Q2. Restoring Absalom

[tammie7]

I think it was because he wanted to stop the fighting

and also prevent bolld of his son,I think it was because

of quilt and confusion.

[Lorraine Overstreet]

Q2. (2 Samuel 13:39-14:24)

Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home?

Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor?

a) Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home because Joab

realizes the importance for a succession plan to be in place, so on David's

death there won't be a civil war. Also Joab wanted to bring the family back

together and he wanted the people to accept Absalon as the future king.

David may have been scared of how he was still feeling toward Absalom

and he may have known Absalom wanted him dead. Although David missed

his son, he knew the people knew Absalom was guilty of murder and he could

not return to Jerusalem without due punishment being given.

[royk]

Q2. (2 Samuel 13:39-14:24) Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home?

Joab knows that David would love to see his son again, despite his wrong doing. He devises a clever way of helping David see the light by using the old woman "in mourning" contrived story. Joab sees the "good" that can come from Absalom home to David, for the future of this whole family and kingdom.

Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor?

This is not the story of the prodigal son, Absalom is a murderer, like David, but more directly. David still loves him, but is not immediately ready to show the forgiveness for his crime.

[wifee]

Joab knows David misses Absalom his son.He also also knows Absalom has right to succeed David as next in line,&to avoid a messy civil war.He couldn’t tell King David to reconcile with Absalom directly,but used woman from Tekoa&ruse.Ruse works&David asks Joab to bring Absalom back home effectively pardoned, on condition he doesn’t look at/come into David’s presence.

b)The fact this stalemate no favour between David&Absalom lasted for 2yrs,probably because David was still confused with his own guilt,angry with Absalom for taking Amnon’s life,or felt awkward not wanting to show pleasure at seeing Absalom..

[cjenkins1388]

Joab wants David and Absolam to make up so things can get back to normal, and there has to be an Heir to the throne.

 

David is too prideful to show favor immediately

[karynjg]

(2 Samuel 13:39-14:24) Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home? Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor?

Apparently Joab is seeking to reconcile David and Absalom in order for there to be an eventual peaceful transfer of power. Joab is loyal to David and the kingdom, but there are ultimately advantages for him as well.  David is still greiving over the loss of his first son, Amnon and not quite ready to completely reconcile with Amnon's murderer, Absolam.  What a dilemma and a terrible burden for David.

[WinstonY]

 

Q2. (2 Samuel 13:39-14:24) Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home? Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor?

 Joab sees problems in the Kingdom. He sees the decline in King David and hopes that Absalom his favorite will be able to bring new Vitality to the king.   Joab also wants to be a kingmaker. If he helps Absalom now when he becomes king he will then look mightily upon Joab.

It is quite likely that David feels it is necessary to discipline Absalom in some way.

 

[crissy464]

Joab took a risk to bring David and Absalom back together] to change the present situation [literally “change the face of the matter” (David’s strained relationship with Absalom)]. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.”
Joab wanted to see the family back together and peace to the kingdom

David still had alot of guilt over his sin and the death of his son Amnon. He also wasn’t invovled much with Absalom upbringing

 

[Irmela]

Q2. (2 Samuel 13:39-14:24)

Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home?

Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor?

We do have a lot of speculative questions.

David is not young anymore and the next in line to the throne is dead.  Absolom is the next one who should be supporting and learning from David.  (Although it does not seem like the heir to the throne is chosen by birth)  David seems to have loved Absalom very much and was pining for him.  Joab knew this and tried to bring back some kind of peace to a troubled king.  When Absalom was not in Jerusalem, punishment for Abner's death could be ignored. When he returned to Jerusalem, some kind of punishment for his deed needed to be meted out.  This was a hard option for David. I guess not seeing him and not making him absolutely welcome was David's way of punishing him.  This irked Absalom no end.  

Could it also be that David did not really trust Absalom's loyalties  anymore.  (Recall Joab did not trust Abner.)   

[Krissi]

Joab conspired to bring Absolom home because he didn't want his country to endure a civil war at a time when it was young and vulnerable. It split anyway.

David didn't show his son favor because he himself had murdered and killed and understood intuitively the mentality and motive behind it. I think David understood Absalom, or at least the broad outlines of a mindset that would do such a thing. I don't think he "made up" with Absalom because he was tender or moved by love for his son, though he surely loved his son, but because it was a politically expedient thing to do.

David was strategic in relationships as well as war.

I can imagine what it would feel like to have an adult child do something so heinous that he had to be banished from the country. David was surely ashamed. His kid did something that was incredibly sinful, and he did it with premeditation, not momentary passion such as anger. Perhaps David was recalling his own premeditated crimes/sins? If so, he would understand the thought process within Absalom and realized that remorse for such behavior -- a real understanding of the causes of one's sin -- would take time, though I don't think this is the motive for not talking to him for so long.

I think David was ashamed. Very ashamed. His fav son had "gone bad." He knew his own character flaws and bad parenting had contributed to Absalom's demise. Rather than try to change Absalom, which was impossible, he pushed him away. A problem distanced. I'm sure he hoped the problem would solve itself, that Absalom would mature in character, come to realize his sin and crawl back to his dad for forgiveness ... but David also probably expected this to never happen, too. So he was in a stalemate. He wanted reconciliation but he only wanted it with a chastened son. He wanted to give love, but only on his terms.

The stalemate between them hardened, not softened, as time passed. Joab, seeing this and seeing the huge damage it could do to the fledgling nation, intervened to crack the stalemate. 

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Quote

 

Q2. (2 Samuel 13:39-14:24)

Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home?

Joab realizes the importance for a succession plan to be in place, so when David dies there won't be a bloody civil war. Absalom is next in line for the throne and is the logical choice.

Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor?

David was mourning over his son Amnon.

[LadyT]

Q2. (2 Samuel 13:39-14:24) Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home? To me it seems he was tired of David mourning the loss of Absalom. He grieved for him the moment he heard he killed Amnon. Joab could see David was too stuck and unsure what to do, so he took care of things himself to get David to act.

Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor? He probably didn't wanna seem like he blankly forgave Absalom for killing Amnon (pretty darn hypocritical). So, he has to play the long game and be comforted that his son is at least back in his household for now.