2 Samuel 20:16
2 Samuel 20:16 in Multiple Translations
a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”
¶ Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
Then a wise woman got up on the wall, and crying out from the town, said, Give ear, give ear; say now to Joab, Come near, so that I may have talk with you.
a wise woman from the town called out, “Listen! Please listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come over here so I can speak to you.’”
Then cried a wise woman out of the citie, Heare, heare, I pray you, say vnto Ioab, Come thou hither, that I may speake with thee.
And a wise woman calleth out of the city, 'Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, and I speak unto thee.'
Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, to Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
And a wise woman cried out from the city: Hear, hear, and say to Joab: Come near hither, and I will speak with thee.
Then a wise woman who was in that town stood on the top of the wall and shouted down, “Listen to me! Tell Joab to come here, because I want to talk to him!”
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Samuel 20:16
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2 Samuel 20:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Samuel 20:16
Study Notes — 2 Samuel 20:16
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Samuel 20:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 20:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 20:16
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:16
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 20:16
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:16
- Sermons on 2 Samuel 20:16
Context — Sheba’s Rebellion
16a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”
17When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered. 18Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 14:2 | So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time. |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 9:14–18 | There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.” The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 25:32–33 | Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day! Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 25:3 | His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings. |
2 Samuel 20:16 Summary
In 2 Samuel 20:16, a wise woman from the city of Abel-beth-maacah calls out to Joab, the commander of the army, to speak with him. She wants to find a way to end the siege and bring peace to the city, much like the desire for peace expressed in Psalm 34:14. This verse shows us the importance of seeking wisdom and counsel in times of conflict, as encouraged in Proverbs 11:14, and using our words to bring peace and resolution, as seen in the example of the wise woman. By listening to her words, Joab is able to consider a different approach and potentially avoid more bloodshed, demonstrating the value of humility and a willingness to listen, as emphasized in James 1:19.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the wise woman in 2 Samuel 20:16?
The wise woman in this verse is a key figure who intervenes to prevent further bloodshed, as seen in her conversation with Joab, and her words have a profound impact on the outcome of the siege, much like the wisdom of the woman in Proverbs 31:26 who opens her mouth with wisdom.
Why does the wise woman ask to speak with Joab specifically?
The wise woman requests to speak with Joab because, as the commander of the army, he has the authority to make decisions that could determine the fate of the city, as noted in 2 Samuel 20:15, and she seeks to persuade him to spare the city, much like the appeal of the prophet in 1 Samuel 15:30.
What does the phrase 'Listen! Listen!' convey in this verse?
The repetition of 'Listen!' emphasizes the urgency and importance of the wise woman's message, as she seeks to get Joab's attention and persuade him to hear her out, similar to the emphasis on listening in James 1:19, where we are called to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
How does this verse relate to other instances of wise women in the Bible?
This verse is reminiscent of other instances in the Bible where wise women play a crucial role in mediating conflicts, such as Deborah in Judges 4:4-5, and their wisdom and diplomacy help to resolve disputes and bring peace, as seen in the story of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25:3, who also uses her wisdom to prevent bloodshed.
Reflection Questions
- What are some situations in my life where I need to seek wisdom and counsel, just like the people of Abel-beth-maacah did, as mentioned in 2 Samuel 20:18?
- How can I, like the wise woman, use my words to bring peace and resolution to conflicts, as encouraged in Proverbs 15:1, which says that a soft answer turns away wrath?
- In what ways can I demonstrate wisdom and discernment in my interactions with others, as the wise woman does in this verse, and how can I apply the principles of wisdom from Proverbs 10:31-32 to my daily life?
- What are some lessons I can learn from the wise woman's approach to conflict resolution, and how can I apply them to my own relationships, as guided by the principles of love and kindness in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 20:16
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 20:16
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:16
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:16
Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 20:16
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:16
Sermons on 2 Samuel 20:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Power of the Holy Spirit of God by Ian Paisley | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the story of the poor wise man from Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verses 14 to 18. The preacher emphasizes that although the world may see the po |
|
Nebuchadnezzars Dream by Peter Bisset | In this sermon, the preacher draws parallels between the story of Daniel and the plight of sinners who are under the sentence of death. He emphasizes that it doesn't matter what me |
|
The Little City by Raymond Golsworthy | Raymond Golsworthy preaches on the profound message found in Ecclesiastes 9:14-15, using the analogy of a small city besieged by a great king to illustrate the essence of the gospe |
|
The Restraining Power of the Holy Ghost by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of David and Nabal from the Bible. David sends his men to Nabal's house during shearing time to ask for provisions for his hungry a |




