2 Samuel 14:20
To fetch about this forme of speech hath thy seruant Ioab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisedome of an Angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. 2 Samuel 14:20 (KJV)
The quotation presented in the verse block does not appear in the King James Version of 2 Samuel 14. The actual dialogue recorded in the chapter records the woman of Tekoa speaking to King David after Joab, David’s military commander, sent her to the palace. Joab’s purpose in arranging the encounter was to persuade the king to reconcile with his son Absalom, who had fled Jerusalem after murdering his half‑brother Amnon.
In her address the woman does not use the phrasing that praises David’s wisdom as “according to the wisdom of an angel of God.” Instead, she tells a parable about two brothers—one dead and one alive—to illustrate the value of mercy and the restoration of a lost family member. Her appeal stresses compassion over strict justice and urges David to bring Absalom back into the family fold.
The broader lesson of the passage therefore concerns forgiveness and the healing of broken familial relationships rather than a direct commentary on the extent of David’s earthly knowledge. While the woman acknowledges David’s role as king, the text does not compare his discernment to that of an angel.
When studying this narrative it is essential to read the surrounding verses in 2 Samuel 14. Doing so reveals Joab’s political motives, the woman’s strategic use of a parable, and the overarching theme that divine‑like wisdom is manifested when a leader chooses reconciliation and mercy. The passage reminds readers that true leadership involves discerning good and evil and applying that discernment to restore harmony within the community.
