2 Samuel 14 7

2 Samuel 14:7 kjv

And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

2 Samuel 14:7 nkjv

And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, 'Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.' So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the earth."

2 Samuel 14:7 niv

Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, 'Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well.' They would put out the only burning coal I have left, leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth."

2 Samuel 14:7 esv

And now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, 'Give up the man who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.' And so they would destroy the heir also. Thus they would quench my coal that is left and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth."

2 Samuel 14:7 nlt

Now the rest of the family is demanding, 'Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn't deserve to inherit his family's property.' They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband's name and family will disappear from the face of the earth."

2 Samuel 14 verses

2 Samuel 14 7 Meaning

This verse details the tragic dilemma presented by the wise woman of Tekoa to King David. In her parable, her only two sons fight, and one is killed by the other. Now, the rest of her family demands the life of the remaining son as just retribution for the murder, according to the Law. She laments that if this demand is met, her last son, who represents the sole remaining "spark" of her family, will be extinguished. This would leave her deceased husband's lineage utterly eradicated, without any "name" or "remnant" to continue his memory or inheritance on earth. This narrative powerfully mirrors David's own situation with Absalom, who had killed Amnon, and the pressing issue of whether Absalom should face capital punishment or be restored to preserve David's royal lineage and ensure an heir.

2 Samuel 14 7 Context

Chapter 14 of 2 Samuel describes Joab's strategy to bring Absalom, who had fled after murdering his half-brother Amnon (2 Sam 13:28-39), back to Jerusalem and reconcile him with King David. David, while mourning Amnon and longing for Absalom, felt constrained by the demands of justice for the murder. To test David's inclination and appeal to his paternal heart, Joab employed a wise woman from Tekoa to present a hypothetical case. This verse is the crux of her meticulously crafted parable. It explains the desperate situation of a widow who stands to lose her last remaining son to tribal justice, thereby erasing her family's name and future. This narrative parallels David's own conflict: punishing Absalom according to the law (life for life) would effectively "quench his coal" (end his current line of heirs from Bathsheba), leaving no viable successor and bringing greater distress upon the kingdom. The parable seeks to evoke David's compassion and demonstrate that upholding a rigid application of the law, while just in theory, can have devastating, irreparable consequences for the greater good and continuity.

2 Samuel 14 7 Word analysis

• And behold (וְהִנֵּה – wehinneh): An interjection meaning "look!", "lo!", or "listen!". It introduces something important or startling, immediately drawing the listener's attention to the urgent situation the wise woman is about to describe. It conveys a sense of immediacy and dire circumstance.
• the whole family (כָּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה – kol-hamishpachah): "Family" here (`mishpachah`) refers to the extended clan or kinship group, emphasizing that it's not just individuals but the collective societal pressure demanding justice. This indicates a deeply entrenched cultural and legal obligation (blood revenge) that is difficult to ignore.
• has risen against (קָמָה עַל־ – qamah `al-): Literally "stood up against." Implies an organized, confrontational stance. They have actively taken action and positioned themselves in opposition, asserting their demand forcefully and unitedly.
• your maidservant (אֲמָתֶךָ – ’amatekha): A humble, subservient address, often used by supplicants before royalty. It emphasizes the woman's vulnerability and low status, eliciting sympathy and a sense of responsibility from David. This contrasts with David's powerful position as king, setting up the appeal for his mercy.
• and they say (וַיֹּאמְרוּ – vayyo'meru): Direct speech, lending authenticity and weight to their demands. It clearly states the non-negotiable terms of the family.
• Deliver up (תְּנִי – teniy): An imperative command, demanding action. It highlights the forcefulness of their plea and their expectation that justice be served without deviation. It's an order, not a request.
• the one who struck his brother (אֶת־מַכֵּה אָחִיו – ’et-makkeh ’achiyv): A circumlocution for "the murderer." While "struck" can imply injury, in this context of demanding life for life, it unambiguously refers to lethal violence. This phrasing subtly acknowledges the familial bond before stating the horrific act.
• that we may put him to death (וְנָמִיתֵהוּ – wenamitehu): Emphasizes the legalistic and punitive intention. This reflects the strict adherence to the law regarding murder and the absence of exceptions in the eyes of the family.
• for the life of his brother (בְּנֶפֶשׁ אָחִיו – b’nefesh ’achiyv): Directly refers to the principle of "life for a life" (lex talionis). `Nefesh` is often translated as "soul" or "life principle," highlighting the sanctity of life and the severity of taking it.
• whom he murdered (אֲשֶׁר הָרָג – ’asher harag): Uses the strong verb `harag`, which often means "to slay" or "to kill" without necessarily implying premeditation. However, in the context of the explicit demand for his death (reflecting capital punishment), it carries the weight of an offense requiring capital justice. Contrast with `ratsach` for premeditated murder in other contexts.
• And so they would destroy the heir also (וְיִשְׁמִידוּ גַּם אֶת־הַיּוֹרֵשׁ – w’yishmidu gam ’et-hayyoresh): `Yishmidu` means "they will annihilate/exterminate." `Hayyoresh` is "the heir," specifically referring to the one who would carry on the family name and inherit. This is the devastating consequence she wishes to avert, underscoring the finality of their action.
• and quench my coal which is left (וְכִבּוּ אֶת־גַּחַלְתִּי אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאָרָה־לִּי – w’khibbu ’et-gachaltey ’asher nish’arah-li): This is a powerful, poignant metaphor. "Coal" (`gachelet`) here signifies the last spark of life, hope, or light in her family, a direct symbol for her last living descendant. "Quench" (`kibbu`) means to extinguish, to put out, to utterly destroy this last vestige of her line. This metaphor emphasizes the absolute finality and devastation of losing the last child.
• so as to leave my husband neither name (לְבִלְתִּי שִׂים לְאִישִׁי שֵׁם – l’bilti sim l’ishiy shem): "Name" (`shem`) in biblical culture represents identity, legacy, memory, and the continuation of the family line through descendants. To have no name means to have one's entire lineage forgotten or obliterated.
• nor remnant (וּשְׁאֵרִית – u'sh'eriyth): "Remnant" (`she'ariyth`) means the remainder, the last remaining part. This further underscores the complete annihilation of the family's presence. There will be literally nothing left.
• on the face of the earth (עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה – `al-peney ha'adamah): Emphasizes the absolute and public nature of this erasure. The family would cease to exist in human memory and earthly lineage forever.

• "the whole family has risen against your maidservant": This phrase paints a picture of societal pressure and communal demand for justice, highlighting the wise woman's isolated and vulnerable position against an overwhelming, unified force of tradition and law. It underlines the expectation for compliance with the custom of blood vengeance.
• "Deliver up the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he murdered!": This sequence is a forceful statement of the principle of lex talionis, the strict eye-for-an-eye retribution prescribed by Mosaic law for murder. It is the family's right and duty as "avengers of blood" (`go'el haddam`) to demand this. It perfectly parallels Absalom's situation.
• "And so they would destroy the heir also, and quench my coal which is left": This connects the legal demand (vengeance) with its catastrophic consequence for the lineage. The term "heir" highlights the importance of continuity, and "quench my coal" is a profound metaphor for extinguishing the last glimmer of life, hope, and survival of a family line. It stresses the profound sorrow of utter cessation.
• "so as to leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth": This phrase encapsulates the cultural catastrophe. In ancient Israel, having no surviving offspring meant the utter erasure of a person's legacy. "Name" embodies one's identity and memory continued through descendants, and "remnant" refers to any surviving portion. Losing both signifies ultimate obliteration. This highlights the weight David carried in considering Absalom's fate, as his potential heir and the last hope for his kingdom's unbroken continuity.

2 Samuel 14 7 Bonus section

• Echoes in Christ's Forgiveness: The principle presented by the wise woman—that strict justice might need to yield for a greater good, especially to preserve life or lineage—finds an ultimate echo in the Christian understanding of God's mercy through Christ. While sin demands a penalty (justice), God provided a way for reconciliation (mercy), not extinguishing all hope but preserving a spiritual "remnant" through His Son. This is seen in God's willingness to spare humanity (a lost "heir") through Christ's sacrifice, thereby preserving spiritual "names" from being blotted out.
• Cultural Sensitivity in Legal Practice: The narrative demonstrates an understanding within ancient Israelite society that legal statutes, while divinely ordained, sometimes necessitated pragmatic or compassionate applications. The rigidity of the "avenger of blood" custom, while crucial for maintaining order, could also lead to extreme family loss. The appeal to the king shows his unique position as both arbiter of law and ultimate source of mercy and preservation of his people's well-being.

2 Samuel 14 7 Commentary

This verse is the narrative climax of the wise woman of Tekoa's carefully constructed parable, serving as the powerful, emotional appeal to King David. It frames a choice between an unwavering, legalistic application of the Law ("life for life") and the profound, desperate need to preserve a family's last remnant. The family's demand for the surviving son's execution is legitimate under the prevailing justice system of blood vengeance, but its devastating outcome – the total annihilation of a family's "name" and "remnant" – compels consideration of a higher mercy.

The metaphor of "quenching my coal" profoundly expresses the tragedy of extinguishing the last spark of life and hope for continuity. In an era where a man's legacy depended entirely on his male descendants, to "have no name nor remnant" was the ultimate familial demise, akin to complete non-existence. The woman appeals to David not merely for justice, but for compassion and the recognition that rigid adherence to law, without exception, can lead to a greater human and societal loss. Her plea subtly mirrors Joab's argument: if David upholds justice for Amnon by punishing Absalom, it might leave David's own house without an undisputed heir, creating chaos and quenching his own dynastic "coal." The wisdom lies in presenting a common legal issue with a unique, heartbreaking consequence, subtly pushing David towards mercy for the sake of future generations and his own dynasty's stability.