2 Samuel 14:21-33

David Recalls Absalom. 2 Samuel 14:21-33

21 And 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 bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, Today thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.

27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
29 Therefore Absalom sent of Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
30 Therefore he said unto his servants, See Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.

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

11.

What was David's final decision? 2 Samuel 14:21

Since David had already committed himself to the woman, he followed through by giving Joab the order to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem. Joab was grateful for this turn of events and expressed his thanks to the king. His profuse conversation about it revealed that he made this request to the king either before the coming of the woman or at least through her partitions.

12.

Why did David refuse to see Absalom? 2 Samuel 14:24

David was acting contrary to the letter of the Law. The Law stipulated that a man who had done what Absalom had done should be put to death. It was an overruling of the king which permitted him to live. David must have felt somewhat conscience-stricken about this and refused to see Absalom. He felt that it was enough that he was permitted to live without his being reinstated to his full rank in the king's house. Absalom was returned to his homeland; but he was not restored to the favor of the king, his father.

13.

What kind of man was Absalom? 2 Samuel 14:25-27

Absalom proved to be crafty, fearless, vengeful, murderous, strong-willed, and very vain. He had cunningly schemed to bring about Amnon's death and had fearlessly executed his plot. He harbored a hatred that cried out for revenge, until finally he achieved his ends, not even stopping at murder. He was a handsome man, there being none in all Israel so much to be praised as Absalom for his beauty. No blemish was found in him; every feature was manly. An outstanding part of his person was his hair, which was exceedingly heavy; and he ceremoniously cut it every year. This shaving of his head at the year's end may have had some religious signification, as was true with the Nazarites (Numbers 6:5). The weight of his hair would be six pounds or three pounds according to whether the shekel was the sacred shekel or the royal shekel. He must have worn it as a sign of his manly power,

14.

When did Absalom finally come before the king? 2 Samuel 14:28-33

Absalom was in exile for three years. He was in Jerusalem after his return for two years. In all, it had been five years since he last saw the king. Joab probably refused to come at Absalom's bidding, because he felt that he had done enough for him. Absalom forced Joab to come to him by burning Joab's barley field. His destructive action marked him as a man who would stop at nothing to gain his objective.

15.

Why did David finally agree to see Absalom? 2 Samuel 14:33

Only after Joab came to the king and told him of Absalom's actions and attitude did David agree to see the young man. Absalom had told Joab that he might as well have stayed with his grandfather in Geshur. He still did not know whether he was safe from the king's wrath, since the king had not agreed to see him. He wanted a final settlement in his case; and if there was iniquity in him, he was willing to go to the gallows to pay for his crime. When David learned of Absalom's extreme measures in setting Joab's field on fire and the gist of his conversation with him, he agreed to see him. David fully accepted Absalom and forgave him for killing Amnon. This was evident from his receiving him into his presence and kissing him when he saw him.