2 Samuel 14 - Printer Friendly

What does 2 Samuel 14 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Second Samuel chapters 10 through 20 tell one continuous story. The Ammonite king dishonors David's messengers, so David sends Joab to war (2 Samuel 10). While Joab rejoins the battle the next year, David sins against Uriah and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). Nathan the prophet confronts David and tells David how God will punish him (2 Samuel 11:1–14). The first punishment is the death of Bathsheba's son, but God restores what He has taken by giving her Solomon (2 Samuel 11:15–25). Joab finally beats the Ammonites (2 Samuel 12:26–31).

The effects of God's curse reach David's children: Absalom murders his brother for raping their sister, then flees to his maternal grandfather (2 Samuel 13). Joab convinces David to let Absalom return. But David refuses to reconcile with his son for two years (2 Samuel 14). Absalom takes the kingdom from David and sleeps with David's concubines while David flees Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15—16). David's men fight for him, and Joab kills Absalom contrary to David's wishes (2 Samuel 17—18). David is more bereft for Absalom than appreciative of his people; Joab rebukes him, and they return to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 19:1–15). David forgives his enemies and quells one last rebellion; the people reaffirm their loyalty to him (2 Samuel 19:16—20:26).

Second Samuel 14 begins the story of Absalom's rebellion against David. Absalom has already avenged his sister Tamar's rape and fled to his grandfather Talmai, the king of Geshur (2 Samuel 13).

David is preoccupied with unexplained thoughts of Absalom. Joab is David's nephew and military commander (2 Samuel 13:39). He believes Absalom's extended exile is bad for the country. He schemes to convince David to pardon Absalom and invite him home. Joab calls a wise woman to tell David a story. She says her husband is dead and one of her two sons has killed the other. Now her clan has issued an execution order for her surviving son. If they succeed, she will lose her only son, and her husband's family name will vanish from the earth (2 Samuel 14:1–7).

The king says he will consider the matter and issue a ruling later. But the woman begs him to save her son and their family's future. Despite clear laws about murder (Numbers 35:30–31), the king agrees to pardon her son. Once David has committed himself to mercy, the woman challenges him to pardon Absalom. If God implements a way to save the banished, shouldn't the king be able to do the same (2 Samuel 14:8–17)?

David asks if Joab sent her. She affirms his suspicions. David summons Joab and tells him to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem. He stipulates, though, that he does not want to see Absalom, and Absalom cannot re-enter the life of the royal family or government (2 Samuel 14:18–24).

Absalom returns to Jerusalem from his banishment in Geshur. He is a handsome man with very thick hair, foreshadowing the nature of his death. After two full years, Absalom forces Joab to ask David to reconcile with him. David agrees (2 Samuel 14:25–33).

The reconciliation sets Absalom up for a greater sin against David. He uses his restored legitimacy to earn the people's favor and loyalty. Within four years, he'll be ready to rebel against his father the king (2 Samuel 15:1–12).

Second Samuel 14:1–11 describes Joab's effort to convinces David to bring Absalom home. David is distracted by thoughts of Absalom, his son, currently in exile for killing his own brother. Joab believes this continued absence is bad for Israel. He arranges for a woman to tell David a story of family violence and murder. This ends with a lesson about the goodness of forgiveness. David agrees to her premise, and she challenges him to apply it to his own situation (2 Samuel 14:12–17).

Second Samuel 14:12–20 records David's realization that he's being manipulated. Joab sent a woman to ask David to pardon her son for murdering his brother; David agrees (2 Samuel 14:1–11). She pivots and tells David to forgive his own son, Absalom, for killing his brother Amnon. David recognizes Joab's hand in the situation but agrees to bring Absalom home from exile. Absalom takes the opportunity to win the people's loyalty and conspire to take the throne (2 Samuel 15).

Second Samuel 14:21–24 describes how David pardons his son but doesn't forgive him. After killing his brother for raping his sister, Absalom fled to his maternal grandfather (2 Samuel 13). Joab has convinced David to allow Absalom home to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 14:1–20). But David refuses to see him or welcome him back to the court. Absalom waits two years, trying to get Joab's attention. Finally, Absalom sets Joab's fields on fire, leading to a meeting where David agrees to reconcile (2 Samuel 14:28–33).

Second Samuel 14:25–27 gives context for the surrounding chapters. David is handsome and loved (1 Samuel 16:12; 2 Samuel 5:1–3). His son, Absalom, will use good looks and charm to steal the people's hearts and grasp at David's throne (2 Samuel 15—17). Absalom's hair is so thick that it will get caught in a tree branch, leaving him vulnerable to Joab's javelins (2 Samuel 18:9–15). Absalom also has a beautiful daughter, named Tamar after the sister whom David neglected after she was raped (2 Samuel 13). This is a major factor in Absalom's rebellion against his father (2 Samuel 15).

Second Samuel 14:28–33 describes David's reunion with Absalom. Absalom had fled to Geshur after murdering his half-brother for raping their sister (2 Samuel 13). After three years, Joab convinced David to let Absalom return home, but David refused to see him (2 Samuel 14:1–27). After another two years, Absalom convinces David to forgive him. What's good for the family is bad for the kingdom. Absalom's legitimacy makes it easier for him to win the favor of the people, take the crown, and drive David into exile (2 Samuel 15).

Chapter Summary:

Second Samuel 14 sets the scene for Absalom's rebellion against David. Joab wants David to forgive Absalom for murdering his brother and end his exile. Joab has a woman pretend to be a widow, who tells a story about a murderous son to convince David to pardon his own son. David brings Absalom home to Jerusalem, but not to the court or family. Joab eventually convinces David to see Absalom and the two are officially reconciled. With freedom, status, and ambition, Absalom starts a campaign to draw the people's hearts away from David and toward himself (2 Samuel 15:1–6).

Chapter Context:

Second Samuel 14 continues God's promise that tragedy will plague David's family. This is a curse for David's sin against Uriah and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:9–11). David's son Amnon raped his own half-sister Tamar. Tamar's full brother Absalom avenged her by killing Amnon, then fled to his maternal grandfather (2 Samuel 13). David thinks about Absalom, and Joab convinces David to bring him home and reconcile with him. Absalom wins the hearts of the people and takes the throne while David flees. Eventually, Absalom will be dead, and David will be a chastened man and wiser king. (2 Samuel 15–20).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 4/22/2026 9:15:23 AM