2 Samuel 14:26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:21-27

Observe here, I. Orders given for the bringing back of Absalom. The errand on which the woman came to David was so agreeable, and her management of it so very ingenious and surprising, that he was brought into a peculiarly kind humour: Go (says he to Joab), bring the young man Absalom again, 2 Sam. 14:21. He was himself inclined to favour him, yet, for the honour of his justice, he would not do it but upon intercession made for him, which may illustrate the methods of divine grace. It is true... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:26

And when he polled his head ,.... Or cut off the hair of it; for that was one thing, a good head of hair which he had, that made him look very comely and beautiful: for it was at every year's end that he polled it ; or cut it off once a year; but the Jews say F23 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Nazir, c 1. sect. 2. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 9. fol. 194. 3. Gloss. T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 10. 2. he was a perpetual Nazarite: because the hair was heavy upon him, and therefore he polled... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 14:26

When he polled his head - Not at any particular period, but when the hair became too heavy for him. On this account of the extraordinary weight of Absalom's hair, see the observations at the end of this chapter, 2 Samuel 14:30 ; (note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:21-33

Imperfect reconciliation. The facts are: 1 . David, referring to the promise he had made, sends Joab to bring Absalom from Geshur, Joab expressing in lowly form his thanks for the king's gracious attention to his request. 2 . On Absalom's return he is ordered to abide in his own house, and not to see the king's face. 3 . The personal beauty of Absalom is famous throughout Israel, and of his four children the only daughter is also reputed to be fair. 4 . For two years... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:26

Two hundred shekels after the king's weight. Unless the royal shekel was smaller than the shekel of the sanctuary, the weight of Absalom's hair would be six pounds. But we cannot believe that the king's shekel was not full weight; for to imagine this is to suppose that the king had tampered with the coinage; for the shekel was a coin as well as a weight, being originally a fixed quantity of silver. As a matter of fact, David had amassed too much silver to have need of resorting to what is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 14:26

Two hundred shekels ... - The exact weight cannot be determined. If these “shekels after the king’s weight” were the same as “shekels of the sanctuary,” the weight would be about 6 lbs., which is incredible; “twenty” shekels is more probable. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 14:26

2 Samuel 14:26. When he polled his head, &c. In those days hair was accounted a great ornament, and the longer it was, the more it was esteemed. And therefore it is no wonder that Absalom, who was proud, and courted popularity, should let his grow to a great length, as this rendered him still more beautiful in the people’s eyes. It was at every year’s end that he polled it The Hebrew here, מקצ ימים לימים , mekets jamim lajamim, does not properly signify, at every year’s end, but... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 14:1-33

David’s family troubles begin (13:1-14:33)The first of the foretold disgraces that fell on David’s family followed the same pattern as David’s own sin: sexual immorality followed by murder, with the murderer carefully plotting how to get rid of his victim.Amnon, David’s eldest son, tried to seduce his half-sister Tamar, but when Tamar resisted him he raped her (13:1-14). Cruelly, Amnon then drove Tamar away, and the young princess cried bitterly at the loss of her virginity in such... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 14:26

for , Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6 . king's weight : to distinguish it from the sacred shekel. See App-51 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 14:26

2 Samuel 14:26. And when he polled his head, &c.— Houbigant remarks, that it is a mistake to suppose that Absalom polled his head every year: the Hebrew, ימים מקצ mikkets yamim, which we render at every year's end, signifies only at the return of a certain season, and he renders the passage, for there were certain seasons when he polled it, that he might deliver himself from the weight; and when he polled it, the weight was two hundred shekels. This seemingly prodigious weight of hair,... read more

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