And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
The command to recall Absalom followed the plea of the woman of Tekoah, whose appeal moved David to show mercy toward his exiled son. It also followed Joab's work in arranging reconciliation between David and Absalom. By this order David directed Joab to bring the young man Absalom back from exile to Jerusalem, and in doing so enacted reconciliation between father and son.
Yet Absalom's return did not at that point restore him to the king's court or to the king's presence. The confidence placed in him in bringing him back to Jerusalem was betrayed, and his return helped make his later rebellion possible.
The command to recall Absalom followed the plea of the woman of Tekoah, whose appeal moved David to show mercy toward his exiled son. It also followed Joab's work in arranging reconciliation between David and Absalom. By this order David directed Joab to bring the young man Absalom back from exile to Jerusalem, and in doing so enacted reconciliation between father and son.
Yet Absalom's return did not at that point restore him to the king's court or to the king's presence. The confidence placed in him in bringing him back to Jerusalem was betrayed, and his return helped make his later rebellion possible.