And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.
And now, look, the whole family has turned against me, your servant, and they said, 'Hand over the one who killed his brother, so we can put him to death for taking his brother's life. We will also destroy the heir.' This way they will put out my last burning coal and leave my husband with no name or family line on earth.
This verse shows a woman pleading that her family wants to kill her only surviving son for killing his brother, which would completely end her husband's family line.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, this verse is part of a parable told by a wise woman from Tekoa, whom Joab sent to persuade King David to reconcile with his son Absalom. The story describes a family torn by murder, where relatives demand the execution of a son who killed his brother, threatening to wipe out the family's lineage entirely. This reflects the real-life tensions in David's family, particularly after Absalom killed his half-brother Amnon, highlighting themes of justice, mercy, and the preservation of heritage in ancient Israelite society.
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