2 Samuel 14:29
ESV
Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Joab would not come.
NIV
Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come.
NASB
Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent word again a second time, but he would not come.
CSB
Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab was unwilling to come to him. So he sent again, a second time, but he still would not come.
NLT
Then Absalom sent for Joab to ask him to intercede for him, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but again Joab refused to come.
KJV
Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
NKJV
Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
What does 2 Samuel 14:29 mean?
Absalom has had enough of living in Jerusalem under David's restrictions. David has officially pardoned Absalom for murdering Amnon (2 Samuel 13:32). But David has not fully forgiven his son. He refuses to let Absalom rejoin the court or participate in family events (2 Samuel 14:24).Joab convinced David to allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem. It was Joab who went to Geshur to bring Absalom back (2 Samuel 14:21–23). If anyone can convince David to reconcile with his son, it's Joab. Absalom sends two messages to Joab asking for access to David. Joab responds to neither. Some commentators think that because Joab is part of the royal court, David has forbidden him from interacting with Absalom.
Absalom resorts to extreme measures. His field is next to Joab's. So, he has his servants set Joab's barley on fire. Joab can't ignore him any longer. Absalom tells him to either take him to his father or kill him for whatever crime is keeping him away. Joab takes him, and David reconciles with him (2 Samuel 14:30–33).
Much of this story is driven by good intentions pointed in the wrong direction. Joab wanted Absalom's return because he believed it was best for the nation (2 Samuel 14:13). David halfheartedly agreed, but since Absalom murdered another of Davis's sons (2 Sameul 13:28–29), it would look awkward, politically, for David to welcome him back to the court.
Neither David nor Joab fully appreciate Absalom's ambitions.
