²³ So Joab arose and went to ^(A)Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. ²⁴ However, the king said, “He shall return to ^(B)his own house, but he shall not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.

²⁵ Now in all Israel there was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; ^(C)from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no impairment in him. ²⁶ And when he ^(D)cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, because it was heavy on him, so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at ^[a]two hundred shekels by the king’s weight. ²⁷ And ^(E)to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was ^(F)Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.

²⁸ Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, ^(G)yet he did not see the king’s face. ²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent word again a second time, but he would not come. ³⁰ Therefore he said to his servants, “See, ^(H)Joab’s plot is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the plot on fire. ³¹ Then Joab got up, came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my plot on fire?” ³² Absalom ^[b]answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for 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 still to be there.”’ Now then, let me see the king’s face, ^(I)and if there is guilt in me, he can have me executed.” ³³ So when Joab came to the king and told him, he summoned Absalom. Then Absalom came to the king and prostrated himself ^[c]with his face to the ground before the king; and ^(J)the king kissed Absalom.