2 Samuel 14 2

2 Samuel 14:2 kjv

And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

2 Samuel 14:2 nkjv

And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, "Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.

2 Samuel 14:2 niv

So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, "Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don't use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead.

2 Samuel 14:2 esv

And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, "Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead.

2 Samuel 14:2 nlt

So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, "Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don't put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.

2 Samuel 14 verses

2 Samuel 14 2 Meaning

Second Samuel chapter 14 verse 2 describes Joab's tactical step in orchestrating the return of Absalom to Jerusalem. Understanding David's longing for his exiled son yet his reluctance to act, Joab devised a plan to present a contrived situation before the king. He dispatched messengers to Tekoa to find a "wise woman" and instructed her to adopt the appearance of a deeply bereaved mourner. This deliberate disguise, involving specific mourning garments and the omission of normal anointing rituals, was intended to evoke sympathy and make her subsequent appeal to David more convincing and effective, ultimately serving as a parabolic foreshadowing for Absalom's return.

2 Samuel 14 2 Context

The verse is situated within a critical phase of King David's reign following the tumultuous events of Amnon's rape of Tamar and Absalom's subsequent revenge-murder of Amnon. Absalom had fled Jerusalem and lived in exile for three years in Geshur (2 Sam 13:38). While David grieved for Amnon, his heart also longed to bring Absalom back (2 Sam 13:39). Joab, David's military commander, perceived the king's inner conflict and recognized the need for Absalom's return for political stability and dynastic continuity. Unable to persuade David directly, Joab conceived a cunning plan, utilizing a wise woman from Tekoa to subtly influence David by means of a crafted parable, thereby setting the stage for Absalom's eventual reconciliation and return. This verse marks the beginning of Joab's calculated scheme.

2 Samuel 14 2 Word analysis

• So Joab sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח יוֹאָב - wayyišlaḥ Yô’āḇ): "Sent" (šālaḥ) denotes intentional action and delegation. Joab takes the initiative, demonstrating his shrewdness and influence. This shows his proactive nature and ability to sense David's unspoken desire.
• to Tekoa (תְּקוֹעַ - Teqowaʿ): A city in Judah, south of Jerusalem, near the wilderness. It was the hometown of the prophet Amos. Often associated with rustic wisdom or perhaps an independent spirit due to its proximity to the desert and pastoral life. It suggests seeking a voice outside the immediate courtly influences of Jerusalem.
• and brought a wise woman from there (וַיִּקַּח מִשָּׁם אִשָּׁה חֲכָמָה - wayyiqqaḥ miššām iššāh ḥăḵāmāh):
  • wise woman (iššāh ḥăḵāmāh): The Hebrew word ḥăḵāmāh signifies not merely intellectual knowledge but practical skill, shrewdness, and discernment in speech and action. This woman possessed the ability to present a convincing argument and parable, indicating a person with significant rhetorical and perhaps legal aptitude. Such women sometimes served as village mediators or counsel-givers, as seen with the wise woman of Abel (2 Sam 20).
• and said to her (וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ - wayyōʾmer ’elêhā): Joab's direct instruction reveals his manipulative mastery and strategic control over the situation.
• "Please pretend to be a mourner" (הִתְנַהֲגִי־נָא כְּאֵבֶל - hitnahăḡî-nāʾ kə’ēḇel): "Pretend" or "act" (hitnahăḡî from nāhag) indicates a feigned performance, not genuine grief. The plan relies entirely on an elaborate ruse. This is a dramatic setup.
• "and put on mourning clothes" (וְלִבְשִׁי־נָא בִּגְדֵי־אֵבֶל - wəliḇšî-nāʾ biḡdê-ʾēḇel):
  • Mourning clothes (biḡdê-ʾēḇel): Special attire (often sackcloth or torn garments) worn during periods of intense sorrow to signify one's emotional state and elicit sympathy or reverence. This external symbol immediately signals her supposed plight.
• "and do not anoint yourself with oil" (וְלֹא־תָסוּכִי שֶׁמֶן - wəlōʾ-ṯāsûḵî šemen):
  • Do not anoint (lōʾ-ṯāsûḵî): Anointing with oil was a common practice for daily hygiene, scent, and comfort in ancient Israel, often associated with health and wellbeing. Abstaining from it indicated a state of deep lamentation, extreme self-neglect due to grief, or religious fasting (Dan 10:3).
• "but be like a woman who has been mourning for many days" (וְהָיִית כְּאִשָּׁה זֶה יָמִים רַבִּים מִתְאַבֶּלֶת - wəhāyîṯ kəʾiššāh zeh yāmîm rabbîm miṯʾabbeleṯ): This reinforces the feigned nature of her grief, emphasizing its duration. The goal is to convey prolonged and profound sorrow, which would make her appearance and plea appear more urgent and weighty in the king's eyes. It suggests that her grief has been consuming, affecting her outward appearance over an extended period.

2 Samuel 14 2 Bonus section

• The use of a wise woman as an intermediary is a recurring motif in the Old Testament, showcasing their often understated but significant influence in times of crisis or conflict resolution (e.g., the wise woman of Abel-Beth-Maacah in 2 Sam 20:16-22). They serve as agents of reconciliation or truth-tellers.
• Joab's choice of a "wise woman" for this specific task indicates his strategic genius. He chose someone capable of not only embodying the role but also articulating a complex legal-parable (as she does in the subsequent verses) to manipulate David's emotions and intellect. This was more than a mere acting job; it required significant rhetorical and persuasive skill.
• The detailed instructions for her appearance highlight the importance of visual and cultural cues in ancient society. The lack of oil and the mourning attire immediately communicate a state of intense, prolonged sorrow, which was designed to disarm David and make him more receptive to her story.
• The "Tekoa" connection, apart from being the prophet Amos's hometown, might subtly hint at the kind of rustic or 'common-sense' wisdom perceived to come from such less sophisticated areas, potentially making her words seem more authentic and less like political machination from court insiders.
• The entire setup reflects the societal norms of the time where grievances could be brought before the king for judgment, allowing this carefully constructed plea to appear as a genuine supplication for justice.

2 Samuel 14 2 Commentary

This verse unveils Joab's master strategy to address the deadlock between David and Absalom. Knowing David's indecisiveness and his unspoken desire, Joab expertly employs indirection and a psychological approach. He doesn't confront David directly but stages a compelling "real-life" scenario through a "wise woman." The selection of a "wise woman" from Tekoa is crucial; it suggests someone known for wisdom, rhetorical skill, and perhaps independent thought, making her a credible proxy. The elaborate instructions regarding her disguise — "mourning clothes," abstaining from oil, and appearing to have mourned for "many days" — are designed to evoke maximum sympathy and attention from King David. This carefully crafted deception, playing on deeply embedded cultural mourning customs, is the setup for a parable that will artfully mirror David's own familial dilemma, thereby manipulating him towards a desired outcome without a direct confrontation. It reveals Joab's shrewdness, understanding of human psychology, and political acumen.