2 Samuel 14:24 kjv
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
2 Samuel 14:24 nkjv
And the king said, "Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face." So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king's face.
2 Samuel 14:24 niv
But the king said, "He must go to his own house; he must not see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.
2 Samuel 14:24 esv
And the king said, "Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to come into my presence." So Absalom lived apart in his own house and did not come into the king's presence.
2 Samuel 14:24 nlt
But the king gave this order: "Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence." So Absalom did not see the king.
2 Samuel 14 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:14 | "...Cain said...from your face I shall be hidden..." | Cain's banishment from God's presence for sin. |
| Ex 2:15 | "When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses...Moses fled..." | Forced exile due to royal displeasure and fear for life. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | "Nadab and Abihu...offered unauthorized fire...and fire came out from the Lord and consumed them..." | Consequences of disobedience, removed from divine presence. |
| Num 32:23 | "...be sure your sin will find you out." | The inevitable discovery and consequences of sin. |
| Deut 31:17 | "...my anger will be kindled...and I will hide my face from them..." | God's withdrawal of favor/presence as judgment. |
| 1 Sam 26:20 | "...Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done?..." | David's own experience of unjust exile from Saul's presence. |
| 2 Sam 3:28 | "...David had no part in the slaying of Abner..." | David's need to distance himself from wicked actions of his court/family. |
| 2 Sam 13:37-38 | "But Absalom fled and went to Talmai...and Absalom was there three years." | Absalom's initial exile from David's face due to murder. |
| 2 Sam 15:6 | "Thus Absalom did to all Israel...And Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel." | Absalom's use of this waiting period for rebellion. |
| 2 Sam 19:28 | "...you have brought your servant among those who eat at your table..." | King's favor restores access and position. |
| Ps 11:7 | "...The upright behold his face." | Seeing God's face as a sign of righteousness and divine favor. |
| Ps 16:11 | "...in your presence there is fullness of joy..." | The blessing and joy of being in the presence of the Lord. |
| Ps 27:8 | "You have said, 'Seek my face.' My heart says to you, 'Your face, Lord, do I seek.'" | The desire and importance of seeking divine presence. |
| Prov 13:24 | "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." | Parental discipline and consequences for children's actions. |
| Isa 59:2 | "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God..." | Sin's ability to create distance and separation from divine favor. |
| Hos 3:3-5 | "And I said to her, 'You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the harlot...'" | A period of separation and waiting before full restoration. |
| Lk 15:20-22 | "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him...and ran..." | Contrast to the prodigal son's immediate and full welcome home. |
| Heb 12:7-8 | "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons..." | Enduring discipline as a sign of sonship, yet the pain of it. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | The principle of sowing and reaping; Absalom reaping consequences. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." | God's ultimate plan even in difficult family dynamics. |
| 2 Cor 5:19 | "...God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself..." | God's ultimate work of full reconciliation with humanity. |
| Eph 2:13 | "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near..." | The New Testament's teaching on spiritual closeness vs. estrangement. |
| Col 1:21-22 | "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind...He has now reconciled..." | Reconciliation from estrangement through Christ. |
2 Samuel 14 verses
2 Samuel 14 24 Meaning
This verse details King David's decree concerning his son Absalom after his return to Jerusalem, establishing a critical boundary for his reconciliation. David permits Absalom to return to his own dwelling but expressly forbids him from appearing in the king's presence. This signifies a partial restoration, allowing Absalom to re-enter Jerusalem physically but withholding full re-integration, royal favor, and the intimate access symbolized by seeing the king's face. It underscores Absalom's continued status as being in royal disfavor and under a form of house arrest or social ostracization from court life.
2 Samuel 14 24 Context
This verse appears after Joab's elaborate scheme using the wise woman of Tekoa successfully persuades David to recall Absalom from his three-year exile in Geshur, where he fled after murdering his half-brother Amnon (2 Sam 13). David, emotionally conflicted yet swayed by the plea, permits Absalom's return. However, this verse reveals the king's reluctance to grant Absalom full pardon and re-integration into royal life immediately. David's command keeps Absalom confined to his own residence and denies him audience with the king. This prolonged semi-banishment in Jerusalem is a crucial setup for Absalom's subsequent actions in gathering support for his rebellion, making the lack of reconciliation here a significant catalyst for future events in David's kingdom.
2 Samuel 14 24 Word analysis
- And the king said: (וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ, wayyōʾmer hammĕleḵ) – A common narrative conjunction in Hebrew, marking a new statement by an authoritative figure. It indicates David's will, exercising royal prerogative.
- Let him turn (יָשֹׁב, yāšōḇ) – An imperative form of the verb "to return" (שׁוּב, šûḇ). This is a direct command from David, a limited concession allowing Absalom's physical return to Jerusalem, not a complete restoration.
- to his own house (אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ, ʾel-bêṯō) – This phrase signifies Absalom's personal residence, not the royal palace. It implies a condition of dwelling within the city limits but separate from the king's immediate presence and court life, akin to house arrest.
- and let him not see my face (וּפָנַי לֹא יִרְאֶה, ûpānay lōʾ yirʾeh) –
- וּפָנַי (ûpānay): "and my face." The Hebrew word panim (פָּנִים) literally means "face" and is plural in form but often used for a singular face in idiom. In biblical contexts, "seeing the king's face" signifies audience, favor, reconciliation, acceptance, and official restoration to position or standing within the court.
- לֹא יִרְאֶה (lōʾ yirʾeh): "he shall not see." The negative particle "lōʾ" (לֹא) strongly prohibits.
- This is the core of David's decree, withholding personal contact and thus denying full royal pardon and the benefits that come with royal favor. It maintains Absalom's disgrace and social/political isolation.
- So Absalom returned (וַיָּשָׁב אַבְשָׁלוֹם, wayyāšāḇ ʾabšālôm) – Confirms compliance with the king's first command. This indicates his physical presence back in Jerusalem.
- to his own house (אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ, ʾel-bêṯō) – Repeats the destination, reinforcing the restriction of his dwelling.
- and saw not the king's face (וּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ לֹא רָאָה, ûfənê hammĕleḵ lōʾ rāʾāh) –
- וּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ (ûfənê hammĕleḵ): "and the face of the king." Reinforces the same concept as "my face" above.
- לֹא רָאָה (lōʾ rāʾāh): "he did not see." This is the historical observation confirming Absalom's adherence to the prohibition. The repetition of the restriction emphasizes its severity and David's resolute decision to maintain this distance.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And the king said, Let him turn to his own house": This phrase introduces David's initial gesture of grace, allowing his son to end his three-year exile. However, the designation "his own house" immediately signals a conditional, not total, reconciliation, setting him apart from court and royal affairs.
- "and let him not see my face": This pivotal injunction defines the true nature of David's forgiveness—it is incomplete. Seeing the king's face implied not just physical presence but a return to royal favor, acceptance, and access to the throne's authority. By denying this, David publicly reaffirmed Absalom's disfavor and maintained a barrier to any genuine reconciliation. This withholding of his "face" carried immense symbolic weight in the ancient Near East, signifying royal displeasure and continued punitive measures.
- "So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face": The repetition here confirms that David's decree was executed precisely as commanded. This literary device emphasizes the profound significance and duration of this imposed separation. It highlights Absalom's enforced isolation for two full years following his return, a period ripe for simmering resentment and the cultivation of an alternative power base, eventually leading to open rebellion.
2 Samuel 14 24 Bonus section
- David's half-measure here is a precursor to many of his subsequent parental failures, contrasting sharply with the immediate and unconditional welcome seen in the parable of the prodigal son.
- This act of separation underscores the chasm created by Absalom's actions and David's inability or unwillingness to bridge it completely. It implies a degree of mistrust and unaddressed sin that festered within the royal family.
- The absence of the king's face also means a lack of an audience for Absalom, preventing him from formally pleading his case or reintegrating into society and politics. This forced idleness contributes to Absalom seeking his own power and validation.
2 Samuel 14 24 Commentary
2 Samuel 14:24 reveals David's complex and tragically flawed response to Absalom's return. While a father's natural affection likely motivated the recall from exile, David's unwillingness to "see Absalom's face" represents a profound emotional and relational barrier. This decision, perhaps rooted in a combination of continued parental grief for Amnon, shame, or even political calculation (not wanting to appear soft on murder), denied Absalom true restoration. Instead of full reconciliation, Absalom was put in a "waiting room" of suspended animation—back in Jerusalem but isolated from the king and court. This created an untenable situation that would only breed bitterness and provide Absalom with ample opportunity and motive to begin covertly undermining David's reign. This moment showcases how incomplete forgiveness, when not accompanied by full reconciliation and reintegration, can become fertile ground for deeper conflict and eventual rebellion, echoing consequences often seen when discipline lacks restoration.