2 Samuël 14:1

1 Als nu Joab, de zoon van Zeruja, merkte, dat des konings hart over Absalom was;

2 Samuël 14:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 14:1

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah
The general of David's army:

perceived that the king's heart [was] towards Absalom;
and longed to have him returned, though he knew not how to bring it about with credit to himself, his crime being so foul, and worthy of death. This Joab perceived by some words he now and then dropped, and by his conduct, not seeking by any ways and means to bring him to justice, and being now reconciled to the death of Amnon; wherefore Joab devised a way to make known to him his own mind, and the sense of the people, which would serve to encourage him to restore him; and the rather Joab was inclined to take such a step, as he knew it would establish him in the king's favour, and ingratiate him into the affection of Absalom, the next heir to the crown, as well as please the people, whose darling he was. Though Abarbinel is of opinion that Joab proceeded upon another view of things, not because he saw the heart and affection of David were towards Absalom, but the reverse; that though David restrained himself and his servants from going out after Absalom, yet Joab knew that the heart of the king was against him, and that his heart was to take vengeance on him, though he did not go out to seek him; he perceived there was still enmity and hatred in his heart to take vengeance on Absalom, and therefore he took the following method to remove it, and reconcile his mind to him; and so the Targum,

``and Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the heart of the king was to go, out against Absalom;''

and it may be observed, that when Joab had so far prevailed upon him as to admit him to bring him back to Jerusalem, he would not suffer him to see his face, nor did he for two years after.

2 Samuël 14:1 In-Context

1 Als nu Joab, de zoon van Zeruja, merkte, dat des konings hart over Absalom was;

2 Zo zond Joab heen naar Thekoa, en nam van daar een wijze vrouw; en hij zeide tot haar: Stel u toch, alsof gij rouw droegt, en trek nu rouwklederen aan, en zalf u niet met olie, en wees als een vrouw, die nu vele dagen rouw gedragen heeft over een dode;

3 En ga in tot den koning, en spreek tot hem naar dit woord. En Joab legde de woorden in haar mond.

4 En de Thekoietische vrouw zeide tot den koning, als zij op haar aangezicht ter aarde was gevallen, en zich nedergebogen had, zo zeide zij: Behoud, o koning!

5 En de koning zeide tot haar: Wat is u? En zij zeide: Zekerlijk, ik ben een weduwvrouw, en mijn man is gestorven.