2 Samuel 14:16-26

16 I thought you would listen to me and save me from the one who is trying to kill my son and me and so remove us from the land God gave his people.

17 I said to myself that your promise, sir, would make me safe, because the king is like God's angel and can distinguish good from evil. May the Lord your God be with you!" ¹

18 The king answered, "I'm going to ask you a question, and you must tell me the whole truth." "Ask me anything, Your Majesty," she answered.

19 "Did Joab put you up to this?" he asked her. She answered, "I swear by all that is sacred, Your Majesty, that there is no way to avoid answering your question. It was indeed your officer Joab who told me what to do and what to say.

20 But he did it in order to straighten out this whole matter. Your Majesty is as wise as the angel of God and knows everything that happens."

21 Later on the king said to Joab, "I have decided to do what you want. Go and get the young man Absalom and bring him back here."

22 Joab threw himself to the ground in front of David in respect, and said, "God bless you, Your Majesty! Now I know that you are pleased with me, because you have granted my request."

23 Then he got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

24 The king, however, gave orders that Absalom should not live in the palace. "I don't want to see him," the king said. So Absalom lived in his own house and did not appear before the king.

25 There was no one in Israel as famous for his good looks as Absalom; he had no defect from head to toe.

26 His hair was very thick, and he had to cut it once a year, when it grew too long and heavy. It would weigh about five pounds according to the royal standard of weights.

2 Samuel 14:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 14

This chapter relates that Joab, perceiving David's inclination to bring back Absalom, employed a wise woman of Tekoah to lay before him a feigned case of hers, drawn up by Joab, whereby this point was gained from the king, that murder might be dispensed with in her case, 2Sa 14:1-20; which being applied to the case of Absalom, and the king finding out that the hand of Joab was in this, sent for him, and ordered him to bring Absalom again, though as yet he would not see his face, 2Sa 14:21-24; and after some notice being taken of the beauty of Absalom's person, particularly of his head of hair, and of the number of his children, 2Sa 14:25-27; it is related, that after two full years Absalom was uneasy that he might not see the king's face, and sent for Joab, who refused to come to him, till he found means to oblige him to it, who, with the king's leave, introduced him to him, 2Sa 14:28-33.

Cross References

• 1. 14.17 2 Samuel 19.27.

Footnotes

• [a]. can distinguish good from evil; [or] knows everything.
• [b]. there is . . . question; [or] you are absolutely right.