2 Samuel 14:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

NIV: Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

NASB: So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

CSB: So Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

NLT: Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

KJV: So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

NKJV: So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

David has several wives and many sons from those wives. His first wife, Michal, had no children (2 Samuel 6:23). His second wife, Ahinoam, gave birth to Amnon. Then Abigail had Chileab, and Maacah had Absalom (2 Samuel 3:2–3). Maacah also had Tamar, David's only recorded daughter (2 Samuel 13:1). Amnon lusted after Tamar and raped her. After waiting for the right moment, Absalom murdered Amnon. Absalom immediately fled to Maacah's father, the king of Geshur (2 Samuel 13). Geshur is a small kingdom just east of the Sea of Galilee. Absalom stayed there for three years.

Joab, David's military commander and the son of his sister, believes Absalom's continued exile is a detriment to the nation. With Amnon dead, it seems Joab believes Absalom is the next in line to be king. There's no mention of Chileab outside the genealogies; he may have died, or he may have inherited his mother's first husband's estate.

But Joab is so convinced that he's gone to extreme lengths to convince David. Finally, David agrees, and Joab retrieves Absalom. When Absalom returns, he doesn't find a welcoming father. David refuses to see Absalom or allow him into the royal court. For two years, Absalom lives in Jerusalem, but he's still exiled from his father (2 Samuel 14:24, 28).

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 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.