2 Samuel 14:28-33

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

²⁸ So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem without coming into the king’s presence.^{(A) 29} Then Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. He sent a second time, but Joab would not come. ³⁰ Then he said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. ³¹ Then Joab rose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” ³² Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent word to you. Come here that I may send you to the king with the question, ‘Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.’ Now let me go into the king’s presence; if there is guilt in me, let him kill me!”^{(B) 33} Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and prostrated himself with his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.^(C)