2 Samuel 14:7
Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, 'Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!' So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband's name or posterity on the earth."
Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant
In ancient Israel, family and clan structures were central to social and legal matters. The clan, or extended family, often acted as a governing body, making decisions on behalf of its members. This phrase indicates a collective decision or pressure from the clan, highlighting the communal nature of justice and responsibility. The term "maidservant" suggests a position of vulnerability and dependence, emphasizing the woman's plea for mercy and protection.

and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother,
This reflects the principle of lex talionis, or the law of retribution, which was prevalent in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel. The demand for the offender to be handed over aligns with the biblical concept of justice, where the family of a murder victim had the right to seek retribution. This is seen in passages like Numbers 35:19, which discusses the role of the avenger of blood.

that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed.
The demand for capital punishment underscores the seriousness of murder in biblical law. Genesis 9:6 establishes the principle that whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed, reflecting the sanctity of life. This phrase also highlights the tension between justice and mercy, a recurring theme in Scripture.

Then we will cut off the heir as well!’
The concern for cutting off the heir reflects the importance of lineage and inheritance in Israelite society. The loss of an heir meant the end of a family line, which was a significant social and economic issue. This connects to the biblical emphasis on preserving family names and inheritance, as seen in laws regarding levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).

So they would extinguish my one remaining ember
The metaphor of an "ember" signifies the last hope or remnant of a family line. In a cultural context where family continuity was vital, the extinction of a family line was a grave concern. This imagery is poignant, evoking the idea of a dying fire, which is also used in other biblical passages to describe the end of a lineage or hope (Job 18:5-6).

by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”
Preserving a husband's name and posterity was a key aspect of Israelite culture, tied to the covenant promises of land and descendants. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's promises to Abraham regarding his descendants (Genesis 12:2-3). The plea for preservation of the family line also foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on spiritual inheritance and the eternal family of God through Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Woman of Tekoa
A wise woman from Tekoa, sent by Joab to King David to present a parable-like account to persuade him to reconcile with his son Absalom.

2. Joab
David's military commander who orchestrates the plan to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem by using the woman of Tekoa to appeal to David's sense of justice and mercy.

3. King David
The King of Israel, who is dealing with the aftermath of his son Absalom's murder of his brother Amnon.

4. Absalom
David's son, who killed his brother Amnon in revenge for the rape of their sister Tamar.

5. The Clan
Represents the family or community seeking justice for the murder, highlighting the tension between justice and mercy.
Teaching Points
The Balance of Justice and Mercy
The account illustrates the tension between upholding justice and extending mercy. As believers, we are called to seek God's wisdom in balancing these two principles in our lives.

The Role of Intercession
Joab's use of the woman of Tekoa as an intercessor highlights the power of intercession. We are reminded of our role to intercede for others, seeking reconciliation and restoration.

Preserving Legacy and Posterity
The woman's plea to preserve her husband's name underscores the importance of legacy. As Christians, we are encouraged to consider how our actions today impact future generations.

The Consequences of Sin
Absalom's actions and the resulting family strife remind us of the far-reaching consequences of sin. It is a call to repentance and seeking God's guidance in our decisions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the account of the woman of Tekoa challenge us to think about the balance between justice and mercy in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we act as intercessors in our communities, similar to the woman of Tekoa's role in this account?

3. How does the concept of preserving a legacy influence our decisions and actions as Christians today?

4. Reflect on a time when you had to choose between justice and mercy. How did you seek God's guidance in that situation?

5. How can the account of Absalom and Amnon serve as a warning about the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking reconciliation?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 4:8-15
The account of Cain and Abel, where God shows mercy to Cain despite his murder of Abel, parallels the tension between justice and mercy in David's situation.

Matthew 18:21-35
Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, which is a central theme in David's decision regarding Absalom.

Romans 12:19
This verse speaks about leaving vengeance to God, which relates to the challenge David faces in balancing justice and mercy.
The Woman of TekoahB. Dale 2 Samuel 14:1-20
The Parable of the Woman of TekoaA London Minister2 Samuel 14:5-20
People
Absalom, Joab, Tamar, Zeruiah
Places
Geshur, Jerusalem, Tekoa
Topics
Behold, Bondmaid, Brother, Brother's, Burning, Cause, Coal, Death, Deliver, Descendant, Destroy, Extinguish, Face, Family, Ground, Handmaid, Heir, Heritage, Husband, Kill, Killed, Leave, Leaving, Maidservant, Maid-servant, Offspring, Payment, Quench, Quenched, Remainder, Remnant, Rid, Risen, Saying, Servant, Slain, Slew, Smiteth, Smote, Struck, Surface, Thus
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Samuel 14:7

     4318   coal
     5043   names, significance

2 Samuel 14:1-20

     5383   lawsuits

2 Samuel 14:1-24

     6682   mediation

2 Samuel 14:1-33

     6684   mediator

2 Samuel 14:4-7

     5701   heir

2 Samuel 14:4-14

     5438   parables

2 Samuel 14:5-7

     5671   clan

Library
God's Banished Ones
'God doth devise means, that His banished be not expelled from Him.' 2 SAMUEL xiv. 14. David's good-for-nothing son Absalom had brought about the murder of one of his brothers, and had fled the country. His father weakly loved the brilliant blackguard, and would fain have had him back, but was restrained by a sense of kingly duty. Joab, the astute Commander-in- chief, a devoted friend of David, saw how the land lay, and formed a plan to give the king an excuse for doing what he wished to do. So
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Barley Field on Fire
Omitting the sin of the deed, we have here a picture of what is often done by our gracious God, with the wisest and best design. Often he sendeth for us, not for his profit, but for ours. He would have us come near to him and receive a blessing at his hands; but we are foolish and cold-hearted and wicked, and we will not come. He, knowing that we will not come by any other means, sendeth a serious trial: he sets our barley-field on fire; which he has a right to do, seeing our barley-fields are far
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 10: 1864

The Blessed Privilege of Seeing God Explained
They shall see God. Matthew 5:8 These words are linked to the former and they are a great incentive to heart-purity. The pure heart shall see the pure God. There is a double sight which the saints have of God. 1 In this life; that is, spiritually by the eye of faith. Faith sees God's glorious attributes in the glass of his Word. Faith beholds him showing forth himself through the lattice of his ordinances. Thus Moses saw him who was invisible (Hebrews 11:27). Believers see God's glory as it were
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Hebrew Sages and their Proverbs
[Sidenote: Role of the sages in Israel's life] In the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jer. xviii. 18; Ezek. vii. 26) three distinct classes of religious teachers were recognized by the people: the prophets, the priests, and the wise men or sages. From their lips and pens have come practically all the writings of the Old Testament. Of these three classes the wise men or sages are far less prominent or well known. They wrote no history of Israel, they preached no public sermons, nor do they appear
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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