And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on 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…