The hand of Joab. —The king immediately sees through the woman’s disguise and understands the stratagem. He knew Joab as “wily and…

And the king said, [is not] the hand of Joab with you in all
this ?
&c.] That is, is …

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…