2 Samuel 14:21-33

Absalom Is Recalled

21 Then the king said to Joab, "Behold now, ¹I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom."

22 Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself and blessed the king; then Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, O my lord, the king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant."

23 So Joab arose and went to ²Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

24 However the king said, "Let him turn to ³his own house, and let him not see my face." So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king's face.

25 Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; ⁴from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no defect in him.

26 When he ⁵cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels by the king's weight.

27 ⁶To Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was ⁷Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.

28 Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, ⁸and did not see the king's face.

29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent again a second time, but he would not come.

30 Therefore he said to his servants, "See, ⁹Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

31 Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"

32 Absalom answered Joab, "Behold, I sent for you, saying, 'Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me still to be there."' Now therefore, let me see the king's face, ¹⁰and if there is iniquity in me, let him put me to death."

33 So when Joab came to the king and told him, he called for Absalom. Thus he came to the king and prostrated himself on his face to the ground before the king, and ¹¹the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:21-33 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. 2 Samuel 14:11
• 2. Deuteronomy 3:14; 2 Samuel 13:37, 38
• 3. 2 Samuel 13:20
• 4. Deuteronomy 28:35; Job 2:7; Isaiah 1:6
• 5. Ezekiel 44:20
• 6. 2 Samuel 18:18
• 7. 2 Samuel 13:1
• 8. 2 Samuel 14:24
• 9. Judges 15:3-5
• 10. 1 Samuel 20:8; Proverbs 28:13
• 11. Genesis 33:4; Luke 15:20

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "word"
• [b]. Lit "portion"
• [c]. Lit "portion"
• [d]. Lit "portion"
• [e]. Lit "said to"