But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the face of the king.
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, Sa2 14:21.
Commenting on 2 Samuel 14:21-27
And the king said,.... Very probably to Joab, when he informed him of Absalom's being come to Jerusalem: let him turn to his own house; depart from the king's palace, where Joab had brought him, and go to his own house, which was in Jerusalem; for here he had one before he fled to Geshur; see Sa2 13:20, and let him not see my face...
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face. (o) Covering by this his affection, and showing some part of justice to please the people.