2 Samuel 14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:7

The whole family. This does not mean the kinsfolk, in whom such a disregard of the mother's feelings would have been cruel, but one of the great divisions of the tribe. In 2 Samuel 14:15 she rightly calls them "the people." We have thus a glimpse of the ordinary method of administering the criminal law, and find that each portion of a tribe exercised justice within its own district, being summoned to a general convention by its hereditary chief; and in this case the widow represents it as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:9

The iniquity be on me. The king had given a general promise to help the widow, but she wants to lead him on to a definite assurance that her son shall be pardoned. Less than this would not help Absalom's case. Instead, therefore, of withdrawing, she represents herself as dissatisfied, and pleads for full forgiveness; and as this would be a violation of the letter of the Levitical Law, in order to remove David's supposed scruples, she takes upon herself the penalty. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:11

I pray thee, let the king remember, etc. Thenius says that the woman plays well the part of a talkative gossip, but really she was using the skill for which Joab employed her in bringing the king to give her son a free pardon. Nothing short of this would serve Absalom, who already was so far forgiven as to be in no fear of actual punishment. It is remarkable that David does not hesitate finally to grant this without making further inquiry, though he must have known that a mother's pleas were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:11

Remembrance of God. "Let the king remember the Lord thy God." This passage occurs in a singular bit of history, which illustrates, inter alia, the carefulness which even the most favoured and powerful of the subjects of an Eastern monarch must at times exercise in seeking to influence him; and, on the other hand, the accessibility of such a monarch to the meanest subject desirous of his interposition. Perhaps, however, this "wise woman" may have belonged to a class which, like prophets,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:13

Against the people of God. Very skilfully, and so as for the meaning only gradually to unfold itself to the king, she represents the people of Israel as the widowed mother, who has lost one son; and David as the stern clan folk who will deprive her of a second though guilty child. But now he is bound by the solemn oath he has taken to her to remit the penalty; for literally the words are, and by the king's speaking this word he is as one guilty, unless he fetch home again his banished one. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:14

Neither doth God, etc. This translation is altogether wrong. What the woman says is, "God taketh not life [Hebrew, 'a soul'] away, but thinketh thoughts not to banish from him his banished one." Her argument is that death is the common lot, and that there is no way of bringing back the dead to life. But though death is thus a universal law, yet God does not kill. Death is not a penalty exacted as a punishment, but, on the contrary, he is merciful, and when a man has sinned, instead of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:14

As water spilt upon the ground. Water is a gift of God, very precious, especially in lands where it is scarce, and often longed for as a means of quenching thirst, renewing strength, and preserving life ( 2 Samuel 23:15 ; Psalms 63:1 ). But it may be thrown away, poured out and lost, by design or accident, through the overturning or fracture of the vessel in which it is contained. Human life, also, is a Divine gift, precious beyond all earthly possessions. But it is contained in "a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:14

God's restoration of his banished. It is hardly possible for a father to be so completely estranged from his child as to lose all affection for him. He may have just cause to feel angry with him; but, with absence and the lapse of time, his anger dies away, and his natural affection springs up afresh. It was thus with David in relation to his son Absalom. Yet he hesitated to give way to his parental feelings, to set aside the claims of public justice, and exercise his royal prerogative of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:14

God fetching home his banished. The "wise woman," having succeeded in that which she pretended to be her object in coming to David, skilfully approached the real purpose of her visit. She insinuates, in general and guarded language, that he was cherishing thoughts which were "against the people of God," and that the decision he had given in favour of her son was inconsistent with his not fetching home again his own banished one. Then, in our text, she presents, still in a general and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:15-17

Now therefore that I am come, etc. The woman now professes to return to her old story as the reason for her importunity, but she repeats it in so eager and indirect a manner as to indicate that it had another meaning. Instead, too, of thanking the king for fully granting her petition, she still flatters and coaxes as one whose purpose was as yet ungained. The king's word is, for rest : it puts an end to vexation, and, by deciding matters, sets the disputants at peace. He is as an angel of... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:9

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:11

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:11

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:13

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:15-17

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