Background: Absalom, the third son of King David, is a prominent figure in the narrative of the Hebrew Bible. Known for his striking appearance and charismatic personality, Absalom's account is marked by familial conflict, ambition, and tragedy. His return to Jerusalem is a pivotal moment in the biblical account, following his exile after the murder of his half-brother Amnon.

Context of Exile: Absalom's exile was the result of a violent act of vengeance. Amnon, David's eldest son, had violated Absalom's sister, Tamar. In response, Absalom orchestrated Amnon's murder during a feast, leading to his flight to Geshur, where he stayed with his maternal grandfather, King Talmai (2 Samuel 13:37-38). Absalom remained in Geshur for three years, during which time King David longed for reconciliation with his estranged son but did not take action to bring him back (2 Samuel 13:39).

Joab's Intervention: The return of Absalom to Jerusalem was facilitated by Joab, the commander of David's army. Recognizing the king's deep-seated desire to see Absalom, Joab devised a plan to prompt David to allow Absalom's return. He enlisted a wise woman from Tekoa to present a parable to the king, drawing parallels between her fictional plight and David's situation with Absalom (2 Samuel 14:1-20). The woman's account moved David, and he eventually consented to Joab's request to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem.

Return to Jerusalem: Absalom was permitted to return to Jerusalem, but David imposed a condition: Absalom was not allowed to see the king's face. "So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the king" (2 Samuel 14:24). This partial reconciliation left Absalom in a state of limbo, residing in Jerusalem but estranged from his father.

Reconciliation with David: After two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king, Absalom grew frustrated. He summoned Joab to intercede on his behalf, but when Joab ignored his requests, Absalom resorted to setting Joab's field on fire to capture his attention (2 Samuel 14:28-30). This act compelled Joab to arrange a meeting between Absalom and David. When Absalom finally appeared before the king, he bowed with his face to the ground, and David kissed him, signifying a formal reconciliation (2 Samuel 14:33).

Significance: Absalom's return to Jerusalem set the stage for subsequent events that would lead to his rebellion against David. The strained relationship between father and son, despite the outward reconciliation, foreshadowed the turmoil that would soon engulf David's kingdom. Absalom's ambition and desire for power would ultimately lead to a civil war, further complicating the narrative of David's reign and highlighting the complexities of familial and political dynamics in the biblical text.