Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
- BSB Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for 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 the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
- 2 Sam 2:18And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
- Prov 29:26Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.
- 2 Sam 18:33And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
- 2 Sam 19:4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
- 1 Chr 2:16Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.
- 2 Sam 19:2And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
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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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