The verse "Go in to the king, and speak like this to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth" (2 Samuel 14:3) means that Joab, the commander of David's army, was orchestrating a plan to convince King David to allow his exiled son, Absalom, to return to Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown:
"Go in to the king, and speak like this to him." Joab is instructing a woman from Tekoa (a town south of Jerusalem) on what to say to King David. He's carefully crafting the message he wants David to hear.
"So Joab put the words in her mouth." This is the key part. It means Joab didn't just give her a general idea or topic. He specifically told her exactly what to say. He wrote (or dictated) a script for her. She was essentially a messenger, reciting a prepared speech. This underscores the calculated nature of Joab's plan. He wasn't leaving it to chance; he wanted to control the narrative.
In simpler terms: Joab wrote a speech for the woman, and she was supposed to deliver it to King David as if it were her own heartfelt plea.
Why did Joab do this?
He wanted Absalom back. Joab recognized that David was still grieving for Absalom, even though he was in exile. Joab believed that Absalom's return would be good for the stability of the kingdom.
He knew David's heart. Joab understood David's emotional state and knew that a carefully constructed story, presented in a specific way, would be more likely to sway the king. He used the woman to appeal to David's sense of justice and compassion.
He wanted to avoid direct confrontation with David. Joab was a powerful figure, but he knew that directly advising David on such a sensitive issue might be poorly received. Using a third party (the woman of Tekoa) allowed him to influence David indirectly.
The verse highlights Joab's manipulative and strategic nature. He was willing to use deception (though arguably for what he perceived as the greater good) to achieve his goals. It also shows David's vulnerability to emotional appeals.
The verse "Go in to the king, and speak like this to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth" (2 Samuel 14:3) means that Joab, the commander of David's army, was orchestrating a plan to convince King David to allow his exiled son, Absalom, to return to Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown:
"Go in to the king, and speak like this to him." Joab is instructing a woman from Tekoa (a town south of Jerusalem) on what to say to King David. He's carefully crafting the message he wants David to hear.
"So Joab put the words in her mouth." This is the key part. It means Joab didn't just give her a general idea or topic. He specifically told her exactly what to say. He wrote (or dictated) a script for her. She was essentially a messenger, reciting a prepared speech. This underscores the calculated nature of Joab's plan. He wasn't leaving it to chance; he wanted to control the narrative.
In simpler terms: Joab wrote a speech for the woman, and she was supposed to deliver it to King David as if it were her own heartfelt plea.
Why did Joab do this?
He wanted Absalom back. Joab recognized that David was still grieving for Absalom, even though he was in exile. Joab believed that Absalom's return would be good for the stability of the kingdom.
He knew David's heart. Joab understood David's emotional state and knew that a carefully constructed story, presented in a specific way, would be more likely to sway the king. He used the woman to appeal to David's sense of justice and compassion.
He wanted to avoid direct confrontation with David. Joab was a powerful figure, but he knew that directly advising David on such a sensitive issue might be poorly received. Using a third party (the woman of Tekoa) allowed him to influence David indirectly.
The verse highlights Joab's manipulative and strategic nature. He was willing to use deception (though arguably for what he perceived as the greater good) to achieve his goals. It also shows David's vulnerability to emotional appeals.