2 Samuel 14:2

2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead.

2 Samuel 14:2 in Other Translations

2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

2 And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, "Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead.

2 So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.

2 So he sent to Tekoa for a wise woman who lived there and instructed her, "Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in black and don't comb your hair, so you'll look like you've been grieving over a dead loved one for a long time.

2 And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, I pray thee, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead:

2 So Joab sent [someone] to Tekoa to get a clever woman from there. He told her, "Please act like a mourner, and dress in mourning clothes. Don't rub olive oil on yourself, but act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.

2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to bring a clever woman from there. He told her, "Pretend to be in mourning: dress in mourning clothes and don't put on any oil. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.

2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to have a wise woman brought back from there. Joab said to her, "Pretend you are filled with sadness. Put on black clothes. Don't use any makeup. Act like a woman who has spent many days sobbing over someone who has died.

2 Samuel 14:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 14:2

And Joab sent to Tekoah
Which Kimchi says was a city in the tribe of Asher, and others in the tribe of Benjamin, but it seems rather to be in the tribe, of Judah, ( 2 Chronicles 11:5 2 Chronicles 11:6 ) ; according Jerom ^F19, it was twelve miles from Jerusalem, though in another place ^F20 he says it was but nine; of this place was Amos, and some think ^F21 the woman after mentioned was his grandmother. It was proper to lay the scene of the affair to be proposed to the king at some distance, that it might not soon and easily be inquired into:

and fetched thence a wise woman;
one much advanced in years, as Josephus says ^F23, whose years had taught her wisdom by experience; a woman of good sense, and of a good address, apt at expression and reply, and knew how to manage an affair committed to her; and among other things, perhaps, was famous for acting the part of a mourner at funerals, for which sometimes women were hired; however, she was one that was talked of for her wisdom and prudence, and Joab having heard of her, sent for her as one for his purpose. The Jews ^F24 say, that Tekoah was the first place in the land of Israel for oil, and because the inhabitants were much used to oil, wisdom was found among them:

and said unto her, I pray thee feign thyself to be a mourner;
a woman of a sorrowful spirit, and in great distress, and show it by cries and tears:

and put on now mourning apparel;
black clothes, such as mourners usually wore:

and anoint not thyself with oil;
as used to be done in times of feasting and rejoicing, to make them look smooth, and gay, and cheerful, and of which there might be much use at Tekoah, if so famous for oil:

but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead;
her countenance pale and foul with weeping, her mourning clothes almost worn out

---

FOOTNOTES:

F19 Proem. in Amos, & Comment. in Jer. vi. 1.
F20 De loc. Heb. in. voce "Elthei", fol. 91. B.
F21 In Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2 Reg. fol. 78. 1.
F23 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 8. sect. 4.
F24 T. Bab. Menachot, fol. 85. 2.

2 Samuel 14:2 In-Context

1 Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.

2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead.

3 Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, “Help me, Your Majesty!”

5 The king asked her, “What is troubling you?” She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Chronicles 11:6; Nehemiah 3:5; Jeremiah 6:1; Amos 1:1
• 2. 2 Samuel 20:16
• 3. S Ruth 3:3; 2 Samuel 12:20; S Isaiah 1:6