Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 14:4

And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.

4. And when the woman spake she fell ] All the versions and many Hebrew MSS read as the sense requires: “And the woman of Tekoah came to the king, and fell,” &c.

fell on her face to the ground ] It was and in some cases still is the practice in Oriental countries for a subject approaching the king, especially with any petition, to kneel down and bend forward until the forehead actually touches the ground. See the illustrations from Assyrian and Egyptian monuments in Van Lennep’s Bible Lands, II. 649.

did obeisance ] See note on ch. 2Sa 1:2, and cp. the almost identical phrase in 1Sa 25:23.

Help ] Or, Save. Cp. 2Ki 6:26; Psa 20:9. The Sept. repeats it twice: “Help, O king, help.”

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Spake – Seems to be an accidental error for came, which is found in many manuscipts and versions.

Help – literally, save (see the margin). It is the same cry as Hosanna, i. e. save now Psa 118:25.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

And when the woman of Tekoah spake 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.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(4) Spake to the king.Many MSS. and the LXX., Vulg., and Syriac have came to the king. The difference is immaterial.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

2Sa 14:4 And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.

Ver. 4. She fell on her face to the ground, &c. ] And so she insinuateth, by her civility showed in her gestures, humilitatis et honoris ergo.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)