2 Samuel 14

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 14 of 24

1 And Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart was on Absalom.

2 And Joab sent to Tekoah and took a wise woman from there, and said to her, Pretend yourself to be a mourner now, and please put on garments of mourning. And do not anoint yourself with oil, and you shall be a woman who has been mourning many days for one who died.

3 And you shall go to the king and speak with him according to this word. And Joab put the words into her mouth.

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Chapter Summary

The woman of Tekoah pretends to be a widow. She asks for Absalom to come back to Jerusalem. Absalom's beauty. After two years, Joab brings Absalom to the king's presence.

Key Hebrew Words

חָכָם wise H2450 · TWOT 647b
אַלְמָנָה widow H490 · TWOT 105
גָּאַל avenger of blood H1350 · TWOT 300
נָדַח banished, outcast H5080 · TWOT 1304
עָוֺן iniquity H5771 · TWOT 1577a
יָפֶה handsome H3303 · TWOT 890a

People & Context

Joab

Zeruiah's son who perceives David's longing for Absalom and engineers the wise woman's appeal to recall him.

David

The king who grants the woman's plea, sees through Joab's design, and finally summons Absalom and kisses him.

Absalom

David's exiled son, famed for flawless beauty and heavy hair, brought back from Geshur and at last received by the king.

Tekoah woman

The wise woman of Tekoah coached by Joab to plead a parable of a widow's surviving son before David.

Tamar

Absalom's beautiful daughter, named after his sister; born to him in Jerusalem.

Timeline

Joab Hires the Wise Woman of Tekoah

Knowing David longs for Absalom, Joab sends a wise woman from Tekoah, dressed in mourning, to tell the king a fabricated story to change his mind.

2 Samuel 14:1-3
The Woman's Parable

The woman tells David a story of her two sons fighting, one killing the other, and the family demanding the surviving son's death. David promises to protect her son.

2 Samuel 14:4-11
The Woman Confronts David

The woman reveals the parable is about David and Absalom, rebuking the king for not bringing back his outcast son.

2 Samuel 14:12-17

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