The Bible Study podcast, episode 534. Today, the Bible Study podcast continues the study of the

kings of Israel and Judah with 2 Samuel 14. Welcome to the Bible study podcast from your host, Chris Christensen.

So we're continuing on the study of the Kings here with 2 Samuel 14.

And remember what happened last time is there was this terrible incident where Amnon raped his half-sister and then was killed by his half-brother.

He raped Tamar and then was killed by Absalom.

And part of what I said is that he was killed by Absalom because David didn't do anything about it.

And when justice is not dealt with by the king, by the leader, whose role includes making sure that

justice, real justice, justice that is untainted by personal feelings, by personal, by things that

help yourself. So there's all sorts of things in the Bible, especially in the prophets,

that talk about the unjust judge.

And David's part of his role here was judge.

Part of his role was to make sure that justice was meted out.

And because it wasn't, Absalom becomes a murderer.

And that's going to have an impact on this chapter.

Absalom returns to Jerusalem.

Joab, son of Zeroyah, knew the king's heart longed for Absalom. So Joab sent someone to Toccoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her,

pretend you are in mourning, dress in morning clothes, and don't use any cosmetic lotions, act like a woman

who has spent many days grieving for the dead, then go to the king and speak these words,

and Joa put the words in her mouth.

When the woman from Toccoa went to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him

honor, and she said, help me your majesty.

The king asked her, what is troubling you?

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