2 Samuel 14:30
Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
The verse records Absalom's command to his servants to set Joab's barley field on fire, and that they carried it out. He burned the field to force his way back into his father's favor without repentance, a grave abuse that David wrongly allowed. The incident belongs to the subsequent history after David's great wickedness in the case of Uriah and after Absalom's return from exile, and before David's flight from Jerusalem and war against Absalom.
It is part of the history of David's reign marked by difficulty, heavy disgrace, sorrow, grief, and family conflict over his sons Amnon and Absalom, centered on Absalom's rebellion and crimes. Those family troubles grew out of David's taking many wives and having sons he could not control, fostering idleness, luxury, and jealousy among his children. To this evil of a multiplicity of wives all the miseries that came upon David are largely traced.
This later history is presented as retribution and judgment upon David for his wrongdoing, especially his wrong against Uriah, showing how completely the prophet Nathan's terrible denunciation was accomplished. By that wickedness David gave great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, and his transgression is neither covered up nor excused, with Nathan's denunciation and David's own humble confession both placed on record for all future time. The detailed faithfulness with which this disgraceful history is told marks it as inspired and shows that God does not hide the sins of even the greatest kings. After his return, Absalom pursued the ambition to weaken David's authority and take the kingdom, eventually having himself proclaimed king, while David knew he was dangerous and fled Jerusalem with his household, contributing to David's loss of respect and authority. The wider events illustrate that people cannot break God's laws without suffering, because every transgression carries an inherent curse.