Do you believe that Absalom left because he was afraid of what David would do to him? We’ve already seen David demonstrate extraordinary grace toward king Saul, so things may not always be what they seem to be. Keep in mind here that this was a complicated situation and very scandalous to the king’s family. People’s opinions about the matter were probably plenteous and the gossip of the entire kingdom. What would the king do? How would he react? Would he make sure justice was served even though this occurred within his own family? My, oh my, what a mess. So the original question still stands … Did Absalom leave because he was afraid of what David might do, or was he afraid of the people’s opinions? And yet another question arises … Would David feel obligated to alienate or even sentence his son to please the people, even though mercy was what was really in his heart? Let’s see, shall we? 

Joab saw how much king David missed Absalom, so he sent for a woman from Tekoah and asked her to pretend to be a mourner, put on mourning clothing, and not to anoint herself with oil but act like a woman who had been mourning for the dead for a long time now. “Come to the king and tell him what I tell you,” Joab instructed her.

When the woman of Tekoah approached the king, she fell on her face saying “Help, O king.” The king answered, “What’s troubling you?” She said, “I’m a widow. My husband is dead. I had two sons. They fought in the field, and since no one was there to stop them, one of them killed the other one.  

Now my whole family is after me telling me to give them my son that killed his brother so they can kill him because he took the life of the other. But if I do that, I will have no one left and my husband’s name will no longer continue in Israel. 

The king responded, “You can go home. I'll take care of it.” The woman of Tekoah said to the king, “My lord, I'll take all blame and responsibility for this, You and your house are innocent.” The king replied, “If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me, and I’ll make sure they don’t bother you anymore.” 

KING DAVID AND ABSALOM STORY LESSON WITH KING DAVID AND ABSALOM STORY EXPLANATION

She begged further, “Please don’t let anyone take vengeance against my son, or they may kill him.” He assured her, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the earth.” 

Then she added, “May I say one more thing?” And David said, “Go on.” She continued, “It’s unfair that you're so gracious to my son, but the king’s son remains banished. Can God have regard for any person who doesn’t make certain that his banished isn’t shut out from him? 

The king said, “Tell me a truth.” And the woman said, “Ask.” David continued, “Is all of the Joab’s idea?” The woman answered, “Nothing gets by you. Yes, Joab told me what to say to you. He did it to help you see the situation differently. (There goes Joab again, doing something noble!) Incidentally, didn't we question Joab's motives when he was emotionally torn about his brother Asahel being murdered and he took matters into his own hands? Does it appear that Joab has repented and perhaps would like to make it all up to David and the Lord by suggesting a solution of forgiveness and mercy? We shall see.MERCY 

So, the king said to Joab, “Okay, go and send for Absalom. Joab fell to the ground on his face and thanked the king. So Joab left and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. But the king commanded, “He may go to his house, but he may not enter my presence.”  

A little confusing isn’t it? Probably for Absalom too. There are some situations in life where there is no absolute answer that will satisfy everyone. Now, this story actually gives no certain indication whatsoever up to this point, that David himself held any animosity toward Absalom. It would be either assumption or perhaps one may have seen it in a movie or read it in another book, but it doesn’t say so specifically in the Bible. But the analogy that the old woman gave David does suggest that the people were against Absalom. Of course, looking back on the entire matter, it would make perfect sense for David to be angry to some degree because his son Amnon was killed, however, David certainly seems like a man of understanding, enough that he would also relate to Absalom’s ire because Amnon raped his sister … David’s daughter! Did David have to keep Absalom isolated from him for fear of the people? All we know is that this is what he did, but this story doesn’t really reveal that these actions reflected what was in David’s heart … Nobody knows that. 

 So Absalom returned home but did not see the king.

KING DAVID AND ABSALOM STORY INFORMATION WITH KING DAVID AND ABSALOM STORY MEANING

Absalom was the most beautiful person in Israel. From the top of his head to the bottom of his foot, he was perfect. When he cut his hair (at the end of every year he cut his hair because it was so heavy), it weighed about 5 pounds! Absalom had 3 sons and one daughter, who he named Tamar, obviously after his sister and she was beautiful too. 

So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem without seeing the king. Absalom summoned for Joab to go see the king for him, but he did not come. He tried again, and again, Joab did not come. Absalom then told his servants, “You see how Joab’s barley field is right next to mine. Go set his field on fire.” And … They did. 

Joab then came to Absalom’s house asking, “Why did you set my field on fire?” Absalom responded, “I sent for you to go to the king and ask him why he brought me back here from Geshur. It would have been better for me just to stay there. Let me go and see the king. If he finds me guilty of anything, let him kill me.” 

So Joab went to the king and told him. David called for Absalom and when he approached the king he bowed his face to the ground, and the king kissed Absalom.