2 Samuel 14 3

2 Samuel 14:3 kjv

And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

2 Samuel 14:3 nkjv

Go to the king and speak to him in this manner." So Joab put the words in her mouth.

2 Samuel 14:3 niv

Then go to the king and speak these words to him." And Joab put the words in her mouth.

2 Samuel 14:3 esv

Go to the king and speak thus to him." So Joab put the words in her mouth.

2 Samuel 14:3 nlt

Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you." Then Joab told her what to say.

2 Samuel 14 verses

2 Samuel 14 3 Meaning

2 Samuel 14:3 details Joab's specific instruction to the wise woman of Tekoa: he carefully crafted and dictated every word she was to speak to King David. This precision was crucial for her mission. The latter part of the verse then captures David's immediate response to her presence, indicating his attentiveness and readiness to hear her petition. It marks the opening of a planned theatrical intercession, designed to subtly sway the king's heart towards reconciling with his son Absalom.

2 Samuel 14 3 Context

Chapter 14 of 2 Samuel describes Joab's ingenious plan to bring Absalom, who had fled after murdering his brother Amnon, back to Jerusalem. King David deeply mourned Amnon, but also felt the absence of Absalom, harboring a strong, unspoken desire for his return (2 Sam 13:37-39). Recognizing David's conflicted heart and unwillingness to initiate the return himself, Joab, ever pragmatic and loyal in his own way, orchestrated a strategic intercession. He enlisted the help of a "wise woman" from Tekoa, renowned for her discretion and eloquence, to present a hypothetical case to the king. The intent was for David to rule on a seemingly unrelated matter that, in principle, mirrored his own dilemma with Absalom, thereby compelling him to indirectly allow Absalom's return without losing face or authority. This verse sets up the precise delivery of Joab's carefully constructed parable.

2 Samuel 14 3 Word analysis

• And put words (וְשִׂימִי דְבָרִים - v'simi devarim):

  • שׂוּם (sum) means "to place, set, appoint, put." Here it signifies the deliberate act of depositing or instructing.
  • דְבָרִים (devarim) refers to "words" or "matters." The plural implies not just a few general points, but a whole narrative, a discourse.
  • Significance: Joab did not just give the woman a theme; he crafted the entire script. This highlights the careful and calculated nature of the deception, ensuring the woman's speech was potent and precise. This also contrasts with instances where God "puts words" in prophets' mouths (Ex 4:12, Jer 1:9), here it is human manipulation.

• in her mouth (בְּפִיהָ - befiha):

  • פֶּה (peh) means "mouth." The possessive suffix indicates "her."
  • Significance: Emphasizes that her voice would be merely the instrument for Joab's carefully prepared speech. Her words would not be spontaneous or truly her own, but dictated, indicating a precise theatrical performance designed to sway the king.

• what she should say (אֵת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר תְּדַבֵּר - et kol-hadəvarim asher tedaber):

  • This phrase clarifies and reinforces "put words in her mouth," stressing the absolute control Joab exercised over her upcoming dialogue with the king.
  • כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים (kol-hadevarim) means "all the words." This detail removes any doubt about the level of instruction.
  • Significance: It underscores the deliberate, rehearsed, and persuasive nature of the upcoming speech. It was a pre-scripted performance, not a spontaneous plea, highlighting the intricacy of Joab's plan.

• and the king said unto the woman (וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה - vayyomer hammalak el-haishsha):

  • This marks the start of David's direct interaction with the wise woman.
  • Significance: David receives her, indicating she successfully gained an audience. His readiness to speak to her sets the stage for her to deliver Joab's message, confirming the plan is proceeding as intended.

• Behold now (הִנֵּה נָּא - hinneh na):

  • הִנֵּה (hinneh) is an interjection meaning "behold," "look," "here." It grabs attention.
  • נָּא (na) is a particle of entreaty or emphasis, often translated "please," "now," or simply reinforcing the imperative.
  • Significance: This indicates David's readiness to listen and give his full attention. It signals the seriousness with which he approaches her.

• I have sent you (שְׁלַחְתִּיךְ - shlachtik or מַה-לָּךְ mah-lakh):

  • Crucial Discrepancy: The King James Version (KJV) "I have sent you" found in some texts differs significantly from the commonly accepted Hebrew Masoretic Text מַה-לָּךְ (mah-lakh), which translates to "What is the matter with you?" or "What do you want?" or "Why have you come?"
  • If "I have sent you" (KJV rendering): This would imply David initiated the meeting, summoning her for an unknown reason, which contradicts Joab's clandestine sending of her. This interpretation is less supported by scholarly consensus on the Hebrew text.
  • If "What is the matter with you?" (from Hebrew מַה-לָּךְ): This is the more accurate and widely accepted translation. It reflects David's inquisitive nature, asking the purpose of her unscheduled visit. It shows him giving her an opening to present her case.
  • Significance (based on the more accurate Hebrew): David, upon seeing her, does not immediately know her purpose but attentively prompts her to reveal it. This open invitation by the king allows the woman to smoothly launch into the carefully prepared discourse given by Joab. It signifies David's accessible and just character in hearing petitioners.

• Words-group Analysis: "put words in her mouth, what she should say"

  • This phrase reveals the full extent of Joab's meticulous planning and manipulation. It indicates that the entire narrative presented by the woman was artificial and strategic, designed to trigger a specific psychological response in David without his immediate awareness of the true purpose. It's a method of indirect persuasion, where the mediator's voice is entirely subservient to the hidden agenda of the planner (Joab).

2 Samuel 14 3 Bonus section

The choice of a "wise woman" from Tekoa (a shepherd town often associated with direct speech or prophecy, like Amos) lends credibility to the narrative. Her wisdom was perceived as being able to discern complex matters, making her an ideal figure to deliver a nuanced and convincing appeal. Joab's reliance on a wise woman for such a critical mission reveals a social aspect: such women might have been seen as particularly effective in delivering appeals or arbitrating disputes, perhaps due to their perceived neutrality or eloquence, a skill highlighted again in Abiath in 2 Samuel 20. The whole encounter orchestrated by Joab highlights a common human tendency to avoid direct confrontation with painful truths and to seek indirect paths toward reconciliation, reflecting both the complexity of human emotions and the often circuitous routes God allows for divine purposes to unfold, even through flawed human agency.

2 Samuel 14 3 Commentary

2 Samuel 14:3 is pivotal in understanding Joab's elaborate scheme to reconcile King David with his estranged son, Absalom. The verse illuminates Joab's deep understanding of David's inner turmoil – his hidden yearning for Absalom despite the murder of Amnon. Instead of a direct approach, Joab engineers a carefully crafted dramatic encounter. By "putting words" specifically and comprehensively "in her mouth," he turns the wise woman of Tekoa into a skilled orator delivering a pre-scripted allegory. This high level of orchestration emphasizes the delicacy of the situation and Joab's awareness that David needed to be influenced subtly rather than directly commanded or petitioned regarding such a personal and painful matter. David's attentive question to her signifies his willingness to engage, opening the door for the full performance that will, in effect, draw from him the very judgment Joab seeks. It underscores that Joab's action, while manipulative, was ultimately aimed at healing a breach within David's family and ensuring dynastic stability.