2 Samuel 14 4

2 Samuel 14:4 kjv

And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.

2 Samuel 14:4 nkjv

And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, "Help, O king!"

2 Samuel 14:4 niv

When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, "Help me, Your Majesty!"

2 Samuel 14:4 esv

When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, "Save me, O king."

2 Samuel 14:4 nlt

When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, "O king! Help me!"

2 Samuel 14 verses

2 Samuel 14 4 Meaning

The verse describes the approach of the disguised woman from Tekoa to King David, employing the traditional protocol of deep reverence and supplication. Her immediate cry, "Help, O king!", establishes the urgency and dire nature of her pretense, setting the stage for Joab's orchestrated appeal to influence the king concerning Absalom's return. It highlights the king's role as the ultimate arbiter of justice and the one from whom the oppressed sought intervention and deliverance.

2 Samuel 14 4 Context

This verse initiates a crucial narrative in the book of 2 Samuel, occurring after Absalom has fled and been in exile for three years following his murder of his half-brother Amnon. David, though grieving Absalom's absence, had not initiated his return, leaving a void and an unresolved conflict within the royal family and kingdom. Joab, David's military commander, recognizing David's heart yearned for Absalom but his will was paralyzed, masterminds a plan to persuade the king. He sends a "wise woman" from Tekoa to present a fabricated legal case, designed to mirror David's own dilemma regarding Absalom, thereby inducing David to act and pave the way for Absalom's reinstatement without explicitly mentioning him at first. The woman's dramatic entry and plea are calculated to evoke David's pity and activate his judicial role.

2 Samuel 14 4 Word analysis

• "When the woman of Tekoa": (Hebrew: va-tavo ha'ishshah miTeqo'a - וַתָּבֹא הָאִשָּׁה מִתְּקוֹעַ).

  • "Woman" (ishshah): Refers to a female, but here, specifically, a "wise woman." Tekoa was a town in Judah, known for its desolate, wilderness-like surroundings. The choice of a woman from Tekoa, specifically commissioned by Joab, suggests a person of known discernment or perhaps one adept at acting, capable of presenting a persuasive argument, much like the wise woman of Abel in 2 Sam 20:16.
  • "Tekoa": A place south of Jerusalem, near the wilderness of Judah, associated with prophets like Amos (Amos 1:1) and perhaps suggesting simplicity or humility. This detail enhances her credibility and adds a layer of rustic wisdom, a common motif in ancient narratives.

• "came to the king": (Hebrew: el-ha'melekh - אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ). This denotes direct access to the highest authority, implying the gravity of her plea. Access to the king for a private audience was not always readily granted and underscores the seriousness of her contrived petition.

• "she fell before the king on her face": (Hebrew: va-tippol 'al-paneha 'artsah - וַתִּפֹּל עַל־פָּנֶיהָ אָרְצָה).

  • "fell...on her face": Signifies extreme prostration, an act of profound humility, desperate submission, and reverence. This posture conveyed complete deference to the monarch's power and position, acknowledging his life-or-death authority over petitioners. It was common when seeking great favors or expressing deep respect or dire distress.

• "and bowed to the ground": (Hebrew: va-tishtahaw - וַתִּשְׁתַּחֵו).

  • "bowed": From the root shachah, meaning "to bow down, prostrate oneself." This term is also used for worshiping God, indicating ultimate homage. Its repetition with "fell on her face" intensifies the sense of complete submission and desperate supplication, a double emphasis for dramatic effect. It signals the critical nature of her plea.

• "and said, 'Help, O king!'": (Hebrew: va-tomar hoshi'ah ha'melekh - וַתֹּאמֶר הוֹשִׁיעָה הַמֶּלֶךְ).

  • "said": Indicates direct speech, cutting to the chase with a forceful, immediate plea.
  • "Help" (hoshi'ah): This is an imperative form of the verb yasha', meaning "to save, deliver, preserve, help." It's not a polite request but an urgent cry for decisive intervention, akin to "Save me, O king!" or "Bring me deliverance, O king!" It directly appeals to the king's royal duty to dispense justice and protect the vulnerable in his realm.
  • "O king" (ha'melekh): The definite article "the" emphasizes his unique, singular position of authority. This direct address underscores the absolute reliance on his power.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The woman of Tekoa... came to the king": Highlights the calculated nature of this interaction. Joab meticulously chose the emissary and the approach to manipulate David's emotions and sense of justice. It foreshadows the allegorical nature of her coming plea.
  • "fell before the king on her face and bowed to the ground": This dual expression of prostration serves to underscore the utter desperation and profound respect the woman simulates. It is a theatrical gesture meant to gain the king's full attention and sympathy before she even speaks her specific plea, laying the groundwork for emotional manipulation.
  • "Help, O king!": This short, direct cry is potent. It’s an immediate activation of the king's judicial role and humanitarian responsibility, drawing David in without delay. This abrupt opening commands immediate attention and conveys the extreme distress which the entire contrived scenario is built upon.

2 Samuel 14 4 Bonus section

The prostration observed in this verse (falling on the face, bowing) is not merely a sign of respect but historically a performative act. In ancient Near Eastern courts, it was common for petitioners, especially those with no personal connection to the monarch, to adopt such postures to emphasize their vulnerability, acknowledge the king's absolute power, and underscore the desperate nature of their appeal. This ritualized display of deference was often key to securing an audience and favorable consideration. Joab's instruction to the woman would have included details on these performance elements, knowing David's heart and likely response to such a piteous sight. This scenario, while a setup, illustrates the king's foundational role as accessible supreme judge within his realm, a divinely appointed responsibility to ensure justice for all. It contrasts with God's perfect justice by showcasing how human justice can be influenced, and even manipulated, by artifice and human emotion.

2 Samuel 14 4 Commentary

This verse serves as the powerful opening of a dramatic appeal, carefully engineered by Joab to reintroduce the topic of Absalom's return to King David. The "wise woman of Tekoa," a strategic choice by Joab, symbolizes wisdom used for pragmatic and perhaps morally ambiguous ends, mirroring a broader theme of wisdom within the Book of Samuel. Her exaggerated display of submission and immediate, urgent cry for "help" or "salvation" immediately places David in the position of judge and redeemer. It highlights the deeply ingrained cultural expectation for the king to be the ultimate dispenser of justice and mercy, accessible to even the humblest subject, particularly widows or the vulnerable who lack other means of redress. The verse’s careful orchestration by Joab underlines the political acumen and manipulation at play within David’s court, where personal sorrow and royal duty intertwined to shape the kingdom’s future. It showcases how a powerful appeal, framed within traditional protocols, can sway a leader, a timeless truth applicable to advocating for others, but also a cautionary note on the art of persuasion.