2 Samuel 14:13-14

13 The woman said, "¹Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back ²his banished one.

14 "For ³we will surely die and are ⁴like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that ⁵the banished one will not be cast out from him.

2 Samuel 14:13-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 14

This chapter relates that Joab, perceiving David's inclination to bring back Absalom, employed a wise woman of Tekoah to lay before him a feigned case of hers, drawn up by Joab, whereby this point was gained from the king, that murder might be dispensed with in her case, 2Sa 14:1-20; which being applied to the case of Absalom, and the king finding out that the hand of Joab was in this, sent for him, and ordered him to bring Absalom again, though as yet he would not see his face, 2Sa 14:21-24; and after some notice being taken of the beauty of Absalom's person, particularly of his head of hair, and of the number of his children, 2Sa 14:25-27; it is related, that after two full years Absalom was uneasy that he might not see the king's face, and sent for Joab, who refused to come to him, till he found means to oblige him to it, who, with the king's leave, introduced him to him, 2Sa 14:28-33.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 12:7; 1 Kings 20:40-42
• 2. 2 Samuel 13:37, 38
• 3. Job 30:23; Job 34:15; Hebrews 9:27
• 4. Psalms 58:7
• 5. Num 35:15, 25, 28

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "devices"