12. The woman said, “My lord and king, please let me say something else to you.” The king said, “Speak.”
13. Then the woman said, “Why have you planned these things against the people of God? When you say these things, you show you are guilty because you have not brought back the son who you forced to leave home.
14. We will all die some day. We will be like water that is spilled on the ground. No one can gather this water back from the ground. You know God forgives people. God made plans for people who are forced to run away for safety—God does not force them to run away from him!
15. My lord and king, I came to say these words to you, because the people made me afraid. I said to myself, ‘I will talk to the king. Maybe the king will help me.
16. The king will listen to me and save me from the man who wants to kill me and my son. That man just wants to keep us from getting what God gave us.’
17. I know that the words of my lord the king will give me rest, because you are like an angel from God. You know what is good and what is bad. And the Lord your God is with you.”
18. King David answered the woman, “You must answer the question I will ask you.” The woman said, “My lord and king, please ask your question.”
19. The king said, “Did Joab tell you to say all these things?” The woman answered, “As you live, my lord and king, you are right. Your officer Joab did tell me to say these things.
20. Joab did this so that you would see things differently. My lord, you are as wise as God’s angel. You know everything that happens on earth.”
21. The king said to Joab, “Look, I will do what I promised. Now please bring back the young man Absalom.”
22. Joab bowed with his face on the ground. He blessed King David, and said, “Today I know that you are pleased with me. I know because you have done what I asked.”
23. Then Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24. But King David said, “Absalom must go back to his own house. He cannot come to see me.” So Absalom went back to his own house, but he could not go to see the king.
25. People really bragged about how good-looking Absalom was. No man in Israel was as handsome as Absalom. Every part of his body was perfect—from his head to his feet.
26. At the end of every year, Absalom cut the hair from his head and weighed it. The hair weighed about five pounds.
27. Absalom had three sons and one daughter. Her name was Tamar, and she was a beautiful woman.
28. Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two full years without being allowed to visit King David.
29. Absalom sent a message to Joab, asking for permission to see the king, but Joab refused to come see him. So Absalom sent a second message to Joab. Again, Joab refused to come see him.