2 Samuel 14:2

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

So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time.

3 Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time.
KJV
And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
WEB
Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, please, and don’t anoint yourself with oil; but be as a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.
ASV
And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, I pray thee, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead:
DARBY
And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said to her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments, I pray, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead;
BLB
And Joab sent to Tekoa, and he brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Pretend to be a mourner, please, and put on now mourning apparel, and do not anoint yourself with oil, and act like a woman these many days mourning for the dead.
ÅB
Da sendte Joab bud til Tekoa og hentet derfra en klok kvinne, og han sa til henne: Lat som om du har sorg, og kle deg i sørgeklær og salv deg ikke med olje, men te deg som en kvinne som alt i lang tid har sørget over en død,
OTB
Så Joab sendte bud til Tekoa og hentet derfra en klok kvinne. Han sa til henne: “Vær så snill å late som du sørger, og ta på deg sørgeklær. Salv deg ikke med olje, men oppfør deg som en kvinne som lenge har sørget over en død.
B1930
Da sendte Joab bud til Tekoa og hentet derfra en klok kvinne, og han sa til henne: Lat som om du har sorg, og klæ dig i sørgeklær og salv dig ikke med olje, men te dig som en kvinne som alt i lang tid har sørget over en død,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Chronicles 11:6

    He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

    Read in context
  • Ruth 3:3

    Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

    Read in context
  • Amos 1:1

    These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 20:20

    Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 6:1

    “Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 12:20

    Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 3:5

    Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 3:27

    And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel.

    Read in context