2 Samuel 14:21
ESV
Then the king said to Joab, "Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom."
NIV
The king said to Joab, "Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom."
NASB
Then the king said to Joab, 'Behold now, I will certainly do this thing; go then, bring back the young man Absalom.'
CSB
Then the king said to Joab, "I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom."
NLT
So the king sent for Joab and told him, 'All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom.'
KJV
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
NKJV
And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”
What does 2 Samuel 14:21 mean?
Joab has used a skilled actress to convince David to allow Absalom to come home. Three years prior, Absalom killed his brother for raping their sister. The actress pointed out that David can't bring the dead back to life, but it's not good for Israel for the prince to remain in exile (2 Samuel 14:13–14). When David realizes Joab is behind the message, he agrees with his general.By allowing Joab to retrieve Absalom, David pardons him. By calling his son "the young man," David shows he doesn't forgive him. He won't even allow Absalom to come to the court or be in his presence (2 Samuel 14:24). Absalom isn't the king's heir, as Joab seems to assume. He's a murderer. Being exiled alive to his maternal grandfathers—the king of another nation (2 Samuel 13:37–38)—is an act of grace itself.
David's attachment to his children is uneven. When his oldest son raped his daughter, he stewed in anger but did nothing to bring Tamar justice or discipline Amnon (2 Samuel 13:21). When Absalom murdered Amnon to avenge his sister, David mourned Amnon (2 Samuel 13:36). He now allows Absalom back to Jerusalem but refuses to see him. Yet when Absalom commits treason against David and sends David into exile (2 Samuel 15), all David can think about is how horrible he'd feel if Absalom were killed (2 Samuel 18:5). Once Joab does kill Absalom (2 Samuel 18:14–15), David is so distraught he can't govern well (2 Samuel 19:1–8).
Absalom may not have the heart of his father, but he knows how to get the hearts of the people. He's pretty and charming (2 Samuel 14:25), and he uses that to his advantage (2 Samuel 15:1–6).
