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.
25. Now, no one in all Israel was praised for his good looks as much as Absalom was. He had no blemish from head to toe.
26. At the end of every year, he used to cut his hair because it became heavy for him. When he cut the hair on his head and weighed it, it weighed five pounds according to the royal standard.
27. Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter Tamar was a beautiful woman.
28. Absalom stayed in Jerusalem two full years without seeing the king.
29. So Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but he still refused to come.
30. So Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine. He has barley in it. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set it on fire.Joab’s servants came to him ⌊in grief⌋ and said, “Absalom’s servants have set ⌊your⌋ field on fire.”
31. Then Joab immediately went to Absalom at his home. “Why did your servants set my field on fire?” he asked.
32. Absalom answered Joab, “I sent someone to tell you to come here because I wanted to send you to the king to ask him why I had to come from Geshur. It would be better for me if I were still there. Let me see the king now! If I’m guilty of a sin, he should kill me.”
33. Joab went to the king and told him this. The king then called for Absalom, who came to the king and bowed down with his face touching the ground. And the king kissed Absalom.