2 Samuel 14:4
ESV
When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, "Save me, O king."
NIV
When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, "Help me, Your Majesty!"
NASB
Now when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, 'Help, O king!'
CSB
When the woman from Tekoa came to the king, she fell facedown to the ground, paid homage, and said, "Help me, Your Majesty!"
NLT
When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, 'O king! Help me!'
KJV
And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
NKJV
And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, “Help, O king!”
What does 2 Samuel 14:4 mean?
A mourning woman has come to King David to settle a dispute on her behalf. Resolving conflicts by enforcing the law or making exceptions was one duty of the king. The assumption is that David regularly performed this task for those in need of help. The woman falls to the ground, face down, in the typical gesture of great respect and honor before someone who is worthy. She begins simply by asking the king to save her.Her story is that her husband has died, and one of her two sons murdered the other in a fight. Now, her clan demands she turn over her remaining son for execution. This would be in accordance with one of the oldest laws God established (Genesis 9:8) as well as the Mosaic law (Numbers 35:30–31). But if her last son dies, her husband's line will die out. She begs David to pardon her son. He agrees (2 Samuel 14:5–11).
Her story isn't true. David's general, Joab, has sent her to tell the story as a symbol of David's relationship with his own sons. Three years prior, Absalom had murdered Amnon and fled. The woman challenges David to restore Absalom (2 Samuel 14:12–17).
We don't know if David realizes the story is fake, but he does recognize that Joab is heavily involved (2 Samuel 14:18–20). David agrees to the request, and Absalom returns to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 14:21).
