Shmuel Bais 14:11

11 Then said she, Now, let HaMelech remember Hashem Eloheicha, that thou wouldest not suffer the Go’el HaDahm to destroy any more, lest they destroy beni (my son). And he said, As Hashem liveth, there shall not one hair of thy ben fall to the ground.

Shmuel Bais 14:11 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 14:11

Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy
God
Who is a God gracious and merciful, and imitate him in showing mercy to the distressed; pitying their case, having compassion upon them, and relieving them, as she hoped he would commiserate her case, and provide for the safety of her son. Some think she desires not only to give his word, but his oath, for her son's safety: "remember the Lord thy God"; i.e. make mention of him, as men do when they swear by him; swear to me by the Lord thy God:

that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any
more, lest they destroy my son,
or, "from multiplying the avenger of blood" F15; that there might not rise one after another to destroy her son: her meaning is, that the king would swear to her, and give out a general prohibition, an universal edict, that no one should slay her son; otherwise if only the avenger of blood that was next of kin was forbidden, others would rise up one after another, so that he would never be in safety:

and he said, [as] the Lord liveth;
if she desired an oath, he granted her request, and swore by the living God:

there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth;
so far shall his life be from being touched, or taken away, that the least hurt shall not be done him, as this proverbial expression signifies.


FOOTNOTES:

F15 (Mdh lag twbrhm) "a multiplicando redemptorem sanguinis", Montanus; so the Tigurine version.

Shmuel Bais 14:11 In-Context

9 And the isha of Tekoah said unto HaMelech, Adoni, O Melech, the avon (guilt) be on me, and on my bais avi; and HaMelech and his kisse be guiltless.
10 And HaMelech said, Whoever saith anything unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
11 Then said she, Now, let HaMelech remember Hashem Eloheicha, that thou wouldest not suffer the Go’el HaDahm to destroy any more, lest they destroy beni (my son). And he said, As Hashem liveth, there shall not one hair of thy ben fall to the ground.
12 Then the isha said, Let thine shifchah, now, speak one word unto adoni Ha-Melech. And he said, Say on.
13 And the isha said, why then hast thou thought such a thing against the Am Elohim? For HaMelech doth speak this thing as one which is guilty, in that HaMelech doth not bring back home again his banished.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.