2 Samuel 14:1

Contemporary English Version

Joab knew that David couldn't stop thinking about Absalom,

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king’s mind was on Absalom.

Hebrew Names Version
Now Yo'av the son of Tzeru'yah perceived that the king's heart was toward Avshalom.

King James Version
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

Lexham English Bible
Joab the son of Zeruiah realized that the mind of the king was on Absalom.

English Standard Version
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart went out to Absalom.

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

New English Translation
Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see Absalom.

Amplified Bible
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart longed for Absalom.

New American Standard Bible
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was drawn toward Absalom.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah perceyued, that the Kings heart was toward Absalom,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart was inclined toward Absalom.

Complete Jewish Bible
Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah perceived that the king missed Avshalom;

Darby Translation
And Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

Easy-to-Read Version
Joab son of Zeruiah knew that King David missed Absalom very much.

George Lamsa Translation
NOW Joab the son of, Zoriah perceived that the kings heart was reconciled toward Absalom.

Good News Translation
Joab knew that King David missed Absalom very much,

Literal Translation
And Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart was on Absalom.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ioab the sonne of Ieru Ia perceaued yt the kynges hert was agaynst Absalom,

American Standard Version
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

Bible in Basic English
Now it was clear to Joab, the son of Zeruiah, that the king's heart was turning to Absalom.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Ioab ye sonne of Zaruia perceaued that the kynges heart was toward Absalom:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

King James Version (1611)
Now Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah, perceiued that the kings heart was toward Absalom.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Joab the son of Saruia knew that the heart of the king was toward Abessalom.

English Revised Version
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.

Berean Standard Bible
Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart longed for Absalom.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Joab, the sone of Saruye, vndirstood, that the herte of the kyng was turned to Absolon;

Young's Literal Translation
And Joab son of Zeruial knoweth that the heart of the king [is] on Absalom,

Update Bible Version
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart [was] towards Absalom.

World English Bible
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

New King James Version
So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was concerned about Absalom.

New Living Translation
Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom.

New Life Bible
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah saw that the king missed Absalom very much.

New Revised Standard
Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's mind was on Absalom.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Joab, son of Zeruiah, perceived that the heart of the king was towards Absolom.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab the son of Sarvia, understanding that the king’s heart was turned to Absalom,

Revised Standard Version
Now Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah perceived that the king's heart went out to Ab'salom.

THE MESSAGE
Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king, deep down, still cared for Absalom. So he sent to Tekoa for a wise woman who lived there and instructed her, "Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in black and don't comb your hair, so you'll look like you've been grieving over a dead loved one for a long time. Then go to the king and tell him this..." Joab then told her exactly what to say.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was inclined toward Absalom.

Contextual Overview

¹ Joab knew that David couldn't stop thinking about Absalom, ²and he sent someone to bring in the wise woman who lived in Tekoa. Joab told her, "Put on funeral clothes and don't use any makeup. Go to the king and pretend you have spent a long time mourning the death of a loved one." Then he told her what to say. ⁴ The woman from Tekoa went to David. She bowed very low and said, "Your Majesty, please help me!" ⁵ David asked, "What's the matter?" She replied: My husband is dead, and I'm a widow. ⁶ I had two sons, but they got into a fight out in a field where there was no one to pull them apart, and one of them killed the other. ⁷ Now all of my relatives have come to me and said, "Hand over your son! We're going to put him to death for killing his brother." But what they really want is to get rid of him, so they can take over our land. Please don't let them put out my only flame of hope! There won't be anyone left on this earth to carry on my husband's name. ⁸ "Go on home," David told her. "I'll take care of this matter for you." ⁹ The woman said, "I hope your decision doesn't cause any problems for you. But if it does, you can blame me." ¹⁰ He said, "If anyone gives you any trouble, bring them to me, and it won't happen again!" ¹¹ "Please," she replied, "swear by the Lord your God that no one will be allowed to kill my son!" He said, "I swear by the living Lord that no one will touch even a hair on his head!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 2977, bc 1027, An, Ex, Is, 464

Joab: 2 Samuel 2:18, 1 Chronicles 2:16

toward Absalom: 2 Samuel 13:39, 2 Samuel 18:33, 2 Samuel 19:2, 2 Samuel 19:4, Proverbs 29:26

Cross-References

Genesis 11:2
but after some of them moved from the east and settled in Babylonia,

Isaiah 11:11
When that day comes, the Lord will again reach out his mighty arm and bring home his people who have survived in Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the land along the coast.

Isaiah 21:2
What a horrible vision was shown to me— a vision of betrayal and destruction. Tell Elam and Media to surround and attack the Babylonians. The Lord has sworn to end the suffering they caused.

Isaiah 22:6
The people of Elam and Kir attacked with chariots and carried shields.

Isaiah 37:12
The Assyrian kings before me destroyed the towns of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and everyone from Eden who lived in Telassar. What good did their gods do them?

Jeremiah 25:25
Zimri, Elam, Media,

Ezekiel 32:24
The graves of soldiers from Elam are there. The very sight of those godless soldiers once terrified their enemies and made them panic. But now they are disgraced and ashamed as they lie in the world of the dead, alongside others who were killed in battle.

Daniel 1:2
The Lord let Nebuchadnezzar capture Jehoiakim and take away some of the things used in God's temple. And when the king returned to Babylonia, he put these things in the temple of his own god.

Zechariah 5:11
"To Babylonia," he answered, "where they will build a house for the basket and set it down inside."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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. This Joab perceived by some words he now and then dropped, and by his conduct, not seeking by any ways and means to bring him to justice, and being now reconciled to the death of Amnon; wherefore Joab devised a way to make known to him his own mind, and the sense of the people, which would serve to encourage him to restore him; and the rather Joab was inclined to take such a step, as he knew it would establish him in the king's favour, and ingratiate him into the affection of Absalom, the next heir to the crown, as well as please the people, whose darling he was. Though Abarbinel is of opinion that Joab proceeded upon another view of things, not because he saw the heart and affection of David were towards Absalom, but the reverse; that though David restrained himself and his servants from going out after Absalom, yet Joab knew that the heart of the king was against him, and that his heart was to take vengeance on him, though he did not go out to seek him; he perceived there was still enmity and hatred in his heart to take vengeance on Absalom, and therefore he took the following method to remove it, and reconcile his mind to him; and so the Targum,

"and Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the heart of the king was to go, out against Absalom;''

and it may be observed, that when Joab had so far prevailed upon him as to admit him to bring him back to Jerusalem, he would not suffer him to see his face, nor did he for two years after.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XIV

A woman of Tekoah, by the advice of Joab, comes to the king; and

by a fictitious story persuades him to recall Absalom, 1-20.

Joab is permitted to go to Geshur, and bring Absalom from

thence, 21-23.

Absalom comes to Jerusalem to his own house, but is forbidden

to see the king's face, 24.

An account of Absalom's beauty, and the extraordinary weight of

his hair, 25, 26.

His children, 27.

He strives to regain the king's favour, and employs Joab as an

intercessor, 28-32.

David is reconciled to him, 33.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIV