17. I thought that you would reassure me. You are like God’s Messenger, who is able to distinguish right from wrong. May the Lord your God be with you!”
18. The king said to the woman, “Please don’t refuse to answer the question I’m going to ask you.”The woman responded, “Please speak, Your Majesty.”
19. “Did Joab put you up to this?” the king asked.The woman answered, “I solemnly swear on your life, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Yes, your servant Joab ordered me ⌊to do this⌋. He told me to say exactly what I said.
20. Your servant Joab has done this to portray the matter in a different light. You are as wise as God’s Messenger, who knows everything on earth.”
21. Then the king told Joab, “This is what you’ll do. Bring back the young man Absalom.”
22. Joab quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground, and he blessed the king. He said, “Today I know that you have been kind to me because you have done what I wanted.”
23. So Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
24. But the king said, “Absalom should return to his own house. He will not see me.” So Absalom returned to his house and didn’t see the king.