And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
Your servant had two sons, and they got into a fight out in the field. There was no one there to separate them, so one son struck the other and killed him.
The woman is telling a story about how one of her two sons killed the other in a fight when no one was around to stop them.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of 2 Samuel, this verse is part of a parable told by a wise woman from Tekoa, who was sent by Joab to advise King David. She uses the story of two brothers fighting to the death to mirror David's real-life family conflict, specifically his estrangement from his son Absalom after Absalom killed his half-brother Amnon. This narrative highlights the cultural emphasis in ancient Israel on using clever storytelling to influence leaders and promote reconciliation.
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