# 2 Samuel 14 đ: Absalom Returns to Jerusalem
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### David Permits Absalom to Return to Jerusalem
[[#Verse 01.]] Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see Absalom.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He told her, âPretend to be in mourning and put on garments for mourning. Donât anoint yourself with oil. Instead, act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for some time.Â
[[#Verse 03.]]Â Go to the king and speak to him in the following fashion.â Then Joab told her what to say.
[[#Verse 04.]] So the Tekoan woman went to the king. She bowed down with her face to the ground in deference to him and said, âPlease help me, O king!âÂ
[[#Verse 05.]] The king replied to her, âWhat do you want?â She answered, âI am a widow; my husband is dead.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] Your servant has two sons. When the two of them got into a fight in the field, there was no one present who could intervene. One of them struck the other and killed him.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] Now the entire family has risen up against your servant, saying, âTurn over the one who struck down his brother, so that we can execute him and avenge the death of his brother whom he killed. In so doing we will also destroy the heir.â They want to extinguish my remaining coal, leaving no one on the face of the earth to carry on the name of my husband.â
[[#Verse 08.]] Then the king told the woman, âGo to your home. I will give instructions concerning your situation.âÂ
[[#Verse 09.]]Â The Tekoan woman said to the king, âMy lord the king, let any blame fall on me and on the house of my father. But let the king and his throne be innocent!â
[[#Verse 10.]] The king said, âBring to me whoever speaks to you, and he wonât bother you again!âÂ
[[#Verse 11.]] She replied, âIn that case, let the king invoke the name of the Lord your God so that the avenger of blood may not add to the killing! Then they will not destroy my son!â He replied, âAs surely as the Lord lives, not a single hair of your sonâs head will fall to the ground.â
[[#Verse 12.]] Then the woman said, âPlease permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter.â He replied, âTell me.âÂ
[[#Verse 13.]]Â The woman said, âWhy have you devised something like this against Godâs people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished.
[[#Verse 14.]]Â Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] I have now come to speak with my lord the king about this matter, because the people have made me fearful. But your servant said, âI will speak to the king! Perhaps the king will do what his female servant asks.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] Yes! The king may listen and deliver his female servant from the hand of the man who seeks to remove both me and my son from the inheritance God has given us!âÂ
[[#Verse 17.]] So your servant said, âMay the word of my lord the king be my security, for my lord the king is like the angel of God when it comes to deciding between right and wrong! May the Lord your God be with you!ââ
[[#Verse 18.]] Then the king replied to the woman, âDonât hide any information from me when I question you.â The woman said, âLet my lord the king speak.âÂ
[[#Verse 19.]] The king said, âDid Joab put you up to all of this?â The woman answered, âAs surely as you live, my lord the king, there is no deviation to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king has said. For your servant Joab gave me instructions. He has put all these words in your servantâs mouth.Â
[[#Verse 20.]]Â Your servant Joab did this so as to change this situation. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of God, and knows everything that is happening in the land.â
[[#Verse 21.]] Then the king said to Joab, âAll right! I will do this thing. Go and bring back the young man Absalom!âÂ
[[#Verse 22.]] Then Joab bowed down with his face toward the ground and thanked the king. Joab said, âToday your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, because the king has granted the request of your servant!â
[[#Verse 23.]]Â So Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] But the king said, âLet him go over to his own house. He may not see my face.â So Absalom went over to his own house; he did not see the kingâs face.
[[#Verse 25.]] Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. From the soles of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance.Â
[[#Verse 26.]] When he would shave his headâat the end of every year he used to shave his head, for it grew too long and he would shave itâhe used to weigh the hair of his head at three pounds according to the kingâs weight.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] Absalom had three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman.
[[#Verse 28.]]Â Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the kingâs face.Â
[[#Verse 29.]] Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come.Â
[[#Verse 30.]] So he said to his servants, âLook, Joab has a portion of field adjacent to mine and he has some barley there. Go and set it on fire.â So Absalomâs servants set Joabâs portion of the field on fire.
[[#Verse 31.]] Then Joab got up and came to Absalomâs house. He said to him, âWhy did your servants set my portion of field on fire?âÂ
[[#Verse 32.]]Â Absalom said to Joab, âLook, I sent a message to you saying, âCome here so that I can send you to the king with this message:Â âWhy have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.ââ Let me now see the face of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!â
[[#Verse 33.]] So Joab went to the king and informed him. The king summoned Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
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###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Tekoa was a town south of Bethlehem and later the hometown of the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1).
2. The woman's story of one son killing another mirrors Absalom's situation (14:6-7).
3. Her appeal relies on the role of the avenger of blood, a relative responsible for justice (14:11; Numbers 35:19).
4. Like Nathan in chapter 12, the woman used a story to lead David to judge his own situation.
5. David recognized that Joab was behind the woman's words (14:19).
6. Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in Israel, without a flaw from head to foot (14:25).
7. Absalom cut his hair once a year, and it weighed two hundred shekels by the royal standard (14:26), roughly five pounds.
8. Absalom's three sons are not named (14:27), and 18:18 says he had no son to carry on his name, suggesting they died young.
9. Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king (14:28).
10. Joab ignored Absalom's summons twice until Absalom set his barley field on fire (14:29-30).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is God's way of bringing banished people home. The woman of Tekoa said God makes plans so the banished one does not stay cast out (14:14). Through the cross, we who were once far away have been brought near (Ephesians 2:13).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. The woman said God devises ways for the banished not to remain estranged (14:14). How does this point to the gospel?
2. David brought Absalom back but refused to see him (14:24). What is the difference between true reconciliation and partial restoration?
3. Absalom burned Joab's field to get his attention (14:30). What does this reveal about Absalom's heart?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 14: God devises ways for the banished not to remain estranged from Him.
- đ verse 24: Absalom returns home but is not allowed to see the king.
- đ verse 33: The king receives Absalom and kisses him.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[2 Samuel 12#Verse 01.|2 Samuel 12:1-7]] - Nathan's story to David.
- đ [[Ephesians 02#Verse 13.|Ephesians 2:13]] - Those far away brought near by Christ's blood.
- đ [[Luke 15#Verse 20.|Luke 15:20-24]] - The father runs to welcome the prodigal.
- đ [[Numbers 35#Verse 19.|Numbers 35:19]] - The avenger of blood.
- đ [[2 Corinthians 05#Verse 18.|2 Corinthians 5:18-19]] - God reconciling the world to Himself.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[2 Samuel 14 - SOAP|Healthy Boundaries]]
## đ Internal Notes