Now behold, the entire family has risen against your servant, and they have said, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and eliminate the heir as well.’ So they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

Commentaries

4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

AlbertBarnes

18th Century
Presbyterian
18th Century

The whole family... — This indicates that all the king’s sons, and the entire court, were against Absalom. The knowledge of this opposition …

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

CharlesEllicott

19th Century
Anglican
19th Century

We will destroy the heir also. —The woman puts this into the mouth of the family, because this would be the result of what they pr…

John Gill

John Gill

JohnGill

17th Century
Reformed Baptist
17th Century

And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid ,
&c.] Who had sheltered her son, that slew his brothe…

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

MatthewHenry

17th Century
Presbyterian
17th Century

We may notice here, how this widow pleads God's mercy and His clemency toward poor, guilty sinners. The state of sinners is a state of banishment f…