2 Samuel 14

CHAPTER 14

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem(14:1–33)

1 Joab, David’s nephew and the commander of his army, believed that Absalom was the rightful heir to David’s throne. But Absalom was in exile (2 Samuel 13:38); if David died in the meantime and there was no royal successor to assume leadership, Israel could end up in political chaos.

For some time Joab had been trying to persuade David to bring Absalom back from exile, as David’s words in verse 19 clearly indicate. So far, however, Joab had been unsuccessful. So he resorted to trickery.

2–7 He sent a wise woman to David and instructed her to make up a story that David would believe was true. The story was about the woman’s two fictitious sons, one of whom had killed the other (just as Absalom had killed Amnon). The woman’s clan wanted to put her remaining son to death; in Israel, a close relative—called the avenger of blood (verse 11)—was entitled to avenge the killing of a family member by putting the killer to death (see Numbers 35:12). According to the woman’s made-up story, she herself was a widow (verse 5); therefore, if her clan killed her only remaining son, her husband’s family line would be cut off and she would be left with nothing. Furthermore, by getting rid of the heir in this way, her nearest relative would be able to claim her family’s inheritance (verse 7).

The purpose of the woman’s story was to persuade David to side with her and to prevent the “clan” from taking vengeance on her only remaining son. By using this fictitious story as an analogy, she—and Joab—hoped to persuade David to stop “taking vengeance” on his own son Absalom and to bring him back to Jerusalem as crown prince.

8–11 David believed the woman’s story and took her side (verse 8). Then the woman said, “. . . let the blame rest on me” (verse 9)—that is, the “blame” for allowing a killer to go unpunished. Then the woman asked David to invoke the LORD—that is, to swear an oath—that the avenger would be prevented from adding to the destruction of the woman’s family by killing her remaining son (verse 11). And David swore that no harm would befall her son.

12–14 Having received David’s assurance, the woman then interrupted her story and came to her main purpose in meeting with David. She told David that if he could forgive her son, why didn’t he forgive his own son Absalom? If he could have such sympathy for her family, why didn’t he have equal sympathy for the family of Israel—the people of God—and bring back to them their crown prince? (verse 13). By taking the woman’s side (in her made-up story), David had “convicted himself” of not taking Israel’s side; what he was willing to do for the woman, he should have been willing to do for Israel.⁵⁴

15–17 In these verses, the woman goes back to her made-up story, and again asks the king to protect her from the man (avenger of blood) who was trying to put her son to death (verse 16). She ends with a word of praise for David (verse 17).

18–20 By this time, David realized that the woman’s purpose was to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem. It’s possible that Joab had been present or nearby while the woman was telling her story. David directly asked the woman if Joab had been the one who sent her. The woman said, “Yes.” She then praised David’s wisdom and knowledge (verse 20), and said that no one could turn to the right or to the left from anything he said (verse 19)-by which she meant that David had understood the situation exactly.

21–24 David agreed to bring Absalom back, and sent Joab to do it (verse 21). But even though the woman had praised David’s wisdom (verse 20), he did not act wisely in the matter of Absalom. He brought him back but he did not forgive him or reinstate him—“he must not see my face” (verse 23)—and the worst possible consequences ensued. Absalom remained angry, but now he was living in Jerusalem where he could stir up trouble for his father—which he proceeded to do (2 Samuel 15:1–12). If David had not brought Absalom back, he wouldn’t have been able to cause trouble; if David had brought Absalom back and also forgiven him, he wouldn’t have wanted to cause trouble. Of the three choices, David chose the worst: to bring Absalom back and not forgive him. David’s dealings with his own family were characterized by half-measures and vacillation. As a king he was strong; as a father he was weak.

25–27 In these verses, the writer gives a brief description of Absalom. Like Saul, he had a handsome appearance (verse 25). But the physical attribute that gave Absalom the greatest pride was his hair; it was so abundant that whenever he cut it, the cuttings weighed two hundred shekels—over two kilograms! (verse 26). In the end, Absalom’s abundant hair would contribute to his downfall (see 2 Samuel 18:9–15).

28–33 For two years Absalom lived in Jerusalem without seeing his father; we can assume that during that time Absalom’s anger grew and grew. Twice Absalom asked his cousin Joab to come to him so that he could send Joab with a message to the king on his behalf; twice Joab refused. Finally, in order to get Joab’s attention, Absalom burned up Joab’s barley field (verse 30).

Then Joab came to Absalom, and Absalom told him to go to the king and ask the king to either punish him or forgive him. Absalom likely expected that David would forgive him; with his status as crown prince restored, Absalom would then be in a position to gain support for his attempt to seize David’s throne.

Absalom’s prediction was correct: the king summoned him and kissed him, thus signaling his forgiveness and his acceptance of Absalom back into the royal family. However, Absalom never repented, and King David never administered justice. The stage was thus set for the events described in the next chapter.