2 Samuel 14:25,26; 2 Samuel 14:28-33
In all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.
So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.
Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
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.
G. CAMPBELL MORGAN (1863-1945): We have a remarkable picture of Absalom, evidently a handsome man of physical perfection.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): Amidst all the beauty of Absalom’s person, we hear nothing of the graces of his mind! Alas! what are all outward attractions but vanity.
WILLIAM KELLY (1821-1906): Both Absalom and Saul were remarkable men for attracting the natural man according to the flesh.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): “In all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty.” How this reveals the low state of the nation at that time! Absalom was not esteemed for his moral worth, for he was utterly lacking in piety, wisdom, or justice. His handsome physique was what appealed to the people. His abominable wickedness was ignored, but his person was admired—which only served to increase his arrogance. The allowing of his luxuriant hair to grow to such a length, and then afterwards weighing it, shows the pride and effeminacy of the man.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): The great mass of the public is ever caught and led by outward appearances.
THE EDITOR: Absalom’s popularity wasn’t only due to his appearance. Seven years had passed since Amnon’s rape of Tamar, and time discolours things. Undoubtedly, many considered David’s failure to punish Amnon as unjust, and that Absalom was ill-treated for doing what they themselves would have done if Tamar had been their sister.
G. CAMPBELL MORGAN: Absalom was brought back, but in the interest of the kingdom his punishment was not wholly removed. He was not allowed to see his father, and did not see him for two years.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): Though David allowed Absalom to return to his own house, he forbade him the court, and would not see him. He put him under this interdict, for his own honour, that he might not seem to countenance a criminal, nor to forgive him too easily. And also for Absalom’s greater humiliation. Perhaps he had heard something of his conduct when Joab went to fetch him, which gave him too much reason to think that he was not truly penitent; he therefore put him under this mark of his displeasure, that he might be awakened to a sight of his sin and to sorrow for it, and might make his peace with God.
A. W. PINK: It is clear that Absalom was chafing at his confinement—that he “sent for Joab” indicates he was virtually a prisoner in his own house.
G. CAMPBELL MORGAN: That Joab cared nothing personally for Absalom is evident from his refusal to see him.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): Someone who is little versed in royal courts will naturally be surprised to see Joab so zealous to get Absalom recalled from exile, and to observe him afterwards so cold and indifferent about having him re-established in his father’s favour. The truth is, when Joab had greatly gratified the king, and gained credit with him by bringing back Absalom to Jerusalem, he had little reason to be solicitous to bring him about the king’s person, and restore him to full favour—because in that case, Absalom’s interest with his father might impair his own.
A. W. PINK: Joab was a shrewd politician, with his finger on the public’s pulse, and he knew full well that Absalom stood high in the favour of the people.
MATTHEW HENRY: Once and again Absalom sent to Joab to come to him—but Joab would not come, probably because Absalom had not owned the kindness he had done him in bringing him to Jerusalem so gratefully as Joab thought he should have; proud men take every service done by them for a debt. One would think a person in Absalom’s circumstances would have sent Joab a kindly message and offered him a large gratuity: courtiers expect noble presents.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): Joab would not come, knowing the king’s mind, and being unwilling to disoblige David by a troublesome solicitation.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): And partly, lest by interceding further for Absalom, he should revive the king’s remembrance of his former murder, and meet with the reproach of one murderer’s interceding for another; and partly, because by converse with Absalom he observed his temper to be such, that if once he were fully restored to the king’s favour, he would not only eclipse and oppose Joab’s interest and power with the king, but also attempt high things, not without danger to the king and kingdom, as it later happened.
JOHN GILL: When Absalom sent the second time, Joab would not come, knowing Absalom’s business with him.
THOMAS COKE: This the young man’s ambition could but ill endure. Therefore Absalom took this extraordinary step, which shewed him determined to go any lengths rather than fall short of his ambitious aims.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): He bade his servants set Joab’s field of barley on fire. This brought Joab down in high wrath to ask the question, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” All that Absalom wanted was an interview, and he was not scrupulous as to the method by which he obtained it.
THE EDITOR: After Absalom answered him so plainly, why did Joab agree to intercede with David for him?
MATTHEW HENRY: Perhaps Joab was frightened at the surprising boldness and fury of Absalom, and apprehensive that he had an interest in the people strong enough to bear him out in doing the most daring things. Joab not only puts up with this injury, but goes on Absalom’s errand to the king.
JOHN GILL: So Joab came to the king, and told him what Absalom had said to him.
MATTHEW HENRY: Absalom’s message to David was haughty and imperious, very unbecoming of either a son or a subject. He undervalued the favour shown him in recalling him from banishment, and restoring him to his own house in Jerusalem: “Wherefore have I come from Geshur?” He denies that there was any iniquity in him, insinuating that therefore he had been wronged. He defies the king’s justice: “Let him kill me,” knowing David loved him too well to do it. Yet his message carried his point. David’s strong affection for him construed all this to be the language of a great respect to his father, and an earnest desire of his favour, when alas! it was far otherwise. See how easily wise and good men may be imposed upon by their own children, when they are blindly fond of them.
THE EDITOR: It was not respect, but contempt, because he had concluded that he had nothing to fear from his father now. And he was right. David called for Absalom, and he bowed his face “to the ground before the king, and David kissed him.”
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): He should have kicked him rather, and not have hardened him to further villainy. But David believed him to be a true penitent.
THE EDITOR: Absalom’s proud words, highhanded actions, and disdainful arrogance are often common follies of aristocratic privilege and narcissistic vanity—he saw himself as an immensely superior being, immune from retribution from anyone beneath his own status. But he had no conception whatsoever of how dangerous it was to offend someone like Joab, a man who never forgot, nor forgave a slight.
ALEXANDER WHYTE: Joab was all self-will, and pride, and as hard as a stone.
