This verse is part of a carefully crafted speech by the "wise woman of Tekoa" to King David in 2 Samuel 14. She is acting under the direction of Joab to persuade David to bring his exiled son Absalom back to Jerusalem. To understand the meaning of the verse, we need to consider the context:
The Setup: The wise woman pretends to be a widow with two sons. One son killed the other in a fight, and now the clan is demanding the killer's death.
Her Plea: She is appealing to the king to intervene and prevent the clan from wiping out her remaining son and his line, thus extinguishing their inheritance.
Parallel with Absalom: This story is meant to mirror David's situation. Absalom had murdered his half-brother Amnon, and David had, in essence, exiled him. The wise woman is subtly prompting David to show mercy to Absalom, just as he would (ideally) show mercy to her "son."
Now, let's break down the verse itself:
"For the king will hear...": This expresses the woman's hope and belief in David's just nature. She believes he will listen to her plea.
"...to deliver his servant...": She refers to herself as David's servant, a common way to address a king. She wants him to act on her behalf.
"...out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together...": This refers to the clan seeking revenge. They want to execute her son, effectively wiping out their family.
"...out of the inheritance of God.": This is the key point. The phrase "inheritance of God" has two important layers:
Literal Inheritance: It refers to the land and property that the family would lose if her son were killed. Land was seen as a divinely given right.
Figurative Inheritance (Absalom's Case): More importantly, this subtly mirrors Absalom's situation. If Absalom remains in exile, he is effectively cut off from his inheritance of the throne of Israel. He is deprived of his future position and leadership role, which could also be seen as part of God's plan. The use of the term inheritance of God connects her specific issue of losing inheritance, with the broader issue of absalom losing his own status and potential.
In essence, the wise woman is cleverly manipulating David's emotions and sense of justice. She is appealing to his sense of fairness and responsibility to protect her family's inheritance. By using the phrase "inheritance of God," she gently reminds David of the parallel situation with Absalom, hoping to convince him to bring his son back and restore his position within the kingdom.
The verse's power lies in its subtle message and its connection to the larger narrative of David's family drama. It's a masterclass in persuasive speech.
This verse is part of a carefully crafted speech by the "wise woman of Tekoa" to King David in 2 Samuel 14. She is acting under the direction of Joab to persuade David to bring his exiled son Absalom back to Jerusalem. To understand the meaning of the verse, we need to consider the context:
The Setup: The wise woman pretends to be a widow with two sons. One son killed the other in a fight, and now the clan is demanding the killer's death.
Her Plea: She is appealing to the king to intervene and prevent the clan from wiping out her remaining son and his line, thus extinguishing their inheritance.
Parallel with Absalom: This story is meant to mirror David's situation. Absalom had murdered his half-brother Amnon, and David had, in essence, exiled him. The wise woman is subtly prompting David to show mercy to Absalom, just as he would (ideally) show mercy to her "son."
Now, let's break down the verse itself:
"For the king will hear...": This expresses the woman's hope and belief in David's just nature. She believes he will listen to her plea.
"...to deliver his servant...": She refers to herself as David's servant, a common way to address a king. She wants him to act on her behalf.
"...out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together...": This refers to the clan seeking revenge. They want to execute her son, effectively wiping out their family.
"...out of the inheritance of God.": This is the key point. The phrase "inheritance of God" has two important layers:
Literal Inheritance: It refers to the land and property that the family would lose if her son were killed. Land was seen as a divinely given right.
Figurative Inheritance (Absalom's Case): More importantly, this subtly mirrors Absalom's situation. If Absalom remains in exile, he is effectively cut off from his inheritance of the throne of Israel. He is deprived of his future position and leadership role, which could also be seen as part of God's plan. The use of the term inheritance of God connects her specific issue of losing inheritance, with the broader issue of absalom losing his own status and potential.
In essence, the wise woman is cleverly manipulating David's emotions and sense of justice. She is appealing to his sense of fairness and responsibility to protect her family's inheritance. By using the phrase "inheritance of God," she gently reminds David of the parallel situation with Absalom, hoping to convince him to bring his son back and restore his position within the kingdom.
The verse's power lies in its subtle message and its connection to the larger narrative of David's family drama. It's a masterclass in persuasive speech.