2 Samuel 14 5

2 Samuel 14:5 kjv

And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

2 Samuel 14:5 nkjv

Then the king said to her, "What troubles you?" And she answered, "Indeed I am a widow, my husband is dead.

2 Samuel 14:5 niv

The king asked her, "What is troubling you?" She said, "I am a widow; my husband is dead.

2 Samuel 14:5 esv

And the king said to her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.

2 Samuel 14:5 nlt

"What's the trouble?" the king asked. "Alas, I am a widow!" she replied. "My husband is dead.

2 Samuel 14 verses

2 Samuel 14 5 Meaning

In 2 Samuel 14:5, King David, encountering a woman dressed in mourning, compassionately inquires about her distress, asking, "What troubles you?" She responds immediately by declaring her state of profound vulnerability, stating, "Indeed I am a widow, and my husband is dead." This opening exchange is crucial; the woman's declared widowhood is not merely a statement of fact but a deliberate strategic move, orchestrated by Joab, to evoke sympathy and establish the foundation for her fabricated plea to David concerning the restoration of Absalom.

2 Samuel 14 5 Context

The events of 2 Samuel chapter 14 are set against the backdrop of King David's protracted grief over the exile of his son Absalom, who had fled to Geshur after murdering his half-brother Amnon (2 Sam 13:37-39). Although David longs for Absalom's return, royal and societal expectations prevent him from overtly initiating reconciliation due to the seriousness of Amnon's murder. Seeing David's internal struggle, Joab, David's military commander, devises a cunning plan to persuade the king to bring Absalom back. Joab dispatches a "wise woman" from Tekoa to present a hypothetical case to David. This particular verse (14:5) marks the commencement of this staged interaction, where the woman's strategic appearance as a widow is meant to elicit David's immediate sympathy and moral obligation to protect the vulnerable. In ancient Israelite society, widows were a uniquely vulnerable class, often without male protection or provision, making their appeal to the king for justice a potent rhetorical device.

2 Samuel 14 5 Word analysis

• And the king said to her, "What troubles you?"

  • King: Refers to David. He holds supreme judicial authority and is expected to provide justice and care for his subjects, particularly the vulnerable. His immediate inquiry demonstrates accessibility and a degree of royal compassion.
  • What troubles you? (Hebrew: מַה־לָּךְ - mah-lach): Literally, "What to you?" or "What is for you?" This is an empathetic question indicating concern for her problem or complaint. It sets the stage for her to elaborate on her fabricated distress, expecting the king to hear and potentially act.

• And she answered, "Indeed I am a widow, and my husband is dead."

  • Indeed (Hebrew: אֲבַל - aval): An emphatic particle, often translated "truly," "surely," or "but." Here, it adds emphasis and gravity to her statement, highlighting her desolate condition and reinforcing the truthfulness (within the narrative frame) of her immediate status. It sets the serious tone of her appeal.
  • I am a widow (Hebrew: אִשָּׁה אַלְמָנָה אָנִי - ishah almanah ani):
    • Widow (almanah): This term carries significant cultural weight. In ancient Israel, a widow was often seen as vulnerable, poor, and lacking a male protector. Old Testament law commanded specific protections for widows (e.g., Exod 22:22-24, Deut 10:18), making an appeal from a widow particularly poignant and compelling to a righteous ruler. Her stated status instantly activates David's expected role as protector of the marginalized, thus laying the groundwork for her legal narrative and persuasive argument regarding her sons, which would subtly mirror David's situation with Absalom.
    • I am: The personal pronoun emphasizes her current, dire state.
  • and my husband is dead: A straightforward, mournful statement confirming her widowhood. It reinforces the reality of her claimed distress and ensures David understands the gravity of her position, setting up the subsequent components of her feigned plea about the conflict between her sons and the implications for her family line. This statement underscores her total dependence and vulnerability.

Words-group analysis:

• "What troubles you? Indeed I am a widow": This direct exchange exemplifies the immediate and profound rhetorical effect Joab intended. The king's opening, compassionate question, juxtaposed with her prompt declaration of absolute vulnerability, sets up the narrative of distress for David to address, aligning with his kingly responsibilities and setting him up to receive the analogy that will follow.

2 Samuel 14 5 Bonus section

The deliberate staging of this interaction with the wise woman of Tekoa bears strong parallels to Nathan the prophet's confrontation with David after his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:1-4). In both instances, a third party uses a relatable, emotionally charged parable or a staged distress signal to move David's heart and prompt a desired response, thereby highlighting the king's judicial responsibility and capacity for empathy. The wise woman, though serving a political end for Joab, embodies the "wise woman" archetype present in the Old Testament, characterized by sharp intellect, rhetorical skill, and an ability to intervene in complex social or political dilemmas (cf. 2 Sam 20:16-22). Her skill in presenting her case, beginning with this deeply moving introduction, demonstrates her mastery of persuasive speech and understanding of David's character and judicial expectations.

2 Samuel 14 5 Commentary

2 Samuel 14:5 serves as the critical entry point into the carefully constructed stratagem by Joab to influence King David's decision regarding Absalom. The wise woman of Tekoa's feigned widowhood is not a trivial detail; it is the cornerstone of her rhetorical appeal. In Israelite society, a widow was one of the most vulnerable individuals, consistently mentioned alongside orphans and sojourners as a group deserving special care and justice from God and His people (Deut 10:18). By immediately identifying herself as a widow whose husband is dead, the woman instantly activates David's sense of compassion, his kingly duty, and his understanding of social vulnerability, making him receptive to her subsequent fabricated tale of family woe. Her concise yet impactful declaration evokes empathy, signaling to David that her case, whatever it may be, warrants his immediate and serious attention. This moment highlights both David's perceived approachability and the profound societal respect for the plight of widows, used skillfully here as a manipulative, yet ultimately purposeful, lever in Joab's design for Absalom's return.