Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
Then the king responded and said to the woman, 'Please don't hide anything from me when I ask you this question.' And the woman replied, 'Go ahead, my lord the king, ask your question.'
King David is asking the wise woman to be completely honest with him, and she agrees to answer truthfully.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, this verse occurs during King David's reign as he navigates the complex aftermath of his son Absalom's exile, which followed Absalom's murder of his half-brother Amnon. Joab, David's military commander, arranges for a wise woman from Tekoa to approach David with a fabricated story to soften his heart and persuade him to reconcile with Absalom. This scene reflects the ancient Near Eastern custom of using indirect communication and parables to influence leaders without direct confrontation.
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