2 Samuel 14:3

3 and come to the king, and speak after this manner to him. And Joab put the words into her mouth.

2 Samuel 14:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 14:3

And come to the king
At his palace, in the above condition and circumstances:

and speak on this manner unto him;
something to the following purpose he dictated to her:

so Joab put the words in her mouth;
the substance of what she should say; the fable she was to deliver as her own case might be framed by Joab, and which she delivered word for word exactly as he put it, and the application of it; but as he knew not what questions the king would ask her, so he could not dictate to her what to reply, unless he supposed this and the other, and so formed answers; but this he left to her prudence, and for the sake of which he chose a wise woman to manage this affair.

2 Samuel 14:3 In-Context

1 And Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said to her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments, I pray, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead;

3 and come to the king, and speak after this manner to him. And Joab put the words into her mouth.

4 And the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, and she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, Save, O king!

5 And the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she said, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.