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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>2 Samuel 14 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_samuel/14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_samuel/14-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 2 Samuel 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/13.htm" title="2 Samuel 13">◄</a> 2 Samuel 14 <a href="../2_samuel/15.htm" title="2 Samuel 15">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/2_samuel/14.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Joab’s Plan Regarding Absalom</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Meanwhile, Zeruiah’s son Joab knew that the king’s attention was focused on Absalom,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:1 Lit. king’s heart was toward">a</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>so he<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:2 Lit. Joab">b</a></span> sent messengers<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:2 The Heb. lacks messengers">c</a></span> to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please play the role of a mourner, wear the clothes of a mourner, and refrain from using makeup.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:2 Lit. using anointing oil">d</a></span> Act like a woman who’s been in mourning for the dead for many days. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Then go to the king and speak to him like this…” Then Joab told her what to say.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>When the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, prostrating herself to address him, “Help, your majesty!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>The king asked her, “What’s your problem?”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:5 The Heb. lacks problem">e</a></span> </p> <p class="reg">“I’ve been a widowed woman<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:5 i.e. a widow of meager resources, low social status, and limited circumstances, therefore eligible to receive special assistance from Israel’s society.">f</a></span> ever since my husband died,” she answered. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>“Your humble servant used to have two sons, but they got into a fight out in the field. Because there was no one to keep them apart, one of them attacked the other and killed him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Now please pay attention closely! My<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:7 Lit. The">g</a></span> whole family is attacking your humble servant! They’re saying, ‘Turn over the one who attacked his brother and we’ll put him to death in retribution for his brother, whose life he took. That way, we’ll kill the heir also!’ They’re going to extinguish the only light<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:7 Lit. the coal that is; i.e. the only remaining heir">h</a></span> left in my family, leaving my late husband neither an ongoing name nor a survivor on the face of the earth!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Then the king replied to the woman, “Go home and I’ll issue a special order just for you.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>But the woman from Tekoa told the king, “Your majesty, let any guilt for this be on me and on my ancestors’ household, and not on my king or his throne!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>The king replied, “Bring anyone who talks to you about this to me, and he certainly won’t be bothering<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:10 Lit. touching">i</a></span> you anymore!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Then she said, “Your majesty, please remember the LORD your God, so that blood avengers don’t do any more damage! Otherwise, they’ll destroy my son!”</p> <p class="reg">So he promised, “As the LORD lives, not even a single hair from your son’s head<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:11 The Heb. lacks head">j</a></span> will fall to the ground!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>At this, the woman responded, “Would your majesty the king please allow your humble servant to say one more thing?”</p> <p class="reg">“Say it…”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:12 The Heb. lacks it">k</a></span> he replied.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>“Why, then,” the woman asked, “are you planning to act just like this against God’s people? Based on what your majesty has said, you’re acting like one who is guilty himself, because you’re not bringing back the one whom you’ve banished! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>After all, even though we all die,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:14 Lit. though to death we all die">l</a></span> and we’re<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:14 The Heb. lacks we’re">m</a></span> all like water being spilled on the ground that cannot be recovered, nevertheless God doesn’t take away life, but carries out his plans so as not to cast away permanently from him those who are presently estranged.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:14 MT verb for cast away permanently is an intensive form of the verb estranged">n</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“Now as to why I’ve come to speak with your majesty the king, it’s because the people have made me afraid, so your humble servant told herself,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:15 The Heb. lacks to herself">o</a></span> ‘I’ll go speak to the king, so perhaps the king will do what his humble servant has requested. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Perhaps the king will listen and deliver his humble servant from the oppression<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:16 Lit. palm">p</a></span> of the man who intends to eliminate both me and my son from what God has apportioned to us!’<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:16 The Heb. lacks to us">q</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>“So your humble servant is saying, ‘Please, your majesty, let what the king has to say be of comfort, because just as the angel of God is, so also is your majesty the king to discern both good and evil. And may the LORD your God remain present with you.’”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>In reply, the king asked the woman, “Please don’t conceal anything about which I’m going to be asking you now.”</p> <p class="reg">So the woman replied, “Please, your majesty, let the king speak.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Then the king asked, “Is Joab behind all of this with you?”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:19 Lit. Is the hand of Joab with you in">r</a></span> </p> <p class="reg">“As your soul lives, your majesty, the king,” the woman answered, “no one can divert anything left or right from what your majesty the king has spoken! As a matter of fact, it was your servant Joab! He was there, giving me precise orders about everything that your humble servant was to say. Your servant Joab did this, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>intending to change the outcome of this matter. Nevertheless, your majesty is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to be aware of everything that’s going on throughout the earth.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:20 Or land; or going on in the land">s</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">David Authorizes Absalom’s Return</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Then the king addressed Joab, “Look! I’ll do this thing that you’ve requested.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:21 The Heb. lacks that you’ve requested">t</a></span> Go bring back the young man Absalom.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>At this, Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrating himself to bless the king, and then<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:22 Lit. Joab">u</a></span> said, “Today your servant realizes that he’s found favor with you, your majesty, in that the king has acted on the request of his servant.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Then Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Nevertheless, the king said, “Let him return to his own home and not show his face to me.” So Absalom returned to his own home and did not show his face to the king.</p> <p class="heading">David’s Son Absalom</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Now throughout all of Israel no one was as handsome as Absalom or so highly praised, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there wasn’t a single thing wrong about him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Whenever he cut his hair —he cut it at the end of every year, because it grew thick on his head,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:26 Lit. grew heavy on him">v</a></span> which is why he cut it—his hair weighed in at 200 shekels<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:26 i.e. about five pounds at 0.4 shekels per ounce">w</a></span> measured by the royal standard.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:26 Lit. the king’s weight">x</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Absalom fathered three sons and one daughter, whom he named Tamar. She was a beautiful woman, both in form and appearance.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Meanwhile, Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but never saw the king’s face. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>After this, Absalom sent for Joab, intending to send him to the king, but Joab<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:29 Lit. he">y</a></span> would not come. Absalom<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:29 Lit. he">z</a></span> sent for him a second time, but he still<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:29 The Heb. lacks still">aa</a></span> would not come. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>So Absalom<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:30 Lit. he">bb</a></span> told his servants, “Observe that Joab’s grain field lies next to mine. He has barley planted there. Go set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>At this, Joab got up, went to Absalom’s home, and demanded of him, “Why did your servants set fire to my grain field?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>In answer to Joab, Absalom replied, “Look, I sent for you, telling you ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask him “What’s the point in moving here from Geshur? I would have been better off to have remained there!”’ So let me see the king’s face, and if I’m guilty of anything, let him execute me!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>So when Joab approached the king and told him what Absalom had said,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:33 The Heb. lacks what Absalom had said">cc</a></span> he summoned Absalom, who then came to the king and fell to the ground on his face in front of him.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="14:33 Lit. of the king">dd</a></span> Then the king kissed Absalom.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 14:1 Lit. <i>king’s heart was toward</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 14:2 Lit. <i>Joab</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 14:2 The Heb. lacks <i>messengers</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 14:2 Lit. <i>using anointing oil</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 14:5 The Heb. lacks <i>problem</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 14:5 i.e. a widow of meager resources, low social status, and limited circumstances, therefore eligible to receive special assistance from Israel’s society.<br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 14:7 Lit. <i>The</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 14:7 Lit. <i>the coal that is</i>; i.e. the only remaining heir<br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 14:10 Lit. <i>touching</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 14:11 The Heb. lacks <i>head</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 14:12 The Heb. lacks <i>it</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 14:14 Lit. <i>though to death we all die</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 14:14 The Heb. lacks <i>we’re</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 14:14 MT verb for <i>cast away permanently</i> is an intensive form of the verb <i>estranged</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 14:15 The Heb. lacks <i>to herself</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 14:16 Lit. <i>palm</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 14:16 The Heb. lacks <i>to us</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 14:19 Lit. <i>Is the hand of Joab with you in</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 14:20 Or <i>land</i>; or <i>going on in the land</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 14:21 The Heb. lacks <i>that you’ve requested</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 14:22 Lit. <i>Joab</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 14:26 Lit. <i>grew heavy on him</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 14:26 i.e. about five pounds at 0.4 shekels per ounce<br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 14:26 Lit. <i>the king’s weight</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 14:29 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">z</span> 14:29 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">aa</span> 14:29 The Heb. lacks <i>still</i><br /><span class="fnb">bb</span> 14:30 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">cc</span> 14:33 The Heb. lacks <i>what Absalom had said</i><br /><span class="fnb">dd</span> 14:33 Lit. <i>of the king</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../2_samuel/13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Samuel 13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../2_samuel/15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Samuel 15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/2_samuel/14-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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