In the previous chapter we read about Absalom ordering the murder of his brother Ammon, because he had raped his half-sister Tamar, 2 Samuel 13:14 / 2 Samuel 13:28-29. In this chapter we read how Joab hires a woman to confront David with a parable about Absalom, in an effort to encourage David to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem.
It appears that Joab, who was commander of David’s army, knew that David longed to see his son Absalom, 2 Samuel 13:39. He goes ahead and hires a woman from Tekoa to go to David tom tell him a parable about a brother who murdered his brother. The purpose of the parable is to encourage David to sympathise for Absalom.
Like we saw earlier, when Nathan the prophet, came to David and shared a parable with him, David pronounced just judgment on the ruthless rich man, 2 Samuel 12:1-6. The result of the woman coming to David and sharing her parable has the same result, David pronounces just judgment. David again, unknowingly pronounced judgment against himself.
The avenger of blood was the nearest relative to the murdered man, Numbers 35:16-28 / Deuteronomy 19:11-13. The forgiveness of such a murderer was a violation of God’s commandment, a fact which the woman admitted here in volunteering to accept the guilt upon herself.
The parable the woman shared was basically a plea for God’s mercy and so, David responds by declaring that mercy should be extended in the case of the offending brother.
After sharing the parable with David, and hearing his judgment upon it, she ask David for permission to continue to speak to him. With permission given, the woman now has David exactly where she wants him to be, she can now apply the parable to David himself.
Cook in his commentary, paraphrases what she said to David in this way.
‘If you have done right as regards my son, how is it that you harbour such a purpose of vengeance against Absalom as to keep him, one of God’s people, an outcast in a heathen country, far from the worship of the God of Israel? Upon your own showing, you are guilty of a great fault in not allowing Absalom to return’.
Those who were banished by banished by law but not banished because of grace. Grace is the motivation by which mercy sets aside the just punishment of law. The banished one can be brought back only if they forsake their rebellion, otherwise, they must remain banished if they remain rebellious.
Notice the women gives David a huge compliment, she tells him he is ‘like the angel of God in discerning good and evil’. David’s ability to judge came from God and his judgments were God-like, as we shall see in the next few verses with Joab.
After hearing what the woman had to say, it appears that once again David judged wisely, for he knew that Joab was behind this whole thing. She tells him that it was Joab who planned this whole event and so, it’s not surprising that she tells him he has ‘the wisdom of an angel of God’.
It appears that Absalom has now gained the approval of the people but more importantly he’s gained the approval of Joab, David’s commander of the army. It’s possible that David was aware of some kind of conspiracy in Absalom that no one else noticed but to honour the request of his nephew, Joab, David gave the order that Absalom could return to Jerusalem.
David set out the terms and conditions for Absalom to come back, which was basically restrictions on where he could live. Absalom wasn’t permitted to live in the king’s court, he was to live in his own house away from the royal family.
It appears that David’s feelings as father overtook his duty as a king, Numbers 35:30-31. As we shall see later, David allowing Absalom to return to Jerusalem was going to be a bad mistake. We know later that Joab would regret encouraging David to bring Absalom back as this would eventually lead to Joab killing Absalom because he rebelled against David, 2 Samuel 18:15.
‘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. Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard. Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.’ 2 Samuel 14:25-27
There’s no doubt that being handsome in appearance runs in the family, just like his father David, 1 Samuel 16:12, Absalom is also very handsome. Much like what happens in today’s world, being handsome brings it perks, in Absalom’s case it appears he used it to win people over to follow him.
His hair was a big part of his features and he only cut it once a year, the wight of his hair was over two kilograms. Absalom had three sons and it also appears that his daughter Tamar was also very beautiful in appearance. Later in 2 Samuel 18:18, we read that Absalom had ‘no sons’, this implies that all of his sons died when they were very young, that’s why their names are not mentioned here.
Absalom lived and Jerusalem for two years but never saw David, he tries twice to get Joab to come to him but this failed. He’s clearly looking for some kind of attention, and so he orders his men to set fire to Joab’s field.
Notice that Absalom pleads his innocence, how on earth he can plead his innocence after he ordered the murder of Ammon is beyond anyone’s understanding, 2 Samuel 13:28-29.
This shows us what kind of character he is; he was devious and ungrateful when it came to dealing with others, therefore he was unfit to be the king of Israel. David should never have trusting him and gave him permission to return to Jerusalem.
It appears that Joab didn’t fully understand what Absalom’s long terms plans were, he didn’t fully understand that Absalom was planning a rebellion against David in an effort for him to become king himself. After bowing down to David, David kisses Absalom.
We can only imagine what was going through Absalom’s mind at this moment, because he never wanted peace with his father, like when Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas, Luke 22:48, David here was being betrayed by Absalom.
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