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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Your servant had two sons, and they both fought together in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other, and killed him.
- BSB And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him.
- NKJV Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him.
- NASB And your servant had two sons, but the two of them fought in the field, and there was no one to save them from each other, so one struck the other and killed him.
- NLT My two sons had a fight out in the field. And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed.
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
She says her two sons fought in the field, and one killed the other with no one to intervene. Her tale parallels the fratricide in David's own family.
Overview
The woman's story of one son slaying the other deliberately echoes Absalom's killing of Amnon. By framing it as a sudden quarrel without witnesses, she invites a more merciful judgment. The scenario is crafted to lead David toward a ruling he might then be challenged to apply to his own son.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Deut 22:26–27But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:
- Gen 4:8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
- Exod 2:13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
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 14:6 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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