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 ]