2 Samuel 14:21

21 Then the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing; go, therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

2 Samuel 14:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 14:21

And the king said unto Joab
Who was present, or but at a little distance, waiting the issue of this affair:

behold now I have done this thing;
have agreed to recall Absalom, at the suit of this woman, which thou hast put her upon; or, according to the textual reading, "thou hast done this thing" ^F18; contrived this scheme, to let me know the mind of the people with respect to Absalom, or to represent to me the propriety of sending for him home:

go, therefore, bring the young man Absalom again;
I give my consent to it, and you may send for him, or fetch him as soon as you please; it is thought he calls him a young man, to extenuate his crime, that it was done in youthful heat and passion, and therefore he should pass it over.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (tyve) "fecisti", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

2 Samuel 14:21 In-Context

19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, By the life of thy soul, my lord the king, I can not turn to the right hand or to the left from all that my lord the king has spoken; for thy slave Joab, he commanded me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid;

20 to bring about this form of speech thy slave Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know that which is done in the earth.

21 Then the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing; go, therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face and worshipped and blessed the king, and Joab said, Today thy slave knows that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the word of his slave.

23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.