שמואל ב, פרק י״ד, פסוק ג׳

Joab orchestrates a complex plan to reconcile King David with his estranged son, Absalom. This delicate operation requires a blend of careful preparation and quick thinking. He enlists the help of a wise woman from Tekoa, instructing her to present a scenario to the king that closely mirrors the actual conflict between Absalom and his brother Amnon. The goal is to make the king believe he is hearing a genuine legal case so that he will pass an objective judgment [מצודת דוד]. The framing of her mission indicates that she must use a parable, creating a story that merely simulates the intended reality without exposing it immediately [אברבנאל].

The nature of Joab's instructions raises an important question: if he provided the exact words for her to say, why was it necessary to specifically seek out a wise woman? [רד״ק]. The primary approach among commentators is that Joab did not dictate a strict, detailed speech. Instead, he outlined the ultimate goal, the core issue, and the hidden meaning behind the story. Relying on her own sharp intellect, the woman constructed the narrative, expanded on the details, and skillfully navigated her answers based on the king's reactions until he finally understood the underlying message [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, חומת אנך, אברבנאל]. A closely related perspective suggests that while Joab taught her the main structure of the parable, he trusted her wisdom to properly handle any unexpected questions the king might ask [מצודת דוד].

Conversely, other commentators argue that Joab maintained total control over the entire exchange. One view maintains that Joab accurately predicted everything the king would say, providing the woman with exact responses for every possible royal reaction [מלבי״ם]. Another perspective suggests a highly strategic approach, where Joab equipped the woman with alternative conversation scripts and backup arguments, ensuring she was fully prepared to shift directions if the dialogue did not follow the original plan [אברבנאל בשם האפוד].