2 Samuel 14:28 kjv
So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
2 Samuel 14:28 nkjv
And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king's face.
2 Samuel 14:28 niv
Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king's face.
2 Samuel 14:28 esv
So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king's presence.
2 Samuel 14:28 nlt
Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but he never got to see the king.
2 Samuel 14 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 13:38-39 | So Absalom fled... to Geshur, and was there three years... David longed... | Absalom's initial exile and David's longing. |
| 2 Sam 14:24 | The king said, “Let him turn... and let him not see my face.” | King's decree for Absalom's partial return. |
| 2 Sam 14:32 | Absalom said to Joab, "Why have I come from Geshur... I want to see..." | Absalom's frustration with continued exile. |
| 2 Sam 15:2 | Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way of the gate... | Absalom's public actions due to king's neglect. |
| Luke 15:20 | ...while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion | Father's immediate welcome vs. David's delay. |
| Eph 4:26-27 | ...do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give opportunity... | Warning against prolonged anger/estrangement. |
| Prov 13:12 | Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree... | Impact of long waiting on Absalom's spirit. |
| 2 Sam 3:1 | ...there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. | Precedent of prolonged conflict in David's life. |
| Gen 32:30 | So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen... | "Seeing face" implies direct encounter/presence. |
| Ps 27:8 | ...“Seek ye my face”; my heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” | Desire for the Lord's presence and favor. |
| Ps 105:4 | Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! | Continual seeking of divine presence. |
| Esth 1:14 | ...those who saw the king’s face and sat first in the kingdom... | "Seeing king's face" signifies high honor/favor. |
| Prov 22:29 | Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings... | Standing before kings indicates acceptance. |
| Luke 1:19 | And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God." | Standing in God's presence as a sign of favor. |
| Matt 5:23-24 | ...if you are offering your gift... first be reconciled... | Priority of reconciliation before offering. |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | Importance of seeking peace. |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses... | Unresolved sin (Absalom's murder) hinders peace. |
| 1 Kgs 1:6 | His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, "Why have you done?" | David's passive parenting is a consistent theme. |
| 2 Sam 13:21 | When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. | David's initial anger after Amnon's death. |
| 1 Pet 3:8 | Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender... | Call for familial unity and empathy. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one... | Emphasizing the pursuit of peace. |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping... Rend your..." | Call for genuine return and reconciliation. |
| 2 Cor 5:18 | All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself... | God's initiative in reconciliation. |
2 Samuel 14 verses
2 Samuel 14 28 Meaning
This verse describes Absalom's state for a significant period after his return from exile: "And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face." It highlights a prolonged, unresolved separation between father and son. Despite being back in the capital city, Absalom remained excluded from David's direct presence and favor, signifying an incomplete restoration of his status and a deep relational chasm. This prolonged estrangement indicates a fragile peace, far from true reconciliation, and becomes a catalyst for Absalom's future rebellious actions.
2 Samuel 14 28 Context
This verse is situated in 2 Samuel chapter 14, following Absalom's three-year exile in Geshur for murdering his half-brother Amnon. David, though grieving Amnon's death, had a strong yearning to see Absalom. Joab, discerning David's unspoken desire, masterminded a plan using a wise woman from Tekoa to convince David to allow Absalom's return. David agreed to Absalom's physical return to Jerusalem but stipulated that Absalom would not see his face, signifying continued partial banishment and withholding of royal favor. Verse 28 details the lengthy duration of this incomplete reconciliation, emphasizing that while Absalom was geographically close to his father, he remained relationally distant, an arrangement that fostered growing resentment and set the stage for Absalom's rebellion in the subsequent chapter.
2 Samuel 14 28 Word analysis
And (וַיֵּשֶׁב - Vayyēšeb): The conjunction "and" links this statement to the immediate preceding events, particularly Absalom's return to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 14:23-24. The verb Vayyēšeb means "he dwelt" or "he resided," implying a settling down, a continuous presence, not just a brief visit.
Absalom (אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם - ʾAḇšālōm): The son of David whose name means "father of peace" or "my father is peace." This name stands in ironic contrast to his actions, which consistently brought turmoil, division, and war to David's kingdom and family.
Dwelt (וַיֵּשֶׁב - Vayyēšeb): From the root yāšab (ישׁב), to sit, dwell, remain. Its use here indicates Absalom's fixed residence in Jerusalem for the stated period, highlighting a state of being in place but out of favor.
two full years (שְׁנָתַ֖יִם יָמִ֑ים - sh'nātayim yāmîm): This phrase emphasizes a precise and considerable duration. "Two years of days" reinforces the idea of complete, measured time. It underlines the king's consistent withholding of his presence and the prolonged emotional strain on Absalom, signifying a period of testing, deliberate exclusion, or unresolved anger on David's part. This extended duration likely festered Absalom's bitterness and impatience.
in Jerusalem (בִּירֽוּשָׁלַם - biYrušālāim): The capital city, David's seat of power. The irony is poignant: Absalom is physically in the city of peace, close to the center of power and his father, yet spiritually and relationally alienated from the source of that power and family bond. Proximity without intimacy.
and saw not (וְאֵרָ֣ה לֹא - v'ērāh lō'): The Hebrew lōʾ rāʾāh (לא ראה) literally means "not saw." This is a definitive statement of non-contact, emphasizing the absence of the desired interaction.
the king's face (פְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ - p'nê hamMelek): The Hebrew word pāním (פנים), "face," often denotes presence, favor, and acceptance in ancient Near Eastern and biblical contexts. To "see the king's face" was to be in his presence, to enjoy his favor, to have an audience, and to be restored to full standing. Its denial was a clear symbol of continued displeasure, a state of partial ostracization or incomplete forgiveness. This act underscored Absalom's lingering status as an offender rather than a fully reintegrated son and heir.
Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem: This phrase sets the stage for a period of stagnation and internal conflict within the royal family. It emphasizes that David's decree in 2 Samuel 14:24 was meticulously enforced for an extended time.
and saw not the king's face: This second part provides the crucial missing element—the lack of relational restoration. This physical exclusion from the king's presence was deeply symbolic and practical, denying Absalom his rightful access, privilege, and recognition as a prince. This prolonged state fueled his frustration and desire to force a resolution.
2 Samuel 14 28 Bonus section
The deliberate separation of Absalom from David's face reflects a cultural understanding where the king's countenance embodied his favor and the well-being of the realm. A "bright face" indicated pleasure, while its withholding suggested displeasure and even wrath. David's action here, though intended perhaps as a means of slow reintegration or continued consequence for murder, inadvertently denied Absalom the fatherly affirmation crucial for true repentance and restoration. This delay highlights David's struggle as both king and father, where his personal pain over Amnon and the need for justice likely conflicted with his desire for Absalom's return, leading to this detrimental, indecisive halfway measure. This period was not one of active reconciliation but passive enduring of a state of grace-in-limbo, proving insufficient for genuine family and governmental peace.
2 Samuel 14 28 Commentary
2 Samuel 14:28 encapsulates a critical turning point in the relationship between David and Absalom. While Absalom was permitted to return from exile and live in Jerusalem, the decree that he could "not see the king's face" meant he remained under a cloud of disapproval. The "two full years" highlight a significant and perhaps calculated period of prolonged testing or partial banishment on David's part. David's delay in offering full reconciliation, in contrast to the prodigal son's father (Luke 15), revealed a tragic ambivalence. This period fostered deep resentment in Absalom, who felt his "homecoming" was incomplete and his royal status unacknowledged. David, known for his leadership in warfare and governance, often struggled with discipline and resolution within his own household, and this prolonged cold shoulder proved catastrophic, ultimately driving Absalom to seek validation and power through rebellion. It underscores that legal return does not equate to relational restoration without the essential component of open, forgiving presence.