Rashi on Tanakh2 Samuel 14

Yoav sent to Tekuah. Our Rabbis said Because olive oil is found there, therefore wisdom is found there.¹Menochos 85a.

In truth, I am a widowed woman.אֲבָל means "In truth."

My master the king, the sin is upon me. This is euphemistic for [the sake of] his honour in other words, "You are rebutting me [by] saying, 'I will command [someone] concerning you,' I will [then] go on my way and you will not command [anyone] concerning me, and my son will get murdered. Upon who is this sin?"

Please remember Adonoy. God was stringent concerning the distance [necessary] to save lives²When a person kills accidently, he must go to a city of refuge. These cities should never be too distant from any potential fugitive who may need to go there. as it is said, "He will overtake him because the way was long".³Devorim 19:5. This is [her reference with], "To avoid giving more [time] for the avenger to destroy," and you are pushing me [away].

Why did you think this. You suspected that a Jew could come to kill another [Jew] without witnesses and a warning.

That which the king said he himself is guilty of. This thing that you have decided for others, that you said to me "hair from your son shall not fall to the ground." Now that I have revealed to you that this thing never happened, but it was only [a parable] to your two sons, do not reverse yourself saying, "I said this mistakingly and I have reconsidered" in order that the king not bring back his son, Avsholom that his been exiled from him and has fled.

The king will say. Aucenon parleter in O.F.

We are [all] going to die. And that punishment is sufficent.⁴For Avsholom.

God will not countenance anyone. a man from [avoiding] death. Therefore the king should devise means to avoid having his exiled one remain an outcast.

And now I came to speak to my master, the king these words. As a parable about myself and my son

Because the people frightened me. They frightened me [away] from imploring my master concerning [the plight of] his son lest he become angry with me.

Your handmaiden said, "I will speak." In this way [with a parable], perhaps he will take action etc.

When the king hears [and agrees] to save his handmaiden from the [avenger] man's hand. who is coming to kill my son and to remove us both from the inheritance [given by] God.⁵All this is what the woman was conveying in her parable. This was all designed to be tolerable for the king to hear.

Your handmaiden says. Now that the king has ordered [remedial action] concerning me, his word should provide relief for my son because he will not back away from his kind decision⁶You came to the kind decision to provide relief to my make believe son in the parable. Please don’t change that decision when deliberating about Avsholom who in real-life needs relief. because my master, the king is like an angel of God and anger and hatred will not change his kind decision.

It is impossible. [This is] like "if it is possible" or like "is it possible" So too [we find] "Is there in the house of a wicked person"⁷Micha 6:10. meaning "is there".⁸הָאִש is standing in for הֲיֵשׁ which means “is there”.

In order to skirt around. To skirt around [the issue] until the matter concerning the king's son comes to light.

[But] my master is wise. and you understood that this is coming from Yoav.

Which is near me. Near my domain in a place where I can inflict damage.

Which is near me. En mains aussi in O.F.

[Then] kill me. The king should kill me.