2 Samuel 14:15 kjv
Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
2 Samuel 14:15 nkjv
Now therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. And your maidservant said, 'I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant.
2 Samuel 14:15 niv
"And now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, 'I will speak to the king; perhaps he will grant his servant's request.
2 Samuel 14:15 esv
Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid, and your servant thought, 'I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.
2 Samuel 14:15 nlt
"I have come to plead with my lord the king because people have threatened me. I said to myself, 'Perhaps the king will listen to me
2 Samuel 14 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge... | Wisdom starts with proper fear, contrasting with her fear of man. |
| Prov 9:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom... | Reiteration of divine wisdom's source. |
| Job 28:28 | Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom... | God-given wisdom as true understanding. |
| Ps 25:12 | Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct... | God instructs those who truly fear Him, unlike this manipulative fear. |
| Ps 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. | Wisdom tied to obedience, not merely perception. |
| Exod 4:10 | But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent... for I am slow of speech..." | Contrast in how one approaches authority – Moses' humility vs. her strategy. |
| Matt 10:28 | And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul... | Do not fear man; fear God, the true judge. |
| Acts 4:19 | But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you judge..." | Obedience to God is paramount over man's decree or fear. |
| John 7:24 | Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. | David's initial judgment based on appearances, not immediate discernment of the full truth. |
| Isa 11:2 | The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding... | David is often portrayed as possessing wisdom through God's Spirit. |
| 1 Kgs 3:28 | ...for they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. | David (and Solomon) gifted with divine wisdom to judge justly. |
| Prov 20:8 | A king who sits on the throne of judgment disperses all evil with his eyes. | King's discerning judgment for justice. |
| 1 Sam 29:9 | Then Achish answered David, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God." | Similar phrase used for David, highlighting perception of innocence/wisdom. |
| 2 Sam 19:27 | ...For my lord the king is like the angel of God. | Mephibosheth's later flattery to David, reiterating this perception. |
| Zech 1:11 | ...And behold, the whole earth is at rest and quiet. | The desire for "rest" has spiritual, communal connotations of peace. |
| 2 Thess 1:7 | ...and to grant relief to you who are afflicted... | "Rest" often signifies relief from trouble or persecution. |
| Matt 11:28 | Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. | Ultimate "rest" found in Christ from burdens. |
| Heb 4:1-11 | Entry into God's spiritual rest and sabbath rest. | "Rest" is a profound theological concept for God's people. |
| Judg 6:22 | Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the LORD. | Example of interaction with an angel, showing divine presence and insight. |
| Gen 16:7 | The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water... | Angels as divine messengers who intervene and reveal truth. |
| Heb 1:14 | Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve... | Angels serve as messengers, contrasting with how the woman implies David's own innate "angelic" perception. |
| Jer 23:24 | Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? | God's all-encompassing knowledge far surpasses human attempts at wisdom or concealment. |
2 Samuel 14 verses
2 Samuel 14 15 Meaning
2 Samuel 14:15 describes the wise woman of Tekoa explaining her immediate motivation for seeking an audience with King David. She asserts that she "feared" a dire consequence ("they would speak against me") due to the unresolved matter concerning her fabricated family, which parallels Absalom's situation. Therefore, she determined to speak directly to the king, believing his wisdom and insight were akin to God's, and that he could provide resolution and "rest" from her fabricated distress. The verse highlights her manipulative yet wise approach, emphasizing the king's perceived divine discernment and her desperate plea for intervention.
2 Samuel 14 15 Context
Chapter 14 of 2 Samuel describes Joab's intricate plan to facilitate Absalom's return from exile. After David grieved long for Absalom but chose not to bring him back, Joab orchestrated a theatrical scenario using a "wise woman" from Tekoa. This woman was coached to approach David with a fictional hard-luck story involving her two sons, one of whom killed the other, and the family demanding the surviving son's life (reminiscent of Absalom killing Amnon). Her plea was a carefully constructed allegory designed to make David unknowingly rule on a case that mirrored his own dilemma regarding Absalom. Verse 15 is part of her prepared speech, an emotional and persuasive appeal crafted to elevate David's perception and compel him to act. The underlying tension is David's struggle between his personal grief and justice, manipulated by Joab's subtle strategy.
2 Samuel 14 15 Word analysis
- And now, behold, (וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה, v'attah hinneh): A common Hebrew literary marker, often signaling a shift in the discourse, moving from explanation to declaration or justification. Here, it introduces her direct, personal reasoning for speaking.
- for they fear (כִּי־יָרְא֣וּ, ki yare’u): From the root יָרֵא (yare), meaning "to fear, dread, reverence." In this context, it describes the woman's alleged fear that the opposing party (her 'family') "would speak against me." It implies apprehension about public accusation, shaming, or negative consequences, driving her to seek a higher authority.
- lest they would speak against me (וְדִבְּרוּ־בִ֖י, v'dibru-bi): Literally "and speak against me." The word דִּבֵּר (dabber) here implies speaking critically or accusingly. It highlights her feigned desperation, framing the external pressure as the immediate cause for her direct appeal to the king.
- and I said, I will speak (וָאֹמַ֞ר אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּא֙, va'omer adabberah-na): This emphasizes her resolve. The na particle adds a nuance of entreaty or urgency, conveying her determination to speak directly to the king despite her fear. It's a calculated rhetorical move.
- to the king (אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙, el-hammelekh): The highest earthly authority. Her turning to the king is presented as her only recourse against an impending disaster, legitimizing her interruption of the king's peace.
- Perhaps the king will perform (אֻלַי֩ יַעֲשֶׂ֙ה הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ֙, ulay ya'aseh hammelekh): "Perhaps" (אֻלַי, ulay) suggests hope but also an element of uncertainty or humility in her request, making it sound more genuine. It's an appeal, not a demand. "Perform" (עָשָׂה, asah) here means to take action, intervene, or carry out a judicial decision.
- the word of his servant (דְּבַ֣ר שִׁפְחָתֹ֑ו, devar shiphtatoh): Refers to her plea, her case, her petition. The phrase "his servant" is a humble, self-deprecating address common when petitioning a superior.
- For the king will hear (כִּ֣י יִשְׁמַ֤ע הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙, ki yishma' hammelekh): From שָׁמַע (shama), "to hear, listen, understand, obey." Here, it means to pay attention and truly comprehend. It suggests a confidence in the king's attentiveness and ultimate justice, laying the groundwork for her grand compliment.
- to deliver his handmaid from the hand of the man who seeks to destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God (לְהַצִּיל֩ אֶת־אֲמָתֹ֙ו מִכַּף֩ הָאִ֜ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּקְשָׁ֗נִי לְהַשְׁמִ֨יד אֹתִ֤י וְאֶת־בְּנִי֙ יַ֔חַד מֵֽאִחְלַ֖ת אֱלֹהִֽים) (group analysis): This phrase elaborates on the dire consequences she fears, providing strong motivation for David to intervene. It’s rich with imagery. "Deliver his handmaid" appeals to his responsibility. "Destroy me and my son together" evokes pity and urgency. "Out of the inheritance of God" connects her fabricated situation to divine land-allotment and communal well-being, emphasizing the gravity and a theological dimension to her plight, aligning it subtly with David's divine mandate.
2 Samuel 14 15 Bonus section
The phrase "as an angel of God" is significant because it's not unique to this instance. It was also used to describe David himself by the Philistine general Achish (1 Sam 29:9) regarding his blameless character, and later by Mephibosheth (2 Sam 19:27) as extreme flattery for David’s discernment. It is a stock phrase in the Bible to attribute superior wisdom, divine insight, or impartial judgment to a person. It can mean possessing exceptional, almost superhuman, perceptive ability (like discerning good from bad) or being utterly blameless. In the woman's mouth, it serves both as a sincere compliment and a persuasive tool: if David is indeed so wise, he will surely see the justice in her 'case' and by extension, in Absalom's. It hints at the divine prerogative to know all things, a quality David is credited with, allowing the woman to flatter him into the desired judgment. Yet, David's discernment here is only partial; he discerns her wisdom and her deceptive parable, but not immediately Joab's hand in it (2 Sam 14:19).
2 Samuel 14 15 Commentary
2 Samuel 14:15 reveals the deliberate rhetorical strategy of the wise woman of Tekoa as she advances her plea before King David. Her opening declaration, "And now, behold, for they fear lest they would speak against me, and I said, I will speak to the king," frames her direct appeal not as impudence but as a last resort born out of perceived necessity and fear. This manipulation of David’s sympathy is a core element of her mission. She appeals to his authority with a calculated "Perhaps the king will perform the word of his servant," which outwardly displays humility but subtly guides him towards the desired outcome. The pivotal assertion, "For the king will hear to deliver his handmaid," positions David as an all-knowing, compassionate deliverer. This sets the stage for her subsequent flattery in verse 17, where she explicitly declares David's wisdom is "as an angel of God," signifying his exceptional, almost divine, discernment. This carefully crafted compliment implies that David possesses innate wisdom, enabling him to penetrate her constructed narrative and arrive at the true heart of the matter, ironically, the Absalom situation. This "angel of God" metaphor underscores the ideal qualities of a discerning leader who can see beyond superficiality to truth and mete out justice or mercy. Her rhetoric, though deceptive in its immediate context, highlights a profound truth about kingship: the king's word and action are meant to bring "rest"—peace, justice, and resolution—to the people. The verse is a masterclass in ancient political and social persuasion, blending appeals to fear, hope, and divine perception.