2 Samuel 14:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

NIV: In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.

NASB: Now in all Israel there was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no impairment in him.

CSB: No man in all Israel was as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.

NLT: Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot.

KJV: But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

NKJV: Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

Bible writers occasionally go out of their way to call out how good-looking certain people are. Young King Saul was admired for his height and his handsomeness (1 Samuel 9:2). David, also, had a ruddy handsomeness noted even by Goliath (1 Samuel 17:42). Praising David's son Absalom for his stunning looks and impressive hair (2 Samuel 14:26) is significant for two reasons. Early Israelite rulers were known for handsomeness (1 Samuel 9:2; 16:12; 1 Kings 1:6), and Absalom hopes to be the next king of Israel. Second, Absalom's future success in stealing the hearts of the people from their loyalty to David (2 Samuel 15:6) was likely aided by his winning appearance.

The fact that Absalom has no "blemish" shows that he is ritually clean, as well (Leviticus 13:1–3). On the outside, he is more than worthy to be king. Yet that's not how God works. When sent by God, Samuel saw the impressive-looking Eliab and thought he was meeting Israel's next king (1 Samuel 16:1, 6). God reminded him that the Lord sees more than just physical appearances (1 Samuel 16:7). Absalom is cunning, decisive, good looking, and charming, as well as David's son. That doesn't mean he'd make a good king.

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 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.