2 Samuel 14:2

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

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:

3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, 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 even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

    Read in context
  • Ruth 3:3

    Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

    Read in context
  • Amos 1:1

    The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 20:20

    And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 6:1

    O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 12:20

    Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 3:5

    And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 3:27

    After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.

    Read in context