2 Samuel 14:1

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.

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.

Contemporary English Version
Joab knew that David couldn't stop thinking about 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.

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

Contextual Overview

¹Joab 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. ⁴ The woman of Tekoa went to the king, bowed deeply before him in homage, and said, "O King, help!" ⁵He said, "How can I help?" "I'm a widow," she said. "My husband is dead. I had two sons. The two of them got into a fight out in the field and there was no one around to step between them. The one struck the other and killed him. Then the whole family ganged up against me and demanded, ‘Hand over this murderer so we can kill him for the life of the brother he murdered!' They want to wipe out the heir and snuff out the one spark of life left to me. And then there would be nothing left of my husband—not so much as a name—on the face of the earth. "So now I've dared come to the king, my master, about all this. They're making my life miserable, and I'm afraid. I said to myself, ‘I'll go to the king. Maybe he'll do something! When the king hears what's going on, he'll step in and rescue me from the abuse of the man who would get rid of me and my son and God's inheritance—the works!' As your handmaid, I decided ahead of time, ‘The word of my master, the king, will be the last word in this, for my master is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil.' God be with you!" ⁸ The king said, "Go home, and I'll take care of this for you." ⁹ "I'll take all responsibility for what happens," the woman of Tekoa said. "I don't want to compromise the king and his reputation." ¹⁰ "Bring the man who has been harassing you," the king continued. "I'll see to it that he doesn't bother you anymore." ¹¹ "Let the king invoke the name of God ," said the woman, "so this self-styled vigilante won't ruin everything, to say nothing of killing my son." "As surely as God lives," he said, "not so much as a hair of your son's head will be lost." ¹² Then she asked, "May I say one more thing to my master, the king?" He said, "Go ahead." ¹³"Why, then," the woman said, "have you done this very thing against God's people? In his verdict, the king convicts himself by not bringing home his exiled son. We all die sometime. Water spilled on the ground can't be gathered up again. But God does not take away life. He works out ways to get the exile back." The king then said, "I'm going to ask you something. Answer me truthfully." "Certainly," she said. "Let my master, the king, speak." The king said, "Is the hand of Joab mixed up in this?" "On your life, my master king, a body can't veer an inch right or left and get by with it in the royal presence! Yes, it was your servant Joab who put me up to this, and put these very words in my mouth. It was because he wanted to turn things around that your servant Joab did this. But my master is as wise as God's angels in knowing how to handle things on this earth." The king spoke to Joab. "All right, I'll do it. Go and bring the young man Absalom back." Joab bowed deeply in reverence and blessed the king. "I'm reassured to know that I'm still in your good graces and have your confidence, since the king is taking the counsel of his servant." Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. The king said, "He may return to his house, but he is not to see me face-to-face." So Absalom returned home, but was not permitted to see the king. This Absalom! There wasn't a man in all Israel talked about so much for his handsome good looks—and not a blemish on him from head to toe! When he cut his hair—he always cut it short in the spring because it had grown so heavy—the weight of the hair from his head was over two pounds! Three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter. Her name was Tamar—and she was a beauty. Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, and not once did he see the king face-to-face. He sent for Joab to get him in to see the king, but Joab still wouldn't budge. He tried a second time and Joab still wouldn't. So he told his servants, "Listen. Joab's field adjoins mine, and he has a crop of barley in it. Go set fire to it." So Absalom's servants set fire to the field. That got him moving—Joab came to Absalom at home and said, "Why did your servants set my field on fire?" Absalom answered him, "Listen, I sent for you saying, ‘Come, and soon. I want to send you to the king to ask, "What's the point of my coming back from Geshur? I'd be better off still there!" Let me see the king face-to-face. If he finds me guilty, then he can put me to death.'" Joab went to the king and told him what was going on. Absalom was then summoned—he came and bowed deeply in reverence before him. And the king kissed Absalom. ¹⁵"So now I've dared come to the king, my master, about all this. They're making my life miserable, and I'm afraid. I said to myself, ‘I'll go to the king. Maybe he'll do something! When the king hears what's going on, he'll step in and rescue me from the abuse of the man who would get rid of me and my son and God's inheritance—the works!' As your handmaid, I decided ahead of time, ‘The word of my master, the king, will be the last word in this, for my master is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil.' God be with you!" The king said, "Go home, and I'll take care of this for you." "I'll take all responsibility for what happens," the woman of Tekoa said. "I don't want to compromise the king and his reputation." "Bring the man who has been harassing you," the king continued. "I'll see to it that he doesn't bother you anymore." "Let the king invoke the name of God ," said the woman, "so this self-styled vigilante won't ruin everything, to say nothing of killing my son." "As surely as God lives," he said, "not so much as a hair of your son's head will be lost." Then she asked, "May I say one more thing to my master, the king?" He said, "Go ahead." "Why, then," the woman said, "have you done this very thing against God's people? In his verdict, the king convicts himself by not bringing home his exiled son. We all die sometime. Water spilled on the ground can't be gathered up again. But God does not take away life. He works out ways to get the exile back."

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 10:22
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

Isaiah 11:11
Also on that day, the Master for the second time will reach out to bring back what's left of his scattered people. He'll bring them back from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Sinar, Hamath, and the ocean islands.

Ezekiel 32:24
"Elam is there in all her pride, a cemetery—all killed in battle, dumped in her heathen grave with the dead and buried, these people who terrorized the land of the living. They carry their shame with them, along with the others in the grave. They turned Elam into a resort for the pompous dead, landscaped with heathen graves, slaughtered in battle. They once terrorized the land of the living. Now they carry their shame down with the others in deep earth. They're in the section set aside for the slain in battle.

Zechariah 5:11
He said, "East to the land of Shinar. They will build a garage to house it. When it's finished, the basket will be stored there."

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