2 Samuel 14

2 Samuel 14

Morris - This testimony of the "wise woman of Tekoah" (2 Samuel 14:2), while exaggerating David's wisdom, does indicate that the highest degree of wisdom to which human wisdom can be compared is that of "the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth." Angels are said also to "excel in strength" (Psalm 103:20). Thus angels evidently understand natural processes and can manipulate and control them to some considerable degree. 2 Samuel 14:21 Then the king said to Joab, "Behold now, I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom." I have done: 2Sa 14:11 1Sa 14:39 Mk 6:26 MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! DAVID ACQUIESCES Then - Marks progress in the narrative, in this case the turn of events Joab had hoped the wise woman might accomplish. In short David dismisses the woman and gets Joab on the phone (so to speak). The king said to Joab - Apparently the wise woman has left the stage and Joab has stepped on stage, front and center. "Behold (hinneh; Lxx - idou) now, I will surely do this thing - In other words it is as good as done! NET - ""All right! I will do this thing!" NJB = "'Very well, the suit is granted." These were the words Joab had sought to hear from the king. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom - One wishes David had said "bring back my son," as "young man" seems slightly distant from an emotional standpoint. Anderson - After the lady from Tekoa leaves, David summons Joab and says to him, “Very well, I’ll do it.” He has been convinced by the woman’s story and the decision he made in her case as being what he needs to do in this situation. And he tells Joab he’ll do it. He commands Joab to go 35 miles to the north and bring back the young man Absalom. 2 Samuel 14:22 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." blessed, 2Sa 19:39 Ne 11:2 Job 29:11 31:20 Pr 31:28 I have found: Ge 6:8 Ex 33:16,17 Ru 2:2 1Sa 20:3 Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself and blessed the king - In response to David's command Joab demonstrates his reverence in his posturing and his gratitude in his blessing. MacArthur feels "Joab's motives were selfish, in that he sought to ingratiate himself further with David for greater influence and power." 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 - NLT = ""At last I know that I have gained your approval, for you have granted me this request!" With this statement one can almost hear Joab breathe a sigh of relief, for David's acceptance of the his request in parabolic form. David does not accuse him of trickery or deception, but has received Joab's parable without reservation or hesitation. David discerned this was the right, godly thing to do. Notice the statement "the request of his servant" which would suggest that Joab had requested Absalom's return in the past. Anderson - Joab is excited about David’s cooperation with the plan to bring back Absalom and points up the fact that he is grateful for the favor he has found in the eyes of David on this occasion by the granting of the request. 2 Samuel 14:23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. Geshur: 2Sa 3:3 2Sa 13:37 Related Passages: 2 Samuel 3:2-3+ Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab (HE APPARENTLY DIED YOUNG), by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. JOAB OBEYS KING COMPLETING MISSION So - For this reason. Therefore. In conclusion Joab responds to David's command. Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem - See location of Geshur in the NE section of the map above, just north and east of the Sea of Galilee in the southern portion of the Golan Heights in Bashan. Joab wasted no time and "high-tailed" it the 80 miles from Jerusalem to Geshur. Joab completes "mission impossible" in retrieving Absalom back to the city of David, this roundtrip taking about 8-10 days. 2 Samuel 14:24 However the king said, "Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face." So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king's face. Let him turn to his own house 2Sa 14:28 3:13 Ge 43:3 Ex 10:28 Rev 22:4 DAVID'S INCOMPLETE FORGIVENESS SOWS SEEDS OF BITTERNESS You would think that if David were responding to this situation in a godly fashion, he would have been watching from the roof of the palace for Absalom and Joab to appear on the horizon and would have run to get his arms around the boy to bring about reconciliation and a restoration of the relationship like the Prodigal Son. What's the difference with the prodigal? The prodigal returned humbly, in repentance (See Prodigal Son), but that was not the case with Absalom! However the king said, "Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face." - This is a sad verse. One who has been reading to this point in the narrative would have thought David would have been like the father receiving home his Prodigal Son who when he "saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." (Lk 15:20+). However as noted above, this story of a son returning has some major differences. Sadly the story does not continue in a godly direction. David responded to Joab's parable, but seems not able to grant full forgiveness to his son. Don Anderson - David only half-heartedly forgives his son, and this just sows the seeds of a worse rebellion. It is also interesting to note that there is no evidence of any penitence or sorrow on the part of Absalom, either. David’s forgiveness of Absalom was completely inadequate, leading only to a further outbreak of sin. God’s forgiveness, on the other hand, is completely adequate and is a great deterrent to continued sin. David didn’t forgive his son, like God had forgiven David. It is hard for us to understand because David knew the forgiveness of God and he still was a man after the heart of God, even while he was going through this period of his life after God’s forgiveness. God did not forgive David half-heartedly. God did not say, “Well, I forgive you but we’ll not have fellowship anymore. I will not restore you to the joy of your salvation.” When God forgives, he forgives completely. Of what would David have to forgive Absalom? Murder of David's first born son! But of what had God the Father forgiven David? Murder of Uriah! To be sure David confessed, while there is no evidence Absalom ever confessed. Laney adds that “The recall of Absalom from Geshur was immediately arranged, and the king’s son was escorted by Joab back to Jerusalem. However, although Absalom was back in Jerusalem, he was refused an audience with the king. That evidenced David’s unwillingness to completely forgive and bore bitter fruit in the heart of Absalom. (Borrow First and Second Samuel ) So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king's face - David a man after God's own heart, once again shows us he is still a man with a fallen man's heart of sinful flesh, and he fails to fully forgive which was the final act in Joab's parable. David's failure to fully forgive and restore Absalom to his court was like sowing seeds in the heart of Absalom, seeds which would reap the fruit of bitterness and associated acts by Absalom. THOUGHT - Forgiveness! Oh the beauty of this word, the center word of which is "give." The beauty is to give expecting nothing in return. To give unconditionally. To give and forgive like God forgives us - completely and without reservation or hesitation when we confess our sins. Is there someone you once were close to that you would say "I have forgiven them," but you know in your heart of hearts that you have not completely, totally forgive them. Then read and heed, empowered by the Spirit of the forgiving God, the liberating words of Paul in Eph 4:32+ "Be (present imperative and the ONLY WAY you can obey is by depending on the Holy Spirit's enabling power to obey) kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving (charizomai in present tense = continually! Note root of this verb is charis = grace - fully forgiving is like showing God's grace to a fellow human being) each other, JUST AS God in Christ also has forgiven you." O beloved, don't hold back. Don't cling to some of rights you think you have. Instead cling to the almighty Cross, for His amazing, enabling grace flows down from that old rugged cross. Forgive completely and experience complete liberation in your spirit. In light of the vital importance of the truth about forgiveness, if you are still wrestling with whether you should follow through and fully forgive, you might want to ponder the thoughts in the resources below. Jesus Himself said "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free and if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" (John 8:32, 36) Related Resources: List of links related to forgiveness/unforgiveness Multiple illustrations and quotes related to forgiveness/unforgiveness Exposition of "Forgiveness" in Ephesians 4:32 Exposition of "Forgiveness" in Colossians 3:13 Exposition of "Forgiveness" in Matthew 6:12 and Matthew 6:14-15 Is Total Forgiveness Realistic? Excellent 5 Part Sermon Series on Forgiveness by Dr Ray Pritchard:​​​​ following messages are also in his book - The Healing Power of Forgiveness (see reviews by readers) 1) Forgiveness Healing the Hurt We Never Deserved 2) Forgiveness and the Lord's Prayer 3) Judge Not! 4) Is Total Forgiveness Realistic 5) The Final Step-Blessing Your Enemies Other Resources on Forgiveness Father, Forgive Them by Dr. Ray Pritchard Forgiving the Unforgivable by Dr. Ray Pritchard How Can I Learn to Forgive? by Dr. Ray Pritchard Unless You Forgive by Dr. Ray Pritchard Forgiving the Unforgivable article by Dr. Ray Pritchard Forgiveness of Injuries (Mt 18:21-22) by John Angell James Forgiveness of Sins by Henry Law - 17 Chapter Treatise! 2 Samuel 14:25 Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no defect in him. in all Israel: 1Sa 9:2 16:7 Pr 31:30 Mt 23:27 from the sole: De 28:35 Job 2:7 Isa 1:6 Eph 5:27 ABSALOM'S ADONIS-LIKE APPEARANCE Now - Now is used to draw attention to a particular statement or point in a narrative. in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised - Literal Hebrew says "And as Absalom there was not a beautiful man in all Israel to praise greatly." Recall that David was also known for his handsome appearance, but he is now pushing 60 so had lost some of that youthful luster (at age 76 I speak from experience). from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no defect (blemish) in him - NLT - "He was flawless from head to foot." As the crown prince, the next in succession, the writer emphasizes that Absalom looked like a king in waiting (and he would not have to wait long! - See 2Sa 15:1-37). HCSB Study Bible adds "The description of Absalom's physical appearance makes him sound like a leader, and it prepares the reader for Absalom's coup attempt in chapter 15." J D Greear - subtitles 2 Samuel 14:25–33 "From Family Destruction to National Unraveling" Unfortunately, David remains stuck in passivity. Perhaps he was nursing old wounds, wallowing in self-pity. Perhaps he was busying himself with other kingly duties. Either way, his failure to act would result in further destruction. Now, instead of just watching his own family unravel, his apathy would lead to the unraveling of a nation. Absalom is a ticking time bomb, and the question is not if but only when and how he will explode (Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel) 2 Samuel 14:26 When he cut 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. When he cut the hair: 2Sa 18:9 Isa 3:24 1Co 11:14 two hundred shekels: Ge 23:16 Lev 19:36 Eze 45:9-14 ABSALOM'S "BIG HAIR" MANIFESTING BIG "MACHISMO!" When he cut 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 - NLT - "When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!" Another source says 200 shekels is the modern equivalent of about three pounds. But the real question to ask is who weighs their hair? And notice the text says that he (Absalom) weighed it! This man is arrogant and is manifesting machismo (aggressive masculine pride) "on steroids!" The only thing weighty about Absalom was his hair! Believer's Study Bible - Absalom was the most handsome of all men in Israel (v. 25). One of his remarkable physical attributes was his prolific growth of hair. In fact, Absalom cut it annually because of its density and weight. The actual weight of the royal shekel is not known. Two hundred sacred shekels would register about five pounds. Since this seems unlikely, either the royal shekel was considerably less, or the amount is being expressed in value rather than in quantity. TSK Note - If the shekel be allowed to mean the common shekel, the amount will be utterly incredible; for Josephus says that "two hundred shekels make five {mine:}" and the {mina,} he says, "weighs two pounds and a half;" which calculation makes Absalom's hair weigh twelve pounds and a half! But it is probable that the king's shekel was that which Epiphanius and Hesychius say was the fourth part of an ounce, half a {stater,} or two drachms: the whole amount, therefore, of the 200 shekels is about 50 ounces, which make 4 lb. 2 oz. troy weight, or 3 lb. 2 oz. avoirdupois. This need not be accounted incredible, especially as abundance of oil and ointment was used by the ancients in dressing their heads. Josephus informs us, that the Jews also put gold dust in their hair.