28 Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, (A)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, (B)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 [a]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, (C)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 [b]with his face to the ground before the king; and (D)the king kissed Absalom.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 14:32 Lit said to
  2. 2 Samuel 14:33 Lit on his

28 Meanwhile, Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but never saw the king’s face. 29 After this, Absalom sent for Joab, intending to send him to the king, but Joab[a] would not come. Absalom[b] sent for him a second time, but he still[c] would not come. 30 So Absalom[d] told his servants, “Observe that Joab’s grain field lies next to mine. He has barley planted there. Go set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.

31 At this, Joab got up, went to Absalom’s home, and demanded of him, “Why did your servants set fire to my grain field?”

32 In answer to Joab, Absalom replied, “Look, I sent for you, telling you ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask him “What’s the point in moving here from Geshur? I would have been better off to have remained there!”’ So let me see the king’s face, and if I’m guilty of anything, let him execute me!”

33 So when Joab approached the king and told him what Absalom had said,[e] he summoned Absalom, who then came to the king and fell to the ground on his face in front of him.[f] Then the king kissed Absalom.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 14:29 Lit. he
  2. 2 Samuel 14:29 Lit. he
  3. 2 Samuel 14:29 The Heb. lacks still
  4. 2 Samuel 14:30 Lit. he
  5. 2 Samuel 14:33 The Heb. lacks what Absalom had said
  6. 2 Samuel 14:33 Lit. of the king