What does Absalom's action reveal about his character and intentions? Setting the scene Absalom has been allowed back to Jerusalem after the murder of his half-brother Amnon, yet for two full years his father David refuses to see him. Absalom repeatedly sends for Joab, the commander who helped secure his return, but Joab declines to come. Stymied, Absalom turns to drastic measures. Absalom lights the fire 2 Samuel 14:31: “Then Joab got up, went to Absalom’s house, and demanded, ‘Why have your servants set my field on fire?’” (See also v. 30 for the command to burn the barley.) What the fire reveals about Absalom • Determined and impatient He refuses to wait any longer for Joab’s reply; the field goes up in flames so the conversation will happen now. • Manipulative By destroying property, he forces Joab into giving him the audience he wants—leveraging fear and loss to gain advantage. • Disrespectful of others’ rights Someone else’s livelihood is expendable if it furthers his agenda. • Entitled Absalom acts as though others must accommodate him, even at great personal cost to them. • Foreshadowing of rebellion A heart willing to burn a field today will conspire to steal a kingdom tomorrow (2 Samuel 15:1–6). • Lack of repentance Though restored to Jerusalem, his heart remains unbroken over past sin; the fire is another step in self-justification, not humility. • Calculated boldness He knows Joab’s influence with David and deliberately provokes him, showing both courage and recklessness. Reinforcing Scriptures that confirm the pattern • Earlier episode—murder of Amnon: 2 Samuel 13:28–29. Absalom already displayed calculated violence. • Later episode—public conspiracy: 2 Samuel 15:10–12. The same manipulative spirit expands to national scale. • Proverbs 25:28: “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man without self-control.” Absalom illustrates the proverb. • Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, he will reap.” The burning of barley anticipates the eventual harvest of judgment (2 Samuel 18:14–15). Life lessons from Absalom's example • Impatience easily breeds destructive choices. • Getting results through coercion plants seeds of future conflict. • A heart unchecked in small areas will push further into sin. • God’s historical record stands as a sober warning: the Lord sees every act, measures every motive, and ultimately brings justice. |
    |