What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 14:16? For the king will hear The woman of Tekoa voices absolute confidence that David—Israel’s God-appointed ruler—will not turn a deaf ear. In Israel’s monarchy, the king was expected to reflect the LORD’s own justice (2 Samuel 15:2; 1 Kings 3:28). Her certainty foreshadows the believer’s assurance that the ultimate King listens (Psalm 34:17; Hebrews 4:16). and deliver his maidservant She humbly calls herself “maidservant,” inviting David to act as rescuer. Scripture regularly pairs a humble plea with royal deliverance (Psalm 72:12-14; 2 Kings 6:26-27). In earthly courts and in the heavenly one, genuine humility invites decisive help (James 4:6). from the hand of the man A single unnamed adversary threatens her family line, and she expects the king to restrain him. The phrase mirrors earlier pleas for protection from violent men (1 Samuel 24:15; Psalm 140:1). God ordains governing authority to curb evil (Romans 13:3-4); David, as God’s representative, must intervene. who would cut off both me and my son The danger is total extermination—mother and heir alike—echoing threats against lineage such as Saul’s designs on Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:31). Cutting off a line meant erasing a family’s future, property, and name (Deuteronomy 25:6). The woman’s words highlight how urgent and personal justice must be. from God’s inheritance. “Inheritance” points to Israel itself (Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalm 33:12). To lose her family’s place would be to lose covenant standing within the land the LORD allotted (Numbers 27:7). By appealing to God’s ownership of the nation, she presses David to see that protecting her household upholds God’s larger redemptive plan. summary 2 Samuel 14:16 is a model of bold yet humble petition. The woman trusts that the king who represents God will listen, act, and secure her family’s future within the LORD’s covenant inheritance. Her confidence challenges every ruler—and every believer—to mirror the divine commitment to hear, deliver, and preserve the people God calls His own. |
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