2 Samuel 20 16

2 Samuel 20:16 kjv

Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

2 Samuel 20:16 nkjv

Then a wise woman cried out from the city, "Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, 'Come nearby, that I may speak with you.' "

2 Samuel 20:16 niv

a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him."

2 Samuel 20:16 esv

Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here, that I may speak to you.'"

2 Samuel 20:16 nlt

But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, "Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you."

2 Samuel 20 verses

2 Samuel 20 16 Meaning

The verse introduces a pivotal moment where a "wise woman" from the besieged city of Abel Beth-Maachah takes a decisive initiative to prevent its destruction. She boldly calls out to demand the attention of Joab, King David's ruthless commander, directly requesting that he approach her for a personal dialogue. This act showcases her astute judgment and immediate action to mediate a resolution for her people, turning the tide from imminent violence to a possibility of strategic negotiation.

2 Samuel 20 16 Context

The events of 2 Samuel 20 follow swiftly after the re-establishment of King David on his throne in Jerusalem after Absalom's rebellion. However, disunity lingered within Israel, prompting Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, to incite a new revolt by declaring, "We have no portion in David, nor any inheritance in the son of Jesse!" (2 Sam 20:1). Many men of Israel abandoned David to follow Sheba, escalating a new civil conflict. David quickly dispatched Amasa to quell the rebellion, but when Amasa delayed, David sent his loyal, albeit ruthless, commander Joab. Joab murdered Amasa and then pursued Sheba to Abel Beth-Maachah, a fortified city in the northern tribal territory of Naphtali. By 2 Samuel 20:15, Joab's forces had successfully laid siege to the city and began to build a siege ramp against its wall, signifying imminent and complete destruction for the city and its inhabitants. It is at this critical juncture, with the city on the brink of obliteration, that the wise woman appears to intervene. Her actions aim to prevent the catastrophic consequences of military conquest for an otherwise loyal city, driven by a desire for peace and preservation.

2 Samuel 20 16 Word analysis

• Then (וַ): This conjunctive particle often serves as "and," "but," or "then," indicating a sequential or consequential flow. Here, it marks a critical shift in the narrative, introducing a new actor and a turning point.
• a wise woman (אִשָּׁה חֲכָמָה - ishshah chakamah):
  • Ishshah (אִשָּׁה): "woman." This identifies her gender, notable in a male-dominated conflict.
  • Chakamah (חֲכָמָה): "wise," the feminine form of chakham. This is a crucial descriptor, denoting not just intellectual acumen, but practical discernment, shrewdness, and insight for living effectively. It points to someone with the ability to resolve difficult situations. Her lack of a name elevates her from an individual to an archetype representing the community's collective wisdom.
• called (קָרְאָה - qar'ah): "She called," "she proclaimed," "she cried out." This signifies her proactive and vocal initiative. She doesn't wait to be addressed but takes command of the moment.
• from the city (מִן־הָעִיר - min-ha'ir): "From out of the city." This indicates her location within the besieged walls, giving voice to the people trapped inside and facing destruction. It also subtly emphasizes her perspective from the side of the endangered, allowing her to understand the stakes.
• 'Hear! Hear!' (שִׁמְעוּ שִׁמְעוּ - shim'u shim'u): An urgent, repeated imperative, "Listen!" or "Pay attention!" This double repetition stresses the dire importance of her message and her demand for immediate, undivided auditory attention from Joab's camp. It cuts through the chaos of siege.
• 'Please tell (אִמְרוּ־נָא - imru-na):
  • Imru (אִמְרוּ): Imperative plural of "to say," "tell." She directs a command, likely to Joab's soldiers or a messenger.
  • Na (נָא): A particle requesting entreaty or softening a command, best translated as "please" or "I beg you." It combines urgency with a deferential tone, making her plea more likely to be heard.
• Joab (אֶל־יוֹאָב - el-Yo'av): "To Joab." The direct address to David's powerful and often ruthless military commander demonstrates her understanding of the chain of command and who holds the immediate authority to halt the destruction.
• "Come here, that I may speak with you." (קְרַב עַד־הֵנָּה וַאֲדַבְּרָה אֵלֶיךָ - qerav 'ad-hennah wa'adabberah 'eleykha):
  • Qerav (קְרַב): Imperative, "draw near," "approach." A direct instruction to Joab himself.
  • 'Ad-hennah (עַד־הֵנָּה): "to here," "to this point." Specifying the location for the direct meeting, implying a strategic desire for close, private, and personal communication, not merely a shouting match across walls.
  • Wa'adabberah 'eleykha (וַאֲדַבְּרָה אֵלֶיךָ): "and I may speak to you/with you." The waw before adabberah (cohortative) indicates purpose, "so that I may speak." This highlights her objective: a direct conversation to resolve the crisis. The emphasis is on meaningful discourse, not just sending a message.

2 Samuel 20 16 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on "speaking" (using different forms of "call" and "speak") underscores the central theme of the power of words, especially wise words, to bring about change and resolution. This stands in stark contrast to the destructive power of the siege engines being built by Joab's army. The dialogue initiated by the wise woman prevents a repeat of the type of wholesale slaughter that often characterized ancient Near Eastern warfare, especially concerning rebellious cities. Her anonymity may suggest that her wisdom, not her personal identity, is the ultimate agent of salvation, implying that God-given discernment can work through any instrument for His purposes. The swiftness of her action when destruction is imminent highlights the timely application of wisdom, preventing irreversible consequences.

2 Samuel 20 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 20:16 introduces an unnamed wise woman as a beacon of hope amidst impending disaster. Her proactive intervention, marked by her discerning and direct speech, fundamentally shifts the narrative of military conquest. The verse underscores the significant value of wisdom—not just theoretical knowledge, but practical acumen that initiates decisive action to preserve life and achieve peace. Her command "Hear! Hear!" immediately asserts her authority born of wisdom, drawing attention to her vital message. The plea to Joab for a personal conversation is shrewd; she understands that a direct, persuasive dialogue is necessary to avert the city's ruin, circumventing bloodshed through words rather than weapons. This episode is a powerful demonstration of how divine wisdom can be embodied and leveraged by an individual in critical moments, even against overwhelming military force, to bring about reconciliation and prevent destruction.