2 Samuel 14:1-20. Joab's stratagem to procure Absalom's recall 1. _that the king's heart was toward Absalom_ This verse like the preceding one admits of two widely different explanations. (1) If the rendering of the E. V. is retained, the exact meaning will depend on whether the first or the second... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tekoah_ Situated on a lofty hill five miles south of Bethlehem. The name survives almost unaltered in the modern _Tekûa_. It was the native place of Ira, one of David's Thirty Heroes (ch. 2 Samuel 23:26): Rehoboam fortified it as a defence against invasions from the south (2 Chronicles 11:6): but i... [ Continue Reading ]
_come to the king_ An interesting evidence of the simplicity of the times, when the king was thus directly accessible to his subjects who had causes to be tried or grievances to be redressed. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 15:2; 1 Kings 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when the woman … spake … she fell_ All the versions and many Hebrew MSS read as the sense requires: "And the woman of Tekoah CAME to the king, and fell," &c. _fell on her face to the ground_ It was and in some cases still is the practice in Oriental countries for a subject approaching the king... [ Continue Reading ]
_the whole family_, &c. The whole clan demanded blood-revenge, according to the primitive custom, sanctioned and regulated by the Mosaic Law. See Numbers 35:19; Deuteronomy 19:12-13. _and we will destroy the heir also_ The woman puts these words THAT WE MAY KILL HIM … AND DESTROY THE HEIR ALSO into... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will give charge_, &c. Implying that her son should be protected. The king could reasonably grant a free pardon, as it was a case of manslaughter and not a premeditated murder.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the iniquity be on me_, &c. If there is any guilt in thus leaving bloodshed unavenged, may I and my family bear the punishment. She wishes to lead the king up to a more definite promise, before she applies her parable to the case of Absalom.... [ Continue Reading ]
_let the king remember the_Lord _thy God_ She presses for the further assurance of an oath in the name of God. _there shall not one hair_, &c. Cp. 1 Samuel 14:45; 1 Kings 1:52; Matthew 10:30; Luke 21:18; Acts 27:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let thine handmaid_, &c. The great object of her errand has still to be effected. Firmly and clearly, but yet to all appearance incidentally, she argues from the case of her son to that of Absalom.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore then_, &c. David's resolution to keep Absalom in exile was an injury to the people of God, for he was the heir to the throne. _for the king_, &c. Better, AND BY THE KING'S SPEAKING THIS WORD HE IS AS ONE GUILTY. The promise of protection to her son was a condemnation of his own conduct t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we must needs die_ The argument of this verse seems to be, that since life is uncertain and cannot be restored, and since God Himself sets the example of mercy, David should be reconciled to his son at once, before it is too late. For the simile of water spilt, cp. Psalms 58:7. _neither doth G... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore_, &c. Simply, AND NOW. There seems to be a studied ambiguity about this verse. If "the people" means the family who had demanded the surrender of her son, she is artfully returning to her own petition, to prevent the king from suspecting that her whole story is a fiction: if, as is mo... [ Continue Reading ]
_the inheritance of God_ The nation of Israel. Cp. 1 Samuel 26:19; Deuteronomy 32:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then thine handmaid said_ Sept. "And the woman said:" which suits the context better. _shall now be comfortable_ Lit. LET THE WORD … BE FOR REST: give me security from my enemies. _as an angel of God_ Cp. 2 Samuel 14:20; ch. 2 Samuel 19:27; and 1 Samuel 29:9. _to discern good and bad_ TO HEAR TH... [ Continue Reading ]
_none can turn_, &c. The king's words hit the mark precisely: he discerns the exact state of the case.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to fetch about_this _form of speech_ Rather, IN ORDER TO BRING ROUND THE FACE OF THE BUSINESS: that is, to alter the aspect of Absalom's relations to his father.... [ Continue Reading ]
Joab sent to bring Absalom back 21. _I have done this thing_ I have granted thy wish and restored Absalom to favour. The "read" text or _Qrî_has _thou hast done_, but the "written" text or _Kthîbh_(supported by the Sept. and Vulg.) is certainly right here.... [ Continue Reading ]
_his servant_ This is the reading of the _Kthîbh_, and is clearly best: the marginal alternative _thy_comes from the _Qrî_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_let him not see my face_ To recall Absalom without giving him a full pardon was a most dangerous policy. It could not fail to irritate him. It may be inferred from 2 Samuel 14:29_; 2 Samuel 14:31_that he was confined to his house by David's order, for otherwise he would not have had to wait until J... [ Continue Reading ]
Absalom's person and family 26. _polled_ From _poll_, the head, comes the verb _to poll_, to cut the hair. _two hundred shekels after the king's weight_ If the royal shekel was the same as the sacred shekel, two hundred shekels would be about six pounds, an extraordinary weight. But perhaps the ro... [ Continue Reading ]
_three sons_ Who are not named, because none of them lived to grow up. See ch. 2 Samuel 18:18. _Tamar_ Who inherited the beauty as well as the name of her aunt. The Sept. adds, "and she became the wife of Roboam the son of Solomon, and bare him Abia." This however does not agree with the books of Ki... [ Continue Reading ]
Absalom readmitted to David's presence through Joab's mediation 29. _he would not come to him_ Not choosing to incur David's displeasure by visiting Absalom while he was still in disgrace.... [ Continue Reading ]
_set it on fire_ Partly in revenge for Absalom's refusal (cp. Judges 15:3-5), partly in the hope of bringing Joab to make a complaint in person. The Sept. and some MSS. of the Vulg. add at the end of the verse: "And Joab's servants came to him with their clothes rent, and said, Absalom's servants h... [ Continue Reading ]
_if there be any iniquity in me_ Let the king treat me either as guilty or as innocent. This half-forgiveness is worse than death. Absalom means to protest that he is innocent, and had been fully justified in taking revenge on Amnon, as the king had left his offence unpunished.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the king kissed Absalom_ As a pledge of reconciliation. See Genesis 33:4; Genesis 45:15; Luke 15:20.... [ Continue Reading ]