2 Samuel 14:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king 's presence.

NIV: Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face.

NASB: Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, yet he did not see the king’s face.

CSB: Absalom resided in Jerusalem two years but never saw the king.

NLT: Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but he never got to see the king.

KJV: So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.

NKJV: And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king’s face.

David legally pardoned Absalom for the murder of Amnon (2 Samuel 13:32). But forgiveness remains incomplete. Erasing a death sentence on Absalom allowed him to return from exile. But David refused to allow Absalom to ever be in his presence. This would mean Absalom was barred from the palace and participating in official functions of the court. Some commentators speculate that Absalom may have been under a kind of permanent house arrest. This went on for two full years, meaning that it has now been seven years since Amnon raped Tamar (2 Samuel 13:23), five years since Absalom had Amnon murdered (2 Samuel 13:38), and now two more years under restricted movements in Jerusalem.

Scripture records the bare bones of this story while revealing little of people's motivations. Joab convinced David to let Absalom come home because he believed it was best for the kingdom (2 Samuel 14:13). We're not told why David agrees. He may have been ashamed for not disciplining Amnon. He may secretly think Absalom's vengeance was right. He may miss Absalom. He may be afraid that the people will revolt if he doesn't act.

This last fear would have been the most ironic, if true. David brings Absalom home and gives him legitimacy by reconciling (2 Samuel 14:33). Before long, Absalom leads the people in a revolt (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).

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.