2 Samuel 14:33
ESV
Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
NIV
So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.
NASB
So when Joab came to the king and told him, he summoned Absalom. Then Absalom came to the king and prostrated himself with his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.
CSB
Joab went to the king and told him. So David summoned Absalom, who came to the king and paid homage with his face to the ground before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.
NLT
So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him.
KJV
So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
NKJV
So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.
What does 2 Samuel 14:33 mean?
Absalom, David's son, had been in exile for three years for murdering his brother (2 Samuel 13:32). Joab, Israel's military commander, convinced David to let Absalom come home. But for two years, David refused to restore Absalom to the family or the court, or even speak to him (2 Samuel 14:24, 28). After going to extreme measures, Absalom finally speaks to Joab (2 Samuel 14:29–32).Joab doesn't argue with Absalom about his complaint. The commander of the king's army takes Absalom's words to David as requested. The message amounts to an ultimatum, phrased almost like a challenge: execute me for a crime or restore me to my former position. Don't leave me in this limbo of half-forgiveness.
Once again, David follows Joab's advice. He summons Absalom, who comes and bows before David in a posture of humility and respect. David kisses Absalom and releases him from all restrictions. Father and son are officially reunited, and Absalom is restored.
This is far from the end of the conflict. Scripture gives no insight into Absalom's ambitions before Amnon's depraved assault of Tamar (2 Samuel 13:14). But in the seven years since (1 Samuel 13:19, 38; 2 Samuel 14:28), Absalom has seen David's indecision and weakness. Whether new or long-simmering, Absalom's political aspirations can charge forward now that he's once again a true prince. He rides through Jerusalem on a chariot, behind fifty running men. He sits at the gate and tells those with complaints that David won't see them, but he would if he were allowed to judge. He greets common men with a kiss before they have the chance to prostrate themselves (2 Samuel 15:1–5). "Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel" (2 Samuel 15:6). Soon, he will steal the crown.
