2 Samuel 14:21

21 Then the king said to Jo'ab, "Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Ab'salom."

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 The king said, "Is the hand of Jo'ab with you in all this?" The woman answered and said, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. It was your servant Jo'ab who bade me; it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid.

20 In order to change the course of affairs your servant Jo'ab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth."

21 Then the king said to Jo'ab, "Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Ab'salom."

22 And Jo'ab fell on his face to the ground, and did obeisance, and blessed the king; and Jo'ab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant."

23 So Jo'ab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Ab'salom to Jerusalem.