He came near to her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He answered, “I’m listening.”
Parallel Translations
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He came near to her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He answered, “I’m listening.”
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And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
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And he came near unto her; and the woman said: 'Art thou Joab?' And he answered: 'I am.' Then she said unto him: 'Hear the words of thy handmaid.' And he answered: 'I do hear.'
Cross-references (2)
Passages linked to 2 Samuel 20:17 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Samuel 25:24 She fell at his feet, and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the blame! Please let your servant speak in your ears. Hear the words of your servant.
- 2 Samuel 14:12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Say on.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (4 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2Sa 20:17 And when he was come near unto…
2Sa 20:17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, [Art] thou Joab? And he answered, I [am he]. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
Ver. 17. And he answered, I do hear.] He slighted her not, though a weak woman. If he had, she might fitly have said unto him, as Bernard once did to his brother when he gave him good counsel, and he being a soldier minded it not: A spear shall one day make way to that heart of thine, for instructions and admonitions to enter at.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And when he was come near unto her,.... As…
And when he was come near unto her,.... As he did, upon the information of his men, that a woman on the wall had something to say to him:
the woman said, art thou Joab? she was willing to be satisfied that he was really the general, before she would impart her mind to him:
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and he answered, I am he; the very person you ask after:
and she said unto him, hear the words of thine handmaid; though a woman, vouchsafe to hear what I have to say:
and he answered, I do hear: am ready to hear, and shall patiently and attentively hear whatever may be spoken; which was giving her leave and encouragement to proceed.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 2Sa 20:17-18. He answered, I do hear — He…
2Sa 20:17-18. He answered, I do hear — He did not despise her because she was a woman; but, as became a wise man, gave her a favourable audience, and attended to what she said. They shall surely ask counsel at Abel — She begins with praising the city of Abel, as famous even to a proverb, time out of mind, for wisdom, and judging rightly of things. As if she had said, This city, which thou art about to destroy, is no mean and contemptible one; but so honourable and considerable for its wisdom, that when any differences arose among any of the neighbours, they used proverbially to say, We will ask the opinion and advice of the men of Abel about it, and we will stand to their arbitration; and so all parties were satisfied, and disputes ended.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Listen to the words of your servant
Listen to the words of your servant
The woman refers to herself as "your servant." This is a polite way to speak to someone with greater authority.
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that advice would end the matter
"that advice would solve the problem"
most peaceful and faithful in Israel
This describes the cities. AT: "most peaceful and faithful cities in Israel" (See: Ellipsis)
city that is a mother in Israel
This speaks of the importance of this city among the nation of Israel as if it were a well respected mother. AT: "city that everyone in Israel respects like they would their mother" or "city that is very important and that Israel respects" (See: Metaphor)
Why do you want to swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?
Here the woman uses a rhetorical question to suggest to Joab what they should not do. This question can be written as a statement. AT: "You should not destroy the city that is Yahweh's inheritance!" (See: Rhetorical Question)
swallow up
Here the woman speaks of the army destroying the city as if the city were food to be swallowed. AT: "destroy" (See: Metaphor)
the inheritance of Yahweh
Here the city is referred to as Yahweh's inheritance to emphasize that it belongs to Yahweh. AT: "a city that belongs to Yahweh" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
word
peace
faithful
Israel
inherit
Yahweh
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.