2 Samuel 14

Joab brings Absalom again into favour with David, by means of a wife woman of Thekoa, verse 1, etc. David gives Joab leave to bring Absalom back again to Jerusalem, but will not consent that he should come in to his sight, 21. Absalom's beaty, long hair, and children, 25. At last he compels Joab to get leave for him to come into his father's presence, 29.

1. Now when Joab the son of Zeruja, perceived, that the Kings heart was toward Absalom, [i.e. That his heart was enclined toward him, that he would sain see him brought back again, but that he might want a fit opportunity, or honest pretence, therefore he plotteth or contriveth a cunning way for it, which is mentioned in the sequel.]

2. Then Joab sent away to Thekoa, [A City lying upon an hill, on the Northen borders of Juda, not far from Jerusalem. See 2 Chron.11.6.] and took thence a wise woman [compare above chap.13.on v.3.] and he said unto her; I pray thee, feign thyself, as if thou didst mourn, and put on now mourning-apparel, and anoint not thy self with oil, [see Ruth 3.on verse 3.] and be as a woman that now hath mourned many days for a dead (person):

3. And go in unto the King, and speak unto him, according to this word: and Joab put the words into her mouth [i.e. He told her the very words, which she afterwards should utter, or speak to the King. Compare Exod. 4.on v.15.]

4. And the Thekotish woman said unto the King, when she was fallen on her face to the ground, [In token of humble reverence; as Ruth 2:10. 1 Sam.20.41. & 25.23, 24. Below v 22. 1 King.18.7, etc.] and had bowed her self down: [see Gen.18.on ver.2.] then she said; help [or, deliver, give salvation] O King.

5. And the King said unto her, What aileth thee? and she said; Surely, I am a widow woman, and my husband is dead.

6. Now thine hand-maid had two sons, and these both strove (together) in the field, and there was no Parter, [Deliverer: and consequently none could witness of the case of the offence was. See Deut.19.15, &c.] between them; so the one smote the other, and killed him.

7. And behold, the whole family is risen against thine hand-maid, [To execute the Law of revenge of bloud against the slayer. See Numb.35.19. Deut.19.12.] and have said; Deliver here him, that hath smitten his brother, that we may put him to death for the soul [i.e. life, or person] of his brother, whom he hath slain, and destroy the heir also: thus shall they quench my cole that is left, [i.e. put mine onely son that is left to death, whereby the family might be planted and preserved, as from a coal a fire may be raised and preserved] that they may leave [Heb. put] mine husband no name nor remainder upon the earth. [Because this son was onely to bear his fathers name, and to be their heir. See Deuteronomy 25:6. Ruth 4:5, 10.]

8. Then said the King unto this woman; Go to thine house, and I will give charge for thee [Over thee, or, about thee, concerning thee. The meaning is, I will give charge, that no hurt come to thy son. Or, (as some would have it) I will cause the matter to be examined by Judges.]

9. And the Thekotish woman said unto the King: My Lord (O) King the iniquity, [If there may be any in this sentence of thine] be on me, [i.e. I take the same upon me, as being assured of my sons innocency, or the equity of thy sentence] and on my fathers house: on the contrary, the King and his throne be guiltless.

10. And the King said; If any man speak against thee, then bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more. [Heb. not add, or, proceed to touch thee; i.e. To vex thee, trouble thee, molest thee.]

11. And she said, I pray let the King remember the LORD thy [i.e. His] God, [It seemeth, that she looks at the Law given by God, Numb.35.11, 12. Some conceive, that by these words she requireth an Oath of the King. Others, that she looketh on the example of Kain that murdered his brother, whom God spread] that the revenge of blood may not be multiplied to destroy, lest they destroy my son: [The meaning is, seeing there be many next Kinsmen and avengers of blood, it would be requisite, that the King should not onely give charge to one, but to all: Otherwise one or other having received no charge to the contrary, might easily slay my son] then said he; (As true as) the LORD liveth. [Understand withal; I which also do that which I have said] If there shall one of the hairs of thy son fall on the earth. [Understand withal: Then let God do this and that to me. See of such kind of Oath, Gen.14.on ver.23. The meaning of the words is this, as if David had said, I will take order, that thy son shall not be damnified in the least. See 1 Sam.14.45. 1 King.1.52. Act.27.34. & compare Mat.10.30.]

12. Then said this woman; I pray let thine handmaid speak one word unto my LORD the King: and he said speak (on.)

13. And the woman said; Wherefore then hast thou thought such a (thing) [viz. Which thou hast but even now condemned in the sentence thou passedst; as being unjust and unbeseeming] against the people of God? [which long for Absaloms return, that he may join for their good in his old fathers stead] for thence, that the King hath spoken this word, [i.e. the former speech or sentence in my sons case] he is a guilty (person), seeing the King doth not fetch back again his banished. [namely, Absalom, whose case (she would say) is like her sons case: although there was great difference between both, in that Absalom had not slain his brother in the fight , nor unawares, but had caused him to be treacherously murdered: see above chap.13.28.]

14. For we shall die the death [Heb. dying die: to wit, if Absalom return not. Others understand this and the words following, of the natural death; as if he had said, Do not hasten Absaloms death, he will yet die soon enough, as all of us must die once, and not rise again till the last day] and be as water, which being poured forth on the ground, is not gathered up again: [i.e. cannot be brought together again, when it is once poured forth on the ground] God then [For his peoples sake, lest being deprived of Absalom, we should after thy death be without an head and Protector, and become a prey unto our enemies] will not take away the soul, [or, hath not taken away (his) soul; i.e. Absaloms life. Oth. and God will not accept any person; viz. that any man should avoid death] but he will think thoughts, [i.e. and he (to wit, the King) will think thoughts, &c. devise, or find out means, order the matter, meaning, so as that after his death the Kingdom may be provided of a successor] so as not to expel the expelled [viz. Absalom] from him. [so that he should not return to Gods people.]

15. Now then, that I am come, to speak this word unto my Lord the King (is) because the people [Speaking daily in the former verse is related, for fear that Absalom should tarry quite away] made me afraid: so thine hand-maid said; [viz. by her self; i.e. thought: so ver.17.] I will now speak unto King; peradventure the King will perform the word [i.e. the counsel, advise, fore-cast] of his hand maid.

16. For the King will hear, to deliver his hand-maid out of the hand of the man (that intendeth) to destroy me and my son together from Gods inheritance. [i.e. from Gods people, they being s dear unto him, as any mans inheritance can be unto him: and consequently in like manner must do to his son Absalom, in regard of the likeness of both these cases.]

17. Moreover thine hand-maid said; [i.e. Thought as v.15.] the word [i.e. the sentence, the judgement passed] of my Lord, the King be for rest; [spoken in a desiring, or, wishing manner: or, shall now be for rest; i.e. shall serve for comfort and rest; not onely to me and my son, but also unto Absalom, the King himself, and all the people, that long for Absalom] for as an Angel of God, [so wise, as, &c. see v.24.] so is my Lord the King, to hear good and bad; [i.e. to understand, to discern, to judge what is good, or what is bad: so below chap.19.27.] and the LORD thy God will be with thee. [or, be with thee]

18. Then the King answered, and said unto the woman; Hide not now the thing from me, which I shall ask thee: and the woman said; Let my Lord the King speak, I pray.

19. And the King said; Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? [i.e. Doest thou not all this by Joabs order and direction] and the woman answered, and said; (As true as) thy soul liveth, my LORD (the) King. If any man could turn away to the right hand, or to the left, from all that the King hath spoken; [Oth. If there be (any) turning away to the right hand, or to the left, etc, Intimating, that it was impossible to cousin the King with liars, seeing he straightway perceiveth the meaning of the thing] for thy servant Joab he bade me (do) it, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine hand-maid: [as above v.3.]

20. That I should thus turn about the form [Heb. face] of this thing, [first speak of mine own case, and having had the Kings sentence or judgment passed upon it, then fetch the matter about, and apply it to Absalom] thy servant Joab hath done this: but my Lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an Angel of God [as above vers.17.] to perceive all, that is upon the Earth. [or, (that happeneth or passeth) in this land.]

21. Then the King said unto Joab; behold now, I have done this thing: [I have granted the request, which thou hast made unto me by the woman of Thekoa: Or, thou hast done this thing; that is, so ordered or managed it] Go thee thy ways, fetch the young man [Heb. Lad: although he was a man. See of the Hebrew word Gen.22.on ver.5.] Absalom again.

22. Then Joab fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself, and humbled [Heb. blessed] the King: and Joab said; to day thy servant [i.e. I] hath perceived, that I have found grave in thine eyes, my LORD, (O) King, because the King hath done that word [i.e. the request, the counsel, advice] of his servant. [oth. of thy servant.]

23. So Joab gat him up, and went to Gesur: [See above chap.3.on v.3. and chap.13.37.] and he brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

24. And the King said; let him [viz. Absalom] turn to his (own) house, and let him not see my face [see Gen.43.on v.3. This served partly to put Absalom the more in mind of his fault, and partly to avoid the offence and trouble that might have risen among the godly, and the Kings children, if Absalom had been straightway put again into equal degree with his brethren] so Absalom turned into his own house, and saw not the Kings face.

25. Now in all Israel there was no man so beautiful, as Absalom, much to be praised: from the sole of his foot unto the crown of his head there was no default in him.

26. And when he shaved [i.e. caused to be shaved or shorn, and so in the following words] his head, (now it happened at the end of every year [Heb. from the days to the days; i.e. from year to year, or every year. See Lev.25.on v.29.] that he shaved it: because it was too heavy for him, therefore he shaved it;) then the hair of his head weighed two hundred shekels, according to the Kings weight. [i.e. according to the common civil shekel, and not the shekel of the sanctuary. See Gen.20.on v.16. Heb. according to the Kings stone, i.e. according to the Royal weight. See Lev.19.on v.36. and Deut.25.13.]

27. Also unto Absalom (there) were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Thamar: this was a woman fair of countenance,

28. Thus Absalom remained two full years [Heb. two full years of days. See Gen.41.on v.1.] at Jerusalem, then he saw not the Kings face.

29. Therefore Absalom sent unto Joab, to send him to the King, but he would not come to him: so he sent again the second time, nevertheless he would not come.

30. Then he [viz.Absalom] said unto his servant; behold the parcel of Joabs Field is at the side of mine, [Heb. at rain hand, i.e. side. The meaning is, at the side of my field] and he hath barley upon it; go your ways, and set nit on fire: and Absaloms servants set that part of the field on fire.

31. Then Joab gat him up, and came to Absalom into the house, and said unto him; why have thy servants set the parcel of the field, which is mine, on fire.

32. And Absalom said unto Joab; behold, I sent unto thee, saying; come hither, that I may send thee to the King, to say; wherefore am I come from Gesur? it were Good for me, that I were there still: now then let me see the Kings face: [Absalom speaketh this now unto Joab] and if there be any fault in me, then let him kill me, [he speaketh so boldly, because he well knew the Kings gracious goodness.]

33. Then Joab went in unto the King, and acquainted him with it; [viz. that which Absalom had given in charge] then he called for Absalom, and he came in unto the King, and bowed himself before him on his face to the ground, before the Kings face: and the King kissed Absalom. [in token of perfect reconciliation and favour. Compare gen.27.on v.26.]