Absalom's Return II Samuel 14

II Samuel 14:1-2 "Now Joab, the son of Zeruiah, perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now morning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead: v3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth."

Absalom is in Geshur after killing Amnon by the hand of his servants because he had raped his sister Tamar. David wants Absalom to come home but is reluctant to send for him. Joab got this woman to pretend to be mourning and that people were trying to harm her. David goes along with her and promises protection, then she brought up the subject of Absalom or the banished. David then realized that Joab was behind the whole thing. Joab is called and sent to get Absalom but still the king refused to see Absalom face to face.

v7 "And behold the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew: and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon this earth."

The story reminds me of the story of Cain and Abel where Abel was killed and Cain banished. After David sees through the tale and Joab gets Absalom to bring him home there seems to be that slow hatred building in Absalom. He waited years before he avenged Tamar by killing Amnon, now he waits again.

Absalom, after two years, decided it was time for him to see his father the king so he sent for Joab but Joab would not come. Absalom had a way of getting Joab's attention though.

v30 "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."

Joab showed up then to see what Absalom wanted and to ask why he set his fields on fire. The answer was that he had been sent for and would not come. He then gave Joab a message for the king.

v32 "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."

Absalom is quite a character. During this two years of waiting, Absalom had three sons and a daughter born in his family and he named the daughter after his sister Tamar.

v33 "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.

We will hear more from Absalom.

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After David's sin, he suffers loss. Or as an alternative I proposed that it could be Satan trying to wipe out the line of David because of the Davidic Covenant.
-Bathsheba's child died.
-Amnon the firstborn has raped his sister and been killed by Absalom
-Absalom was banished and has now returned
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Keywords: Old Old Story, Bible Study, Old Testament, Samuel, David, Absalom, Joab, Amnon, Tamar, Milton Southerland. Absalom returns to Jerusalem.