13. Then the woman said, “Why have you planned this? It is against the people of God. When you say this, you show that you are guilty. You have not brought back your son whom you forced to leave home.
14. We will all die some day. We’re like water spilled on the ground. No one can gather it back. But God doesn’t take away life. Instead, he plans ways that those who have been sent away will not have to stay away from him!
15. My master and king, I came to say this to you because the people have made me afraid! I thought, ‘Let me talk to the king. Maybe he will do what I ask.
16. Maybe he will listen. Perhaps he will save me from the man who wants to kill both me and my son. That man is trying to keep us from getting what God gave us.’
17. “Now I say, ‘May the words of my master the king give me rest. Like an angel of God, you know what is good and what is bad. May the Lord your God be with you!’”
18. Then King David said, “You must answer the question I will ask you.”The woman said, “My master the 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 master the king, you are right. Your servant Joab did tell me to say these things.
20. Joab did it so you would see things differently. My master, you are wise like an angel of God. 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 facedown on the ground. He blessed the king. Then he said, “Today I know you are pleased with me. I know because you have done what I asked.”
23. Then Joab got up and went to Geshur. And he brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
24. But King David said, “Absalom must go to his own house. He may not come to see me.” So Absalom went to his own house. He did not go to see the king.
25. Now Absalom was greatly praised for his handsome appearance. No man in Israel was as handsome as Absalom. No blemish was on him from his head to his foot.
26. At the end of every year, Absalom would cut the hair on his head. He cut it because it became too heavy. He would weigh it, and it would weigh about five pounds by the royal measure.
27. Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
28. So Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two full years without seeing King David.