2 Samuel 14:7

5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

9 And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.

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
Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”
KJV
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.
WEB
Behold, the whole family has risen against your servant, and they say, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also.’ Thus they would quench my coal which is left, and would leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth.”
ASV
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they say, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.
DARBY
And behold, the whole family is risen against thy bondmaid, and they say, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may put him to death, for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also: so they will quench my coal which is left, and will not leave to my husband a name or remnant on the earth.
BLB
And behold, the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Give up him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he has slain. And we will destroy also the heir.’ And they would extinguish my ember that is left, and not leave to my husband a name and remnant on the face of the earth.”
ÅB
Og nå har hele slekten reist seg mot din tjenerinne og sier: Kom hit med ham som slo sin bror ihjel, så vi kan ta hans liv til hevn for hans bror som han slo ihjel, og så vi også får ryddet arvingen av veien. Slik kommer de til å utslukke den siste gnist jeg enda har igjen, så de ikke levner min mann navn og etterkommere på jorden.
OTB
Nå har hele familien reist seg mot din tjenerinne og sier, ‘Bring hit ham som slo sin bror, så vi kan drepe ham for å ha drept sin bror.’ De vil også ødelegge arvingen, og slik vil de slokke min brennende kull som er igjen, og etterlate verken navn eller etterkommere på jorden for min mann.”
B1930
Og nu har hele slekten reist sig mot din tjenerinne og sier: Kom hit med ham som slo sin bror ihjel, så vi kan ta hans liv til hevn for hans bror som han slo ihjel, og så vi også får ryddet arvingen av veien. Således kommer de til å utslukke den siste gnist jeg ennu har igjen, så de ikke levner min mann navn og efterkommere på jorden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 35:19

    The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 21:38

    But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 19:12–13

    Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 27:45

    Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

    Read in context
  • Genesis 4:14

    Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 25:6

    And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 12:17

    And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

    Read in context