· Translation: KJV

2 Samuel 14:7Behold, the whole family has risen against your handmaid, and they say, 'Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also.' Thus they would quench my coal which is left, and would leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth."

The setting

Jerusalem, ~980 BC. The woman continues her fabricated plea, describing how the extended family wants blood vengeance that would eliminate her family line entirely — exactly like David's situation with Absalom.

The emotion here: desperate urgency, but following a script

The original word

gā'al (גָּאַל) — the kinsman redeemer who has duty to avenge blood

Why it matters

Ancient Hebrew law required the nearest male relative to avenge a family member's death

Read with care

What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 14:7

She's describing the exact dilemma David faces with Absalom — justice vs. losing his heir

Common misconceptionPeople think this shows how complicated ancient justice was, but it's actually Joab using David's own painful situation to mirror back his dilemma with Absalom.

Bible Genome reading

2 Samuel 14:7 — Bible Genome reading

Speakerwoman of Tekoa
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionanxious
Literary typedialogue

Emotional genome

Comfort power20%
Quotability30%
Memorability70%
Crisis relevance90%
Standalone30%
Themes:family divisionjustice vs mercy

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 2 Samuel 14

2 Samuel 14:7 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to woman of Tekoa. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include family division, justice vs mercy. Notable phrases: whole family has risen; deliver him who struck.

Your reflection

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