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2 Samuel 20:17

in 2 Samuel 20

When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And he came near unto her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

KJV

And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

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This verse in 2 Samuel 20

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

This site's exposition

a wise woman called out from the city

on 2 Samuel 20:16-19

A wise woman calls out from the city and asks for Joab. She recalls the old saying, “Seek counsel at Abel,” by which disputes were settled. She calls Abel “a city that is a mother in Israel” and asks, “Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

This site's exposition

the words of your servant

The woman confirms whom she is speaking to before she says a word of substance. Matthew Henry supposes this was the first time Joab ever treated with a woman in matters of war. Joab listens, and the siege halts.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

We may suppose it was the first time he had ever treated with a woman in martial affairs. (2.) She reasons with him on behalf of her city, and very ingeniously. [1.] That it was a city famous for wisdom (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

And when he was come near unto her,....

The words behind it

16 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיִּקְרַ֣בand he drew near

    vaiyikravH7126 →280 times

  • אֵלֶ֔יהָto her

    ʾeleihaH413 →5510 times

  • וַתֹּ֧אמֶרand she said

    vatomerH559 →5305 times

  • הָאִשָּׁ֛הthe woman

    haishahH802 →781 times

  • הַאַתָּ֥ה¿ [are] you

    haatahH859 →1094 times

  • יוֹאָ֖בJoab

    yoavH3097 →144 times

  • וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • אָ֑נִיI [am]

    ʾaniH589 →874 times

  • וַתֹּ֣אמֶרand she said

    vatomerH559 →5305 times

  • ל֗וֹto <the> him

    lo

  • שְׁמַע֙listen to

    shema'H8085 →1159 times

  • דִּבְרֵ֣י[the] words of

    divreiH1697 →1440 times

  • אֲמָתֶ֔ךָmaidservant your

    ʾamatekhaH519 →56 times

  • וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • שֹׁמֵ֥עַ[am] listening

    shomea'H8085 →1159 times

  • אָנֹֽכִי׃I

    ʾanokhiH595 →359 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

2 in all, six open

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Samuel 25:24

    She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.

    it leads to

    • 2 Samuel 14:9

      But the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and on my father’s house, and may the king and his throne be guiltless.”

    • Esther 8:3

      And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

    • 1 Samuel 25:28

      Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you…

    • 2 Kings 4:37

      She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

    • Philemon 1:18–19

      But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.

  • Through

    2 Samuel 14:12

    Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?” “Speak,” he replied.

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 25:24

      She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.

    • Genesis 18:32

      Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

    • Genesis 18:27

      Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

About 2 Samuel

David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Samuel: the study guide →Read 2 Samuel 20 →

This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Samuel 20 →