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ABSALOM FORCES THE ISSUE. II Samuel 14:25-33. 7/18/2021. #31.
2 Samuel 14:25-33 [New King James Version]
25 Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard. 27 To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance. 28 And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king’s face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30 So he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” 32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.” 33 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.
- Near home is not at home
- Joab convinced David to bring Absalom back from Geshur where he fled after killing Amnon
- Amnon had raped Tamar, but David had done nothing about the crime
- After 2 years, Absalom takes matters into his own hands and murders Amnon
- Absalom fled to Geshur, East of the Sea of Galilee
- Joab used a ruse to trick David into sending for Ab
- Both Joab and Absalom believed that the king would call Absalom before him to face the consequences of his actions
- David had proven unwilling to hold his children to account – just like Eli or Samuel
- His sons committed the exact same sins that he had
- David had committed adultery with another man’s wife and Amnon raped his ½ sister
- David made sure that another man killed Uriah while Absalom had his servants kill Am.
- How could David punish his sons for doing what he had done?
- Not confronting the issue does not make it vanish
- Absalom had not seen his father in 3 years
- c. Absalom was the banished prince
- Joab convinced David to bring Absalom back from Geshur where he fled after killing Amnon
- Trouble brewing
- Absalom was very handsome and without blemish
- He removed 5 pounds of hair from his head each year – envy of all who saw him
- Israel was drawn to him
- Absalom’s attractiveness would draw sympathy from people
- Many would feel that he was justified in avenging his sister’s rape since his father refused to do so
- Many would feel that his banishment from the palace was unjust
- David seems completely isolated from both the people and developing events around him
- Absalom was very handsome and without blemish
- Absalom makes his move
- Absalom gets tired of waiting to be called to the palace
- He calls Joab to him twice
- Joab feels that he had done all he could
- Joab refuses to come
- Absalom has his servants set Joab’s barley field ablaze
- This gets Joab’s attention
- Joab comes to Absalom to inquire about the arson
- Absalom makes some obvious points
- It would have been better for him to stay in Geshur than to come home and still be banished from his own family
- Absalom thought that coming home would mean going back to full status in the kingdom
- If the king wanted to try him and then execute him that would be better than being treated as a nonperson by his own father
- David’s placid response
- When David sees his son, he merely kisses him
- There is no dealing with the murder of Amnon
- Restoration without accountability is complicity
- Absalom and others lose respect for David and his authority
- The meeting is anticlimactic = no response
- David does not even express anger or disapproval
- When David sees his son, he merely kisses him