Absalom Brought Home

David thought he saw the hand of Joab in the story the woman had told regarding her two sons. Joab had probably spoken to him of the unfairness he perceived in banishing Absalom. As Joab had persisted in his attempts to get David to pardon Absalom, this parable was likely just another bid to get him to reconsider his stance on the matter.

David now asked the woman a very pointed question: “Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. . . . Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this?” (2 Samuel 14:18, 19). And she answered David, “Thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth” (vv. 19, 20). Joab had finally convinced David that bringing Absalom home was the right thing to do. David commissioned his general to bring the young man home.

Joab was grateful that David had reconsidered, because had he not agreed, Joab might have been held responsible for attempting to influence the king by going behind his back to trick him. “And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant” (v. 22).

The fact Absalom was back in no way changed David’s mind as to the murderer of his firstborn son. Absalom was still banished from court, and David refused to see him.

All this did was embitter Absalom further and cause the populace to feel he was still being wronged. After all, Absalom had only administered justice that David failed to sanction. The people sympathized with Absalom and believed he was a hero.

“Absalom lived two years in his own house, but banished from the court. His sister dwelt with him, and her presence kept alive the memory of the irreparable wrong she had suffered.” Why did David not consult with God regarding the decision to bring Absalom home?