2 Samuel 14 8

2 Samuel 14:8 kjv

And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

2 Samuel 14:8 nkjv

Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you."

2 Samuel 14:8 niv

The king said to the woman, "Go home, and I will issue an order in your behalf."

2 Samuel 14:8 esv

Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you."

2 Samuel 14:8 nlt

"Leave it to me," the king told her. "Go home, and I'll see to it that no one touches him."

2 Samuel 14 verses

2 Samuel 14 8 Meaning

2 Samuel 14:8 recounts the Tekoite woman's strategic continuation of her address to King David. After establishing her dire plight through a crafted parable and securing David’s empathy and protective promise, she subtly transitions. This verse shows her respectfully, yet boldly, seeking explicit permission to shift from the metaphorical story to her true petition, which she presents as "a word." David, still engrossed and moved by her initial tale, readily grants her request, setting the stage for her to reveal the underlying purpose of her elaborate scheme—the plea for Absalom's return.

2 Samuel 14 8 Context

This verse is pivotal within the broader narrative of Absalom's exile and Joab's manipulative scheme to bring him back to Jerusalem. Absalom, David’s son, was exiled for three years after killing his half-brother Amnon (2 Sam 13:37-38). King David deeply longed for Absalom (2 Sam 13:39) but refrained from recalling him due to the severity of Absalom’s crime. Sensing David's conflicted emotions, Joab, David’s shrewd commander, orchestrated a plan: he dispatched a wise woman from Tekoa to speak to the king with a feigned grievance. In 2 Samuel 14:1-7, the woman successfully engages David with a contrived parable about two sons, one of whom was murdered, and the other facing vengeance, mirroring Absalom’s situation. She cunningly extracts a sworn promise from David to protect her "surviving son" from vengeance, thus committing him to the principle that one who has inadvertently killed should not necessarily be condemned to death by a relative. Verse 8 marks the precise moment where, having gained the king's ear and a promise based on a false premise, she seeks permission to move beyond the fabricated story to the application of its underlying principle, steering the conversation towards Absalom's pardon and return. It showcases David's receptiveness, unwittingly playing into Joab's hands, and the woman's skillful rhetorical strategy.

2 Samuel 14 8 Word analysis

• Then the woman said: Indicates a continuation of her persuasive strategy, marking a new phase after her parable successfully secured David’s sympathy and promise. Her actions are deliberate and calculated.

• "Please let your maidservant speak": (וַתֹּ֣אמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֗ה תְּדַבֶּר־נָא֙ שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֔ wat·tō·mer hā·’iš·šāh t-ḏab·ber-nā šif·ḥā·ṯe·ḵā)

  • "Please" (נָּא naʾ): An interjection conveying politeness and a strong request, signaling deference. It emphasizes her humility while setting the stage for a crucial point.
  • "your maidservant" (שִׁפְחָתְךָ֥ šiphḥāṯḵā): (from שִׁפְחָה shiphkhah). A self-deprecating term emphasizing her humble status in contrast to the king's authority. It is a common courtly convention for women, particularly those making petitions, designed to evoke compassion and respect from the superior. It highlights the vast social gulf, yet subtly underscores her position as one serving the king's interest.

• "speak a word": (דָּבָר dāḇār).

  • "word" (דָּבָר dāḇār): This Hebrew term is rich in meaning, encompassing not only "word" but also "matter," "thing," "affair," "message," or "counsel." Its ambiguity here is strategic, allowing the woman to shift from the previous narrative without immediately revealing the sensitive subject of Absalom. She seeks permission to address a specific 'matter' that implies more than just a simple sentence. This word choice signifies the weighty nature of what she is about to utter, though framed modestly.

• "to my lord the king": (לַאדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ laʾḏōniy ham·me·leḵ).

  • "my lord" (אֲדֹנִ֥י ʾăḏōniy): (from אָדוֹן ʾādhôn). A term of utmost respect and deference, signifying supreme authority and mastership. Repeatedly acknowledging David’s supreme position reinforces her humility and subtly applies pressure for a favorable hearing.
  • "the king" (הַמֶּֽלֶךְ hammeleḵ): Clearly identifies the absolute power and authority of David, whom she needs to sway. Her direct address to him validates his role as judge and sovereign.

• "And the king said, 'Speak'": (וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ דַּבְּרִֽי׃ way·yō·mer ham·me·leḵ dabbə·rî).

  • "Speak" (דַּבְּרִֽי dabbəri): An imperative verb, directly from David. It grants official permission and demonstrates his attention and willingness to hear more. It's a command, signifying that he acknowledges her request and gives her license to proceed. This quick, decisive command from the king indicates his engagement and readiness to listen further, making him receptive to the cunningly veiled request that is to follow.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Then the woman said, 'Please let your maidservant speak a word'": This phrase underscores the calculated progression of the Tekoite woman's plea. It is not an interruption but a formal request for permission to advance her discourse. Her use of "maidservant" combined with "please" establishes humility while "speak a word" keeps the nature of the upcoming discourse ambiguous, maintaining the element of surprise for David regarding her true intention. This entire setup highlights her strategic brilliance and emotional intelligence.
  • "to my lord the king.' And the king said, 'Speak.'": This interaction highlights David's receptive and kingly demeanor. The woman's respectful address affirms David's absolute authority, an authority he then exercises by granting permission to speak. This brief exchange seals the verbal contract, obliging David to hear the critical phase of her petition and foreshadowing the profound impact her words will have on him. It also shows that the king has listened carefully enough to the previous monologue, confirming his receptivity.

2 Samuel 14 8 Bonus section

The scene involving the woman of Tekoa and King David, including this specific verse, is a classic example of forensic rhetoric in ancient Israelite courts. The woman employs a sophisticated form of what might be called a priamel (an introductory statement or situation that sets the stage for the main point), captivating David with an unrelated story to extract a general legal principle or commitment from him, before applying it to the true, sensitive case. David, in his role as the ultimate arbiter, is drawn in by the apparent injustice presented in the parable, compelling him to grant the protection she seemingly sought, thereby trapping him in his own legal judgment. The dramatic irony is paramount throughout this chapter: the audience knows the woman's true purpose and the identity of the "lost son," while David remains unaware until she explicitly unveils it. This strategic communication highlights the importance of not just what is said, but how it is said, particularly when navigating sensitive political or personal issues.

2 Samuel 14 8 Commentary

2 Samuel 14:8 encapsulates a critical turning point in the Tekoite woman’s masterful strategy to sway King David concerning Absalom's return. It functions as a precise pivot, where the disguised parable yields to a more direct, yet still carefully veiled, plea. Her initial success in engaging David's sympathy with the fictitious case emboldens her to ask for the stage to transition from allegory to application. The emphasis here is on her skillful rhetoric, humbly seeking permission before articulating her profound request, thus ensuring David's continued attention and benevolent disposition. David’s swift command to "Speak" signifies his attentive and receptive ear, demonstrating his role as a just king willing to hear the supplications of his people. This verse reveals the king's accessibility but also his vulnerability to a carefully constructed argument designed to play on his personal affections and principles of justice, thereby laying the groundwork for Absalom's recall. The dialogue in this verse sets the crucial boundary where the king grants the authority for the topic of conversation to transition from the hypothetical to the consequential.