Thematic Bible
2 Samuel 14:1 (show verse)
Joab son of Zeruiah knew the king was still thinking about Absalom.
2 Samuel 14:2 (show verse)
Joab sent someone to Tekoa to get a wise woman from there. He told her: Please act like a mourner. Dress in mourning clothes. Do not use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.
2 Samuel 14:3 (show verse)
Go to the king and speak to him in this way. Then Joab told her exactly what to say.
2 Samuel 14:4 (show verse)
The woman from Tekoa came to the king. She immediately bowed down with her face touching the ground. Help me, Your Majesty, she said.
2 Samuel 14:5 (show verse)
The king asked her: What can I do for you? She answered: I am a widow; my husband is dead.
2 Samuel 14:6 (show verse)
I had two sons who fought with each other in the field. There was no one to separate them. One killed the other.
2 Samuel 14:7 (show verse)
All my relatives have turned against me and are demanding that I hand my son over to them. They want to kill him for murdering his brother. If they do this, I will be left without a son. They will destroy my last hope. They will leave my husband without a son to keep his name alive.
2 Samuel 14:8 (show verse)
The king responded: Go back home. I will take care of the matter.
2 Samuel 14:9 (show verse)
Your Majesty, she said, do whatever you must. My family and I will take the blame. You and the royal family are innocent.
2 Samuel 14:10 (show verse)
The king replied: If someone threatens you, bring him to me. He will never bother you again.
2 Samuel 14:11 (show verse)
She said: Please pray to Jehovah your God, Your Majesty, so that my relative who is responsible for avenging the death of my son will not commit a greater crime by killing my other son. I promise by the living Jehovah, David replied, your son will not be harmed.
2 Samuel 14:12 (show verse)
She added: Your Majesty, May I say something? Yes, he answered.
2 Samuel 14:13 (show verse)
The woman said: Have you been hurting God's people? Your own son had to leave the country. When you judged in my favor, it was the same as admitting that you should have let him come back.
2 Samuel 14:14 (show verse)
We each must die and disappear like water poured out on the ground. But God does not take our lives. Instead, he figures out ways of bringing us back when we run away.
2 Samuel 14:15 (show verse)
Your Majesty, I came here to tell you about my problem. I was afraid of what someone might do to me. I decided to come to you, because I thought you could help.
2 Samuel 14:16 (show verse)
In fact, I knew that you would listen and save my son and me from those who want to take the land that God gave us.
2 Samuel 14:17 (show verse)
I can rest easy now that you have given your decision. You know the difference between right and wrong just like an angel of God. I pray that Jehovah your God will be with you.
2 Samuel 14:18 (show verse)
David said: Now I ask you a question. Do not try to hide the truth! The woman replied: Please go ahead, Your Majesty.
2 Samuel 14:19 (show verse)
Did Joab put you up to this? The king asked. The woman answered: I solemnly swear on your life, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right! Yes, your servant Joab ordered me to do this. He told me to say exactly what I said.
2 Samuel 14:20 (show verse)
Your servant Joab has done this to view this matter from a different angle. You are as wise as an angel of God (messenger of God), who knows everything on earth.
2 Samuel 14:21 (show verse)
Later on the king said to Joab: I have decided to do what you want. Go and get the young man Absalom and bring him back here.
2 Samuel 14:22 (show verse)
Joab quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground. He blessed the king. He said: Today I know that you have been kind to me because you did what I wanted.
2 Samuel 14:23 (show verse)
Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 14:24 (show verse)
The king said: Absalom should return to his own house. Do not let him see me. So Absalom returned to his house. He did not see the king.
2 Samuel 14:25 (show verse)
No one in all Israel was praised for his good looks as much as Absalom was. He had no blemish from head to toe.
2 Samuel 14:26 (show verse)
From time to time, he used to cut his hair because it became heavy for him. When he cut the hair on his head and weighed it, it weighed five pounds according to the king's standard.
2 Samuel 14:27 (show verse)
Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter Tamar was a beautiful woman.
2 Samuel 14:28 (show verse)
Absalom stayed in Jerusalem two years without seeing the king.
No Themes for this verse.
2 Samuel 14:29 (show verse)
So Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king. Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time. He still refused to come.
2 Samuel 14:30 (show verse)
Finally, Absalom told his servants: Joab's barley field is next to mine. Set it on fire! So they set it on fire.
2 Samuel 14:31 (show verse)
Joab went to Absalom's house and demanded: Why have your servants set my field on fire?
2 Samuel 14:32 (show verse)
Absalom answered: You did not pay any attention when I sent for you. I want you to ask my father why he told me to come back from Geshur. I was better off there. I want to see my father now! If I am guilty, let him kill me.
2 Samuel 14:33 (show verse)
So Joab went to King David. He told him what Absalom said. The king sent for Absalom. He went to the king and bowed down to the ground in front of him. The king welcomed him with a kiss.