2 Sa. 14: I Will Return

2 Samuel 14:33 "So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom."

Well, this chapter was a nightmare for me. I was confused 3 or 4 times through it to grasp what actually was happening.

Absalom had fled for killing Amnon. Joab wanted to reconcile Absalom and David, for some reason, perhaps because he knew how David felt about him. He concocts a scheme in order to trap David somehow, and has a woman from a nearby town feign mourning over a murdered relative, a story similar to that of Cain and Abel. They convince David to invoke the sanctuary city rule on this imaginary relative, so that the avenger of blood would be held at bay, and therefore allow Absalom's safe return.

David smells it out, and despite the ruse, allows Absalom's return...insists on it. It wasn't without a caveat, however. Absalom had to return home, and not see David's face. Why would David do that? Not being able to see the face of the one who brought you home...Moses was under similar instructions.

Another thing about Absalom...he cut off his handsome hair when it got too heavy. Five pounds of hair? How long does it take to grow that much hair? Crikey.

Absalom wanted to see the king, so he burns down Joab's field. That gets him sent to the principal's office. He knew David wouldn't have him put to death. That's a dangerous amount of power.