2 Samuel 14:7

“And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, etc.] Who had sheltered her son, that slew his brother, from the avenger of blood; and not only the next akin, the avenger of blood, but even all the kindred and relations of the deceased, those of her husband’s family rose up as one man, demanding justice: and they said, deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew; pretending great regard to the deceased, and a zeal for justice, when the main thing aimed at was to get the inheritance into their own hands, as appears by what follows: and we will destroy the heir also; and hereby she would insinuate to the king, that the reason…”

“they shall quench my coal which is left--The life of man is compared in Scripture to a light. To quench the light of Israel (Sa2 21:17) is to destroy the king's life; to ordain a lamp for any one (Psa 132:17) is to grant him posterity; to quench a coal signifies here the extinction of this woman's only remaining hope that the name and family of her husband would be preserved. The figure is a beautiful one; a coal live, but lying under a heap of embers--all that she had to rekindle her fire--to light her lamp in Israel.”

“The whole family ... - This indicates that all the king’s sons, and the whole court, were against Absalom, and that the knowledge of this was what hindered David from yielding to his affection and recalling him. return to 'Top of Page'”

“the whole: Gen 4:14; Num 35:19; Deu 19:12 so they: Gen 27:45; Deu 25:6 quench: Sa2 12:17 upon the earth: Heb. upon the face of the earth 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 14:8”