2 Samuel 14:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king 's heart went out to Absalom.

NIV: Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.

NASB: Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was drawn toward Absalom.

CSB: Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king’s mind was on Absalom.

NLT: Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom.

KJV: Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

NKJV: So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was concerned about Absalom.

David is conflicted. His oldest son, Amnon, raped David's daughter Tamar. David did nothing—at least, nothing recorded in Scripture. After two years, Tamar's full brother Absalom murdered Amnon and fled to his maternal grandfather in Geshur. For three years, David mourned Amnon (2 Samuel 13). More recently, he's been distracted by thoughts of Absalom. Many commentators believe David is concerned for Absalom's well-being. Others read it to mean, simply, that what happened continues to weigh on David's mind. We don't know if David misses Absalom or is still angry; probably he's both.

Joab, the commander of Israel's army and the son of David's sister Zeruiah, believes it's time for Absalom to come home. Amnon, David's oldest, is dead. His second-born, a son of Abigail, isn't mentioned outside of genealogies. Tradition states Absalom is next in line for the throne. It's difficult to train a king who isn't allowed in his future country. It seems God's choice for Solomon to follow David isn't well known (1 Chronicles 29:1).

Absalom's exile is part of God's punishment for David's sin against Uriah and Bathsheba. Through Nathan, God told David, "…the sword shall never depart from your house" (2 Samuel 12:10). Amnon's violence against Tamar and subsequent murder is part of this prophecy: "…I will raise up evil against you out of your own house" (2 Samuel 12:11). When Absalom returns to Jerusalem, he will betray his father, drive him from Jerusalem, and become king (2 Samuel 15).

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 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).

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.