This chapter relates that Joab, perceiving David’s inclination to bring back Absalom, employed a wise woman of Tekoah to lay before him a feigned case of hers, drawn up by Joab, whereby this point was gained from the king, that murder might be dispensed with in her case, 2 Sam.

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.

And Joab sent to Tekoah Which Kimchi says was a city in the tribe of Asher, and others in the tribe of Benjamin, but it seems rather to be in the tribe, of Judah, (2 Chron. 11:5, 2 Chron.

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…

And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king Or after she had spoken to him, being introduced by Joab, as is probable; when she had saluted him with God save the king, or May the king live, or some such like expressions: she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance; to him as her king,…

And the king said unto her, what aileth thee? &c.] Or what is thy case? What is the condition, and what the circumstances, that thou art in, which require help and assistance? intimating that he was ready to grant it on knowledge thereof; however, he was ready to hear what she had to say: and she…

And thy handmaid had two sons Two are observed, that her case might suit with Amnon and Absalom: and they two strove together in the field; they quarrelled, and fought in the field, where there were no witnesses of what they did to each other; whereby she would suggest that Ammon was killed in the…

And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, &c.] Who had sheltered her son, that slew his brother, from the avenger of blood; and not only the next akin, the avenger of blood, but even all the kindred and relations of the deceased, those of her husband’s family rose up as one…

And the king said to the woman, go to thine house Go home and make thyself easy: and I will give charge concerning thee; intimating that he would inquire into her case; and if it was as she had represented it, he would give orders that she should not be disturbed, or be obliged to deliver up her…

And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, my lord and king, &c.] With much vehemence, and yet with great respect, fearing an inquisition into her case; which it would not bear, being a fable, and being very desirous of having sentence on it immediately pronounced: the iniquity be on me and on my…

And the king said, whoever saith ought unto thee Demanding her to deliver up her son to justice, and reproaching her for not doing it: bring him to me; give him in charge to a proper officer to be brought before me, and I shall chastise him for it: and he shall not touch thee any more; give her any…

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…

Then the woman said, let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my Lord the king Having gained her point, and gotten a decree from him confirmed by an oath, that her son though he had killed his brother should not die; she proceeds to accommodate the parable, and apply it to the case of…

Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? &c.] That they would be so wicked as to slay my son, or that they are the people of God that would slay Absalom; people so cruel could not be reckoned such, as the king’s sons; so Abarbinel; who gives it as the sense of…

For we must needs die As all must, herself, the king, and his sons, and indeed all men; this is the common case and lot of men; particularly she insinuates that David must die, and that there must be a successor named, and perhaps a dispute would arise about one; which might be fatal, if Absalom…

Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king Of the case of Absalom, under a feigned one of hers: it is because the people have made me afraid; having heard of their whisperings, murmurings, and uneasiness among them, because Absalom was not sent for home, fearing there…

For the king will hear She was fully persuaded of it, as now he had heard her: to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God; he had given his word and his oath that he would deliver her son from the avenger of blood, that…

Then thine handmaid said, the word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable Or, “for rest” [[15]]; what will give ease and satisfaction not only to her, but to all the people of Israel, when they shall hear of the king’s intention and resolution to bring back Absalom: for as an angel of God, so…

Then the king answered and said unto the woman Understanding plainly what she meant by all this, that the case she brought was a feigned one, and that the intention of it was to let him know the sense of the people with respect to Absalom, and the recall of him: hide not from me, I pray thee, the…

And the king said, is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? &c.] That is, is not this done by the advice, assistance, and direction of Joab? did not he form this scheme for thee, and direct thee to this method, and put thee upon prosecuting it? and the woman answered and said, as thy soul…

To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing Feigned a story in such form and manner as had been delivered to the king, that it might be accommodated and applied to the case of Absalom, and to transfer it in a figure to the king, to use the apostle’s phrase, ; and my…

And the king said unto Joab Who was present, or but at a little distance, waiting the issue of this affair: behold now I have done this thing; have agreed to recall Absalom, at the suit of this woman, which thou hast put her upon; or, according to the textual reading, “thou hast done this thing”…

And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, &c.] Or bowed so low as to the ground, in reverence of the king: and thanked the king; for giving him leave to fetch Absalom home, as if it was a favour done to himself: or “blessed” [[17]] him; wished all happiness and prosperity might…

So Joab arose and went to Geshur Where Absalom was with his grandfather, the king of the place; see (2 Sam. 13:37, 2 Sam. 13:38) ; and brought Absalom to Jerusalem; from thence, which, according to Bunting [[18]], was the distance of eighty eight miles from it. 19: Travels p 146, 148.

And the king said Very probably to Joab, when he informed him of Absalom’s being come to Jerusalem: let him turn to his own house; depart from the king’s palace, where Joab had brought him, and go to his own house, which was in Jerusalem; for here he had one before he fled to Geshur; see ; and let…

But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty Which is observed to account in some measure for the interest he had in the affections of the people, both now and hereafter: from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him; not any…

And when he polled his head Or cut off the hair of it; for that was one thing, a good head of hair which he had, that made him look very comely and beautiful: for it was at every year’s end that he polled it; or cut it off once a year; but the Jews say [[21]] he was a perpetual Nazarite: because…

And unto Absalom there were born three sons Who very probably died young; and the rather it may be thought so, since their names are not given, and more especially since it is said that Absalom had no sons, and therefore erected a pillar to keep up the remembrance of his name; unless it can be…

So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem After his return from Geshur: and saw not the king’s face; all that time; which was owing either to the king’s resentment of the fact committed by him, or to state policy.

Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king, &c.] To introduce him into his presence, being uneasy to be thus confined at his own house, and not suffered to come to court: but he would not come to him; knowing the king’s mind, and being unwilling to disoblige him by a troublesome…

Therefore he said unto his servants That did his business for him in the field, in keeping his flocks, and tilling his ground: see Joab’s field is near mine: for great personages in those days attended to husbandry: and he hath barley there, go and set it on fire; it being ripe, and so capable of…

Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house Provoked at what he had done, and to know the reason of it; and which was answering Absalom’s end: and said unto him, wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? which was not only injurious to his property, but a malicious action.

And Absalom answered Joab Neither denying the fact, nor being ashamed of it, nor asking pardon for it; but endeavouring to vindicate it, by giving a reason as he thought sufficient for it: behold, I sent unto thee, saying, come hither, that I may send thee to the king; which was assuming great…

So Joab came to the king, and told him What Absalom had said to him: and when he had called for Absalom; sent messengers to his house to order him to come to him: he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; made a very reverend bow to him, according to the…