2 So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there and said to her, "Please pretend to be a mourner , and put on mourning garments now , and do not anoint yourself with oil , but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead many days ; 3 then go to the king and speak to him in this manner ." So Joab put the words in her mouth . 4 Now when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king , she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself and said , " Help , O king ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:2-4
Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:1-20
(Read 2 Samuel 14:1-20)
We may notice here, how this widow pleads God's mercy, and his clemency toward poor guilty sinners. The state of sinners is a state of banishment from God. God pardons none to the dishonour of his law and justice, nor any who are impenitent; nor to the encouragement of crimes, or the hurt of others.