Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Samuel 14

The woman with a reputation for great wisdom was summoned to carry out a delicate mission in the royal court (compare 2 Samuel 20:16).

My lord the king, may any blame be on me: If David allowed a murder to go unpunished, he would fail to uphold justice and would likely be criticized by the people.

As surely as the LORD lives: When the woman urged David to promise more protection, he responded with this solemn oath (see 2 Samuel 4:9; 12:5; 15:21; 1 Samuel 20:3; 28:10; 29:6).

against the people of God: The woman argued that David was harming the entire kingdom by keeping Absalom in exile. She suggested that conflict in the royal family would spread to the wider society, or that David’s focus on Absalom would distract him from ruling well (2 Samuel 14:16).

God … devises ways: The woman encouraged David to make peace with Absalom, just as God does with his people. God did not stay distant from David when he sinned. He forgave the king when he repented.

• The woman again spoke about her own case. She argued that the king’s concern for Absalom kept him from addressing justice among his people (see 2 Samuel 13:39 and study note on 2 Samuel 13:39).

• cut off both: If her only remaining son were killed, her family would lose its ancestral land (compare Numbers 27:1–11).

just like the angel of God: This expression shows great respect. It is not used for anyone else in the Bible and appears four times in reference to David (see also 2 Samuel 14:20; 19:27; 1 Samuel 29:9). The woman was expressing confidence that David would act with wisdom and justice given by God.

has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God: This wise woman (2 Samuel 14:2) knew it was better to praise a king than to insult him.

bring back … Absalom: It seems that David was not yet interested in full reconciliation with his son (2 Samuel 14:24).

Geshur: See 2 Samuel 13:37–38.

he shaved it every year: Absalom's hair, which made him attractive, became a deadly trap for him (see 2 Samuel 18:9–15).

• Absalom's three sons likely died before him (see 2 Samuel 18:18).

• Absalom named his daughter Tamar after his sister, and she was also very beautiful (2 Samuel 13:1).

Joab persuaded David to welcome Absalom back (2 Samuel 14:21–22). However, he then stopped helping Absalom, possibly to avoid supporting someone who might try to take the throne (2 Samuel 15:1–12).

• Absalom bowed deeply, showing respect to the king (see also 2 Samuel 4:4, 22).

• the king kissed Absalom: The absence of talking, hugging (compare Luke 15:20), or crying (compare Genesis 33:4; 45:2, 14) suggests this was a formal meeting, not an affectionate reunion.