2 samuel 14:22 - Joab fell to the ground on his face, showed respect, and blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.”

Generated Verse: 2 samuel 14:22

What does "2 samuel 14:22" mean?


This verse describes Joab's reaction to King David granting a request he secretly orchestrated through a wise woman. Let's break down the meaning:

"Joab fell to the ground on his face, showed respect, and blessed the king." This is a profound display of submission and gratitude. Prostrating oneself was a customary way to show deep respect and loyalty to a king. "Blessing" the king meant expressing wishes for his continued well-being and reign.

"Joab said, 'Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, king...'" This is Joab's primary concern: to be in David's good graces. He's relieved and happy to see a sign of David's favor. Joab is essentially saying, "Because you granted this request, I know you still approve of me."

"...in that the king has performed the request of his servant.'" This subtly acknowledges Joab's indirect involvement. While he didn't directly ask David to do this, David's action fulfills the request that Joab initiated through the woman of Tekoa. It's a polite way of Joab getting what he wanted without explicitly admitting to manipulating the situation.

In essence, the verse shows:

Joab's Relief: He was worried about his standing with David, likely because of past actions that strained their relationship. David's favorable response (granting the request, which indirectly allowed Absalom to return) puts his mind at ease.
Indirect Communication: The verse highlights the behind-the-scenes maneuvering. Joab uses the wise woman as a proxy to test David's feelings and influence his decision.
Joab's Calculation: He's not simply grateful; he's strategically acknowledging David's action in a way that reinforces his loyalty and gratitude.

Context is Key:

To fully understand this verse, you need to know the preceding events. Absalom, David's son, had murdered his half-brother and was in exile. Joab, likely concerned about the kingdom's stability and perhaps with his own interests in mind, wanted Absalom to return. He couldn't approach David directly, so he used a clever ruse involving a wise woman to persuade David to allow Absalom to come back to Jerusalem.

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