2 Samuel 14:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

NIV: So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

NASB: So when Joab came to the king and told him, he summoned Absalom. Then Absalom came to the king and prostrated himself with his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.

CSB: Joab went to the king and told him. So David summoned Absalom, who came to the king and paid homage with his face to the ground before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.

NLT: So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him.

KJV: So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

NKJV: So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom, David's son, had been in exile for three years for murdering his brother (2 Samuel 13:32). Joab, Israel's military commander, convinced David to let Absalom come home. But for two years, David refused to restore Absalom to the family or the court, or even speak to him (2 Samuel 14:24, 28). After going to extreme measures, Absalom finally speaks to Joab (2 Samuel 14:29–32).

Joab doesn't argue with Absalom about his complaint. The commander of the king's army takes Absalom's words to David as requested. The message amounts to an ultimatum, phrased almost like a challenge: execute me for a crime or restore me to my former position. Don't leave me in this limbo of half-forgiveness.

Once again, David follows Joab's advice. He summons Absalom, who comes and bows before David in a posture of humility and respect. David kisses Absalom and releases him from all restrictions. Father and son are officially reunited, and Absalom is restored.

This is far from the end of the conflict. Scripture gives no insight into Absalom's ambitions before Amnon's depraved assault of Tamar (2 Samuel 13:14). But in the seven years since (1 Samuel 13:19, 38; 2 Samuel 14:28), Absalom has seen David's indecision and weakness. Whether new or long-simmering, Absalom's political aspirations can charge forward now that he's once again a true prince. He rides through Jerusalem on a chariot, behind fifty running men. He sits at the gate and tells those with complaints that David won't see them, but he would if he were allowed to judge. He greets common men with a kiss before they have the chance to prostrate themselves (2 Samuel 15:1–5). "Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel" (2 Samuel 15:6). Soon, he will steal the crown.

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).