2 Samuel 14:4-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:1-20

Here is, I. Joab's design to get Absalom recalled out of banishment, his crime pardoned, and his attainder reversed, 2 Sam. 14:1. Joab made himself very busy in this affair. 1. As a courtier that was studious, by all ways possible, to ingratiate himself with his prince and improve his interest in his favour: He perceived that the king's heart was towards Absalom, and that, the heat of his displeasure being over, he still retained his old affection for him, and only wanted a friend to court him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:4

And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king ,.... Or after she had spoken to him, being introduced by Joab, as is probable; when she had saluted him with God save the king, or May the king live, or some such like expressions: she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance ; to him as her king, in reverence of his majesty: and said, help, O king ; signifying that she was in great distress, and came to him for assistance and deliverance. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:5

And the king said unto her, what aileth thee ?.... Or what is thy case? What is the condition, and what the circumstances, that thou art in, which require help and assistance? intimating that he was ready to grant it on knowledge thereof; however, he was ready to hear what she had to say: and she answered, I am indeed a widow woman ; of a truth a widow, as the Targum; she was really one, a widow indeed, as in 1 Timothy 5:3 ; not one that was separated from her husband, he being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:6

And thy handmaid had two sons ,.... Two are observed, that her case might suit with Amnon and Absalom: and they two strove together in the field ; they quarrelled, and fought in the field, where there were no witnesses of what they did to each other; whereby she would suggest that Ammon was killed in the field, of which there were no witnesses, and therefore Absalom ought not to die; whereas it was in Absalom's house, at his table, and where the rest of the king's sons were present, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:7

And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid ,.... Who had sheltered her son, that slew his brother, from the avenger of blood; and not only the next akin, the avenger of blood, but even all the kindred and relations of the deceased, those of her husband's family rose up as one man, demanding justice: and they said, deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew ; pretending great regard to the deceased, and a zeal for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 14:5

I am indeed a widow woman - It is very possible that the principal facts mentioned here were real, and that Joab found out a person whose circumstances bore a near resemblance to that which he wished to represent. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 14:7

The whole family is risen - They took on them the part of the avenger of blood; the nearest akin to the murdered person having a right to slay the murderer. They shall quench my coal which is left - A man and his descendants or successors are often termed in Scripture a lamp or light. So, 2 Samuel 21:17 , the men of David said, when they sware that he should no more go out with them to battle, That thou Quench not the Light of Israel. See also Psalm 132:17 . And... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:1-20

The facts are: 1 . Joab, observing that the king's heart was still adverse to Absalom, devised, in order to bring him round to a different feeling, that a wise woman from Tekoah should appear before him and plead a cause. 2 . The woman appears before the king, and narrates as facts certain circumstances, namely, 3 . David, touched with her story, undertakes to grant her request, whereupon the woman, recognizing the usage in such cases, desires to exonerate the king from blame in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:1-20

( JERUSALEM .) The woman of Tekoah. 1 . In David "the king" we hero see that fatherly affection may come into conflict with regal justice. He must have perceived the ill effects of sparing Amnon, and felt constrained to punish Absalom. But his grief and resentment were mitigated by the lapse of time ( 2 Samuel 13:39 ). Nevertheless, though prompted by natural affection to recall his son, he was deterred from doing so by political and judicial considerations. And to overcome his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:4

When the woman of Tekoah spake. All the versions and several manuscripts read, as the sense requires, "when the woman of Tekoah came." There is an interesting article in De Rossi, fixing with much probability the twelfth century as the date of this error. Though Absalom subsequently ( 2 Samuel 15:4 ) complained of the lax administration of justice in the realm, yet evidently this woman had the right of bringing her suit before the king; and we may be sure that Joab would take care that... read more

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