2 Samuel 14:3

3 Then go to the king and say these words." Then Joab told her what to say.

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 Joab son of Zeruiah knew that King David missed Absalom very much.

2 So Joab sent messengers to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He said to her, "Pretend to be very sad. Put on funeral clothes and don't put lotion on yourself. Act like a woman who has been crying many days for someone who died.

3 Then go to the king and say these words." Then Joab told her what to say.

4 So the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king. She bowed facedown on the ground to show respect and said, "My king, help me!"

5 King David asked her, "What is the matter?" The woman said, "I am a widow; my husband is dead.