Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
- KJV Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
- NKJV So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was concerned about Absalom.
- NASB Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was drawn toward Absalom.
- NLT Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joab perceives that David's heart yearns for Absalom. Reading the king's mood, he sets out to arrange Absalom's return.
Overview
Joab, ever attuned to David's feelings and the kingdom's interests, discerns the king's longing for his exiled son. His perception leads him to devise a plan to reconcile father and son. The verse introduces Joab's manipulative yet purposeful intervention that shapes the rest of the chapter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Sam 13:39And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.
- 2 Sam 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,
- Prov 29:26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.
- 2 Sam 18:33The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
- 2 Sam 19:4But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
- 1 Chr 2:16Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
- 2 Sam 19:2And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 14:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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