But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the king.
Parallel translations
- WEB The king said, “Let him return to his own house, but let him not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn’t see the king’s face.
- 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.
- 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.
- NASB However, the king said, “He shall return to 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.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David allows Absalom to live in Jerusalem but forbids him to see the king's face. This half-reconciliation leaves Absalom dishonored and bitter.
Overview
David's order keeps Absalom at arm's length, restored geographically but not relationally. The refusal to grant an audience reflects David's unresolved anger over Amnon's death and his failure to deal decisively with sin and justice. This cold middle ground breeds the resentment that fuels Absalom's later rebellion, showing the danger of reconciliation without true restoration.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Rev 22:4They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
- Exod 10:28“Depart from me!” Pharaoh said to Moses. “Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.”
- 2 Sam 3:13“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”
- 2 Sam 14:28Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king.
- Gen 43:3But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 14:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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