2 Samuel 14 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom. ^[2] Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, please, and don’t anoint yourself with oil; but be as a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead. ^[3] Go in to the king and speak like this to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth. ^[4] When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showed respect, and said, “Help, O king!” ^[5] The king said to her, “What ails you?”She answered, “Truly I am a widow, and my husband is dead. ^[6] Your servant had two sons; and they both fought together in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him. ^[7] Behold, the whole family has risen against your servant, and they say, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also.’ Thus they would quench my coal which is left, and would leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth.” ^[8] The king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give a command concerning you.” ^[9] The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, may the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house; and may the king and his throne be guiltless.” ^[10] The king said, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not bother you any more.” ^[11] Then she said, “Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son.”He said, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.” ^[12] Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.”He said, “Say on.” ^[13] The woman said, “Why then have you devised 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 home again his banished one. ^[14] For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him. ^[15] Now therefore, seeing that I have come to speak this word to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. Your servant said, ‘I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.’ ^[16] For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. ^[17] Then your servant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king bring rest; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad. May Yahweh, your God, be with you.’ ” ^[18] Then the king answered the woman, “Please don’t hide anything from me that I ask you.”The woman said, “Let my lord the king now speak.” ^[19] The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?”The woman answered, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken; for your servant Joab urged me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your servant. ^[20] Your servant Joab has done this thing to change the face of the matter. My lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.” ^[21] The king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, and bring the young man Absalom back.” ^[22] Joab fell to the ground on his face, showed respect, and blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.” ^[23] So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. ^[24] The king said, “Let him return to his own house, but let him not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn’t see the king’s face. ^[25] Now in all Israel there was no one to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty. From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no defect in him. ^[26] When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels,^ⓘ after the king’s weight. ^[27] Three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a woman with a beautiful face. ^[28] Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and he didn’t see the king’s face. ^[29] Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. Then he sent again a second time, but he would not come. ^[30] Therefore he said to his servants, “Behold, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. ^[31] Then Joab arose and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” ^[32] Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still. Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.” ’ ” ^[33] So Joab came to the king and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.

Footnotes

A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, so 200 shekels is about 2 kilograms or about 4.4 pounds.

King James Version

^[1] Now JoabH3097 the sonH1121 of ZeruiahH6870 perceivedH3045(QalImpf) that the king’sH4428 heartH3820 [was] toward Absalom.H53 ^[2] And JoabH3097 sentH7971(QalImpf) to Tekoah,H8620 and fetchedH3947(QalImpf) thence a wiseH2450 woman,H802 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner,H56(HithPtc) and put onH3847(QalImpv) now mourningH60 apparel,H899 and anointH5480(QalImpf) not thyself with oil,H8081 but be as a womanH802 that had a longH7227 timeH3117 mournedH56(HithImpv) for the dead:H4191(QalPtc) ^[3] And comeH935(QalPerf) to the king,H4428 and speakH1696(PielPerf) on this mannerH1697 unto him. So JoabH3097 putH7760(QalImpf) the wordsH1697 in her mouth.H6310 ^[4] And when the womanH802 of TekoahH8621 spakeH559(QalImpf) to the king,H4428 she fellH5307(QalImpf) on her faceH639 to the ground,H776 and did obeisance,H7812(HithImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) Help,H3467(HiphImpv) O king.H4428 ^[5] And the kingH4428 saidH559(QalImpf) unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered,H559(QalImpf) I [am] indeedH61 a widowH490 woman,H802 and mine husbandH376 is dead.H4191(QalImpf) ^[6] And thy handmaidH8198 had twoH8147 sons,H1121 and they twoH8147 strove togetherH5327(NiphImpf) in the field,H7704 and [there was] none to partH5337(HiphPtc) them, but the oneH259 smoteH5221(HiphImpf) the other,H259 and slewH4191(HiphImpf) him. ^[7] And, behold, the whole familyH4940 is risenH6965(QalPerf) against thine handmaid,H8198 and they said,H559(QalImpf) DeliverH5414(QalImpv) him that smoteH5221(HiphPtc) his brother,H251 that we may killH4191(HiphImpf) him, for the lifeH5315 of his brotherH251 whom he slew;H2026(QalPerf) and we will destroyH8045(HiphImpf) the heirH3423(QalActPtc) also: and so they shall quenchH3518(PielPerf) my coalH1513 which is left,H7760(QalInf) and shall not leaveH7604(NiphPerf) to my husbandH376 [neither] nameH8034 nor remainderH7611 uponH6440 the earth.H127 ^[8] And the kingH4428 saidH559(QalImpf) unto the woman,H802 GoH3212(QalImpv) to thine house,H1004 and I will give chargeH6680(PielImpf) concerning thee. ^[9] And the womanH802 of TekoahH8621 saidH559(QalImpf) unto the king,H4428 My lord,H113 O king,H4428 the iniquityH5771 [be] on me, and on my father’sH1 house:H1004 and the kingH4428 and his throneH3678 [be] guiltless.H5355 ^[10] And the kingH4428 said,H559(QalImpf) Whosoever saithH1696(PielPtc) [ought] unto thee, bringH935(HiphPerf) him to me, and he shall not touchH5060(QalInf) thee any more.H3254(HiphImpf) ^[11] Then saidH559(QalImpf) she, I pray thee, let the kingH4428 rememberH2142(QalImpf) the LordH3068 thy God,H430 that thou wouldest not suffer the revengersH1350(QalActPtc) of bloodH1818 to destroyH7843(PielInf) any more,H7235(HiphInf) lest they destroyH8045(HiphImpf) my son.H1121 And he said,H559(QalImpf) [As] the LordH3068 liveth,H2416 there shall not one hairH8185 of thy sonH1121 fallH5307(QalImpf) to the earth.H776 ^[12] Then the womanH802 said,H559(QalImpf) Let thine handmaid,H8198 I pray thee, speakH1696(PielImpf) [one] wordH1697 unto my lordH113 the king.H4428 And he said,H559(QalImpf) Say on.H1696(PielImpv) ^[13] And the womanH802 said,H559(QalImpf) Wherefore then hast thou thoughtH2803(QalPerf) such a thing against the peopleH5971 of God?H430 for the kingH4428 doth speakH1696(HithPtc) this thingH1697 as one which is faulty,H818 in that the kingH4428 doth not fetch home againH7725(HiphInf) his banished.H5080(NiphPtc) ^[14] For we must needsH4191(QalInf) die,H4191(QalImpf) and [are] as waterH4325 spiltH5064(NiphPtc) on the ground,H776 which cannot be gathered up again;H622(NiphImpf) neither doth GodH430 respectH5375(QalImpf) [any] person:H5315 yet doth he deviseH2803(QalPerf) means,H4284 that his banishedH5080(NiphPtc) be not expelledH5080(QalImpf) from him. ^[15] Now therefore that I am comeH935(QalPerf) to speakH1696(PielInf) of this thingH1697 unto my lordH113 the king,H4428 [it is] because the peopleH5971 have made me afraid:H3372(PielPerf) and thy handmaidH8198 said,H559(QalImpf) I will now speakH1696(PielImpf) unto the king;H4428 it may be that the kingH4428 will performH6213(QalImpf) the requestH1697 of his handmaid.H519 ^[16] For the kingH4428 will hear,H8085(QalImpf) to deliverH5337(HiphInf) his handmaidH519 out of the handH3709 of the manH376 [that would] destroyH8045(HiphInf) me and my sonH1121 togetherH3162 out of the inheritanceH5159 of God.H430 ^[17] Then thine handmaidH8198 said,H559(QalImpf) The wordH1697 of my lordH113 the kingH4428 shall now be comfortable:H4496 for as an angelH4397 of God,H430 so [is] my lordH113 the kingH4428 to discernH8085(QalInf) goodH2896 and bad:H7451 therefore the LordH3068 thy GodH430 will be with thee. ^[18] Then the kingH4428 answeredH6030(QalImpf) and saidH559(QalImpf) unto the woman,H802 HideH3582(PielImpf) not from me, I pray thee, the thingH1697 that I shall askH7592(QalActPtc) thee. And the womanH802 said,H559(QalImpf) Let my lordH113 the kingH4428 now speak.H1696(PielImpf) ^[19] And the kingH4428 said,H559(QalImpf) [Is not] the handH3027 of JoabH3097 with thee in all this? And the womanH802 answeredH6030(QalImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) [As] thy soulH5315 liveth,H2416 my lordH113 the king,H4428 noneH376 canH786 turn to the right handH3231(HiphInf) or to the leftH8041(HiphInf) from ought that my lordH113 the kingH4428 hath spoken:H1696(PielPerf) for thy servantH5650 Joab,H3097 he badeH6680(PielPerf) me, and he putH7760(QalPerf) all these wordsH1697 in the mouthH6310 of thine handmaid:H8198 ^[20] ToH5668 fetch aboutH5437(PielInf) this formH6440 of speechH1697 hath thy servantH5650 JoabH3097 doneH6213(QalPerf) this thing:H1697 and my lordH113 [is] wise,H2450 according to the wisdomH2451 of an angelH4397 of God,H430 to knowH3045(QalInf) all [things] that [are] in the earth.H776 ^[21] And the kingH4428 saidH559(QalImpf) unto Joab,H3097 Behold now, I have doneH6213(QalPerf) this thing:H1697 goH3212(QalImpv) therefore, bringH7725 the young manH5288 AbsalomH53 again.H7725(HiphImpv) ^[22] And JoabH3097 fellH5307(QalImpf) to the groundH776 on his face,H6440 and bowedH7812(HithImpf) himself, and thankedH1288(PielImpf) the king:H4428 and JoabH3097 said,H559(QalImpf) To dayH3117 thy servantH5650 knowethH3045(QalPerf) that I have foundH4672(QalPerf) graceH2580 in thy sight,H5869 my lord,H113 O king,H4428 in that the kingH4428 hath fulfilledH6213(QalPerf) the requestH1697 of his servant.H5650 ^[23] So JoabH3097 aroseH6965(QalImpf) and wentH3212(QalImpf) to Geshur,H1650 and broughtH935(HiphImpf) AbsalomH53 to Jerusalem.H3389 ^[24] And the kingH4428 said,H559(QalImpf) Let him turnH5437(NiphImpf) to his own house,H1004 and let him not seeH7200(QalImpf) my face.H6440 So AbsalomH53 returnedH5437(NiphImpf) to his own house,H1004 and sawH7200(QalPerf) not the king’sH4428 face.H6440 ^[25] But in all IsraelH3478 there was noneH376 to be so muchH3966 praisedH1984(PielInf) as AbsalomH53 for his beauty:H3303 from the soleH3709 of his footH7272 even to the crown of his headH6936 there was no blemishH3971 in him. ^[26] And when he polledH1548(PielInf) his head,H7218 (for it was at every year’sH3117 endH7093 that he polledH1548(PielImpf) [it]: because [the hair] was heavyH3513(QalPerf) on him, therefore he polledH1548(PielPerf) it:) he weighedH8254(QalPerf) the hairH8181 of his headH7218 at two hundredH3967 shekelsH8255 after the king’sH4428 weight.H68 ^[27] And unto AbsalomH53 there were bornH3205(NiphImpf) threeH7969 sons,H1121 and oneH259 daughter,H1323 whose nameH8034 [was] Tamar:H8559 she was a womanH802 of a fairH3303 countenance.H4758 ^[28] So AbsalomH53 dweltH3427(QalImpf) two fullH3117 yearsH8141 in Jerusalem,H3389 and sawH7200(QalPerf) not the king’sH4428 face.H6440 ^[29] Therefore AbsalomH53 sentH7971(QalImpf) for Joab,H3097 to have sentH7971(QalInf) him to the king;H4428 but he wouldH14(QalPerf) not comeH935(QalInf) to him: and when he sent againH7971(QalImpf) the second time,H8145 he wouldH14(QalPerf) not come.H935(QalInf) ^[30] Therefore he saidH559(QalImpf) unto his servants,H5650 See,H7200(QalImpv) Joab’sH3097 fieldH2513 is nearH413 mine,H3027 and he hath barleyH8184 there; goH3212(QalImpv) and setH3341(HiphImpv) it on fire.H784 And Absalom’sH53 servantsH5650 setH3341(HiphImpf) the fieldH2513 on fire.H784 ^[31] Then JoabH3097 arose,H6965(QalImpf) and cameH935(QalImpf) to AbsalomH53 unto [his] house,H1004 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Wherefore have thy servantsH5650 setH3341(HiphPerf) my fieldH2513 on fire?H784 ^[32] And AbsalomH53 answeredH559(QalImpf) Joab,H3097 Behold, I sentH7971(QalPerf) unto thee, saying,H559(QalInf) ComeH935(QalImpv) hither, that I may sendH7971(QalImpf) thee to the king,H4428 to say,H559(QalInf) Wherefore am I comeH935(QalPerf) from Geshur?H1650 [it had been] goodH2896 for me [to have been] there still: now therefore let me seeH7200(QalImpf) the king’sH4428 face;H6440 and if there beH3426 [any] iniquityH5771 in me, let him killH4191(HiphPerf) me. ^[33] So JoabH3097 cameH935(QalImpf) to the king,H4428 and toldH5046(HiphImpf) him: and when he had calledH7121(QalImpf) for Absalom,H53 he cameH935(QalImpf) to the king,H4428 and bowedH7812(HithImpf) himself on his faceH639 to the groundH776 beforeH6440 the king:H4428 and the kingH4428 kissedH5401(QalImpf) Absalom.H53

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