of Absalom, he displayed great prudence and command over his feelings afterwards—for his son was not admitted into his father's presence but was confined to his own house and the society of his own family. This slight severity was designed to bring him to sincere repentance, on perceiving that his father had not fully pardoned him, as well as to convince the people of David's abhorrence of his crime. Not being allowed to appear at court, or to adopt any state, the courtiers kept aloof; even his cousin did not deem it prudent to go into his society. For two full years his liberty was more restricted, and his life more apart from his countrymen while living in Jerusalem, than in Geshur; and he might have continued in this disgrace longer, had he not, by a violent expedient, determined (2Sa 14:30) to force his case on the attention of Joab, through whose kind and powerful influence a full reconciliation was effected between him and his father.