22 And Joab falleth on his face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and blesseth the king, and Joab saith, 'To-day hath thy servant known that I have found grace in thine eyes, my lord, O king, in that the king hath done the word of his servant.' 23 And Joab riseth and goeth to Geshur, and bringeth in Absalom to Jerusalem, 24 and the king saith, 'Let him turn round unto his house, and my face he doth not see.' And Absalom turneth round unto his house, and the face of the king he hath not seen. 25 And like Absalom there was no man 'so' fair in all Israel, to praise greatly; from the sole of his foot even unto his crown there was no blemish in him; 26 and in his polling his head—and it hath been at the end of year by year that he polleth 'it', for it 'is' heavy on him, and he hath polled it—he hath even weighed out the hair of his head—two hundred shekels by the king's weight. 27 And there are born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter, and her name 'is' Tamar; she was a woman of a fair appearance.
28 And Absalom dwelleth in Jerusalem two years of days, and the face of the king he hath not seen; 29 and Absalom sendeth unto Joab, to send him unto the king, and he hath not been willing to come unto him; and he sendeth again a second time, and he hath not been willing to come. 30 And he saith unto his servants, 'See, the portion of Joab 'is' by the side of mine, and he hath barley there; go, and burn it with fire;' and the servants of Absalom burn the portion with fire. 31 And Joab riseth and cometh unto Absalom in the house, and saith unto him, 'Why have thy servants burned the portion that I have with fire?' 32 And Absalom saith unto Joab, 'Lo, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, and I send thee unto the king to say, Why have I come in from Geshur?—good for me while I 'am' there—and now, let me see the king's face, and if there is in me iniquity then thou hast put me to death.' 33 And Joab cometh unto the king, and declareth 'it' to him, and he calleth unto Absalom, and he cometh unto the king, and boweth himself to him, on his face, to the earth, before the king, and the king giveth a kiss to Absalom.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:22-33
Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:21-24
(Read 2 Samuel 14:21-24)
David was inclined to favour Absalom, yet, for the honour of his justice, he could not do it but upon application made for him, which may show the methods of Divine grace. It is true that God has thoughts of compassion toward poor sinners, not willing that any should perish; yet he is only reconciled to them through a Mediator, who pleads on their behalf. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and Christ came to this land of our banishment, to bring us to God.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:25-27
(Read 2 Samuel 14:25-27)
Nothing is said of Absalom's wisdom and piety. All here said of him is, that he was very handsome. A poor commendation for a man that had nothing else in him valuable. Many a polluted, deformed soul dwells in a fair and comely body. And we read that he had a very fine head of hair. It was a burden to him, but he would not cut it as long as he could bear the weight. That which feeds and gratifies pride, is not complained of, though uneasy. May the Lord grant us the beauty of holiness, and the adorning of a meek and quiet spirit! Only those who fear God are truly happy.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:28-33
(Read 2 Samuel 14:28-33)
By his insolent carriage toward Joab, Absalom brought Joab to plead for him. By his insolent message to the king, he gained his wishes. When parents and rulers countenance such characters, they will soon suffer the most fatal effects. But did the compassion of a father prevail to reconcile him to an impenitent son, and shall penitent sinners question the compassion of Him who is the Father of mercies?