Lux Domini
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

What does 2 Samuel 14:21 mean?

David was inclined to favour Absalom, yet, for the honour of his justice, he could not do it but upon application made for him, which may show the methods of Divine grace.

Key themes

Justice and mercyGraceDavidic covenantSin and judgment

Read with

Keep this verse inside 2 Samuel 14:21-24 and alongside a few nearby related passages.

Glossary

Absalom Person

Father of peace; i. e., “peaceful” David’s son by Maacah ( 2 Sam. 3:3 ; comp. 1 Kings 1:6 ). He was noted for his personal beauty and for the extra-ordinary profusion of the hair of his head ( 2 Sam. 14:25 ,26).

Joab Person

Jehovah is his father. (1. ) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign ( 2 Sam. 2:13 ; 10:7 ; 11:1 ; 1 Kings 11:15 ).