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2 Samuel 14:1

in 2 Samuel 14

Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.

KJV

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.

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This verse in 2 Samuel 14

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Was towards - He desired to see him, but was ashamed to shew kindness to one whom God's law and his own conscience obliged him to punish; he wanted therefore a fair pretense, which therefore Joab gave him.

This site's exposition

perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom

Joab reads David's face rather than his words and moves before the king asks for help. The general has his own blood on his hands from killing Abner, and older writers note that a man who wants his own guilt overlooked has reason to work for the pardon of another. His scheme opens the chapter's long argument between mercy and law that David will play out in miniature before he plays it out at full scale in his own house.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

As one who was himself a delinquent, by the murder of Abner. He was conscious to himself of the guilt of blood, and that he was himself obnoxious to public justice, and therefore whatever favour he could procure to be shown to Absalom would corroborate his reprieve.
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah,.... The general of David's army: perceived that the king's heart was towards Absalom; and longed to have him returned, though he knew not how to bring it about with credit to himself, his crime being so foul, and worthy of death.

The words behind it

9 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.

  • וַיֵּ֖דַעand he perceived

    vaiyeda'H3045 →945 times

  • יוֹאָ֣בJoab

    yoavH3097 →144 times

  • בֶּן־[the] son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • צְרֻיָ֑הZeruiah

    tzeruyahH6870 →26 times

  • כִּֽי־that

    ki-H3588 →4482 times

  • לֵ֥ב[the] heart of

    levH3820 →595 times

  • הַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe king

    hamelekhH4428 →2525 times

  • עַל־[was] towards

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃Absalom

    ʾavshalomH53 →110 times

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

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Samuel 13:39And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.5 works2 Samuel 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,3 works2 Samuel 19:2And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.”2 worksProverbs 29:26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.2 works2 Samuel 19:4But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”2 works2 Samuel 18:33The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Chronicles 2:16Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.2 works

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

    Proverbs 29:26

    Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 19:6

      Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

    • Proverbs 19:21

      Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

    • Psalms 20:9

      O LORD, save the king. Answer us on the day we call.

    • Isaiah 46:9–11

      Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.

    • Psalms 62:12

      and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.

  • Through

    2 Samuel 2:18

    The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 12:8

      Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions…

    • Habakkuk 3:19

      GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights! For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.

  • Through

    2 Samuel 13:39

    And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 24:67

      And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

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 14 →

This page draws on 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 14 →