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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:21 - 14:33
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The Reconciliation Effected
v. 21. And the king said unto Joab, Behold, now, I have done this thing, in fulfilling the request preferred through the woman of Tekoah; go, therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
v. 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. His intercession had finally succeeded.
v. 23. So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
v. 24. And the king, still unable to forget the crime which Absalom had committed, said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. David's forgiveness was not yet perfect, it lacked sincerity. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face; he was, to all intents and purposes, still banished.
v. 25. But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty, there was no other man physically so perfect as he; from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
v. 26. And when he polled his head, when he had his hair cut, (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 (about six pounds).
v. 27. And unto Absalom there were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar bearing the same name as her father's sister; she was a woman of fair countenance, very beautiful.
v. 28. So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face. David persisted in punishing him by keeping him at a distance.
v. 29. Therefore Absalom sent for Joab to have sent him to the king, to have this unbearable relation terminated; but he would not come to him, probably in order not to incur the king's displeasure: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
v. 30. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, alongside of his own ground, a parcel of land which he cultivated near the city, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
v. 31. Then Joab arose and came to Absalom unto his house, as the latter had foreseen, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
v. 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, he would have fared far better if he had remained there, as circumstances were now. Now, therefore, let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. Instead of showing sorrow and confessing his guilt, he denies it and challenges his father to punish him at this time. It was a defiant and bitter spirit which spoke here. David had made a mistake in the first place by letting Absalom return without a penitent confession.
v. 33. So Joab came to the king and told him; and when he David, had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, as a token of the usual homage paid to the sovereign, but not as a mark of penitence; and the king kissed Absalom. So the matter was patched up, sincerely enough on the part of David, but without this spirit on the part of Absalom. Even believers find that it is altogether against their sinful nature really to forgive and to forget any wrong that has been done. But the fear of God will gradually overcome the evil with good, conquer hatred and revenge, and be reconciled to the person who has done wrong.