John Gill Commentary 2 Samuel 14

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah
The general of David's army:

perceived that the king's heart [was] towards Absalom ; and longed to have him returned, though he knew not how to bring it about with credit to himself, his crime being so foul, and worthy of death. This Joab perceived by some words he now and then dropped, and by his conduct, not seeking by any ways and means to bring him to justice, and being now reconciled to the death of Amnon; therefore Joab devised a way to make known to him his own mind, and the sense of the people, which would serve to encourage him to restore him; and Joab was particularly inclined to take such a step, as he knew it would establish him in the king's favour, and ingratiate him into the affection of Absalom, the next heir to the crown, as well as please the people, whose darling he was.

Though Abarbinel is of opinion that Joab proceeded upon another view of things, not because he saw the heart and affection of David were towards Absalom, but the reverse; that though David restrained himself and his servants from going out after Absalom, yet Joab knew that the heart of the king was against him, and that his heart was to take vengeance on him, though he did not go out to seek him; he perceived there was still enmity and hatred in his heart to take vengeance on Absalom, and therefore he took the following method to remove it, and reconcile his mind to him; and so the Targum, "and Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the heart of the king was to go out against Absalom;"

and it may be observed, that when Joab had so far prevailed upon him as to admit him to bring him back to Jerusalem, he would not suffer him to see his face, nor did he for two years after.

And Joab sent to Tekoah
Which Kimchi says was a city in the tribe of Asher, and others in the tribe of Benjamin, but it seems rather to be in the tribe, of Judah, (2 Chronicles 11:5 2 Chronicles 11:6) ; according to Jerom ^F19 , it was twelve miles from Jerusalem, though in another place ^F20 he says it was but nine; of this place was Amos, and some think ^F21 the woman after mentioned was his grandmother. It was proper to lay the scene of the affair to be proposed to the king at some distance, that it might not soon and easily be inquired into:

and fetched thence a wise woman ;
one much advanced in years, as Josephus says ^F23 , whose years had taught her wisdom by experience; a woman of good sense, and of a good address, apt at expression and reply, and knew how to manage an affair committed to her; and among other things, perhaps, was famous for acting the part of a mourner at funerals, for which sometimes women were hired; however, she was one that was talked of for her wisdom and prudence, and Joab having heard of her, sent for her as one for his purpose. The Jews ^F24 say, that Tekoah was the first place in the land of Israel for oil, and because the inhabitants were much used to oil, wisdom was found among them:

and said unto her, I pray thee feign yourself to be a mourner ;
a woman of a sorrowful spirit, and in great distress, and show it by cries and tears:

and put on now mourning apparel ;
black clothes, such as mourners usually wore:

and anoint not yourself with oil ;
as used to be done in times of feasting and rejoicing, to make them look smooth, and gay, and cheerful, and of which there might be much use at Tekoah, if so famous for oil:

but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead ;
her countenance pale and foul with weeping, her mourning clothes almost worn out

FOOTNOTES:

• F19: Proem. in Amos, & Comment. in Jer. vi. 1.
• F20: De loc. Heb. in. voce "Elthei", fol. 91. B.
• F21: In Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2 Reg. fol. 78. 1.
• F23: Antiqu. l. 7. c. 8. sect. 4.
• F24: T. Bab. Menachot, fol. 85. 2.

And come to the king
At his palace, in the above condition and circumstances:

and speak on this manner unto him ;
something to the following purpose he dictated to her:

so Joab put the words in her mouth ;
the substance of what she should say; the fable she was to deliver as her own case might be framed by Joab, and which she delivered word for word exactly as he put it, and the application of it; but as he knew not what questions the king would ask her, so he could not dictate to her what to reply, unless he supposed this and the other, and so formed answers; but this he left to her prudence, and for the sake of which he chose a wise woman to manage this affair.

And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king
Or after she had spoken to him, being introduced by Joab, as is probable; when she had saluted him with God save the king, or May the king live, or some such like expressions:

she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance ;
to him as her king, in reverence of his majesty:

and said, help, O king ;
signifying that she was in great distress, and came to him for assistance and deliverance.

And the king said unto her, what aileth thee ?
&c.] Or what is your case? What is the condition, and what the circumstances, that you are in, which require help and assistance? intimating that he was ready to grant it on knowledge thereof; however, he was ready to hear what she had to say:

and she answered, I [am] indeed a widow woman ;
of a truth a widow, as the Targum; she was really one, a widow indeed, as in (1 Timothy 5:3 1 Timothy 5:5) ; not one that was separated from her husband, he being alive, or divorced from him on any account; and therefore she adds,

and mine husband is dead ;
and has been a long time; this she said to move the pity and compassion of the king, who, as the supreme magistrate in God's stead, was a Father of the fatherless, and the judge of the widow.