What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 14:26? And when he cut the hair of his head • The verse centers on Absalom, David’s third son, noted earlier for his striking appearance (2 Samuel 14:25). • Scripture draws attention to Absalom’s physical traits to foreshadow their role in his story—just as Saul’s height (1 Samuel 9:2) and Samson’s hair (Judges 16:17) became pivotal. • Cutting his hair signals a moment worth recording; God’s Word rarely highlights bodily details without purpose (Psalm 139:16). he shaved it every year • An annual haircut suggests a set practice rather than a mere whim. – Regularity hints at personal discipline and perhaps vanity; both ideas resurface in Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15:1–6). – Annual cycles also echo Israel’s calendar of feasts and vows (Leviticus 23; Numbers 6:13), reminding us that even personal habits can reflect deeper loyalties—or self-interest. because his hair got so heavy • “Heavy” points to unusual abundance. Instead of being a blessing, it became burdensome—an early signal that what captivates the eye can weigh down the soul (Proverbs 11:28). • Absalom’s luxuriant hair later contributes to his downfall when it catches in an oak (2 Samuel 18:9). The Bible often links pride with eventual ruin (Proverbs 16:18; Isaiah 2:11). he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels • Two hundred shekels equals roughly five pounds (about 2.3 kg). – The Holy Spirit records the weight to underscore Absalom’s exceptional looks and to contrast inner character with outward glory (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Peter 3:3-4). • Weighing the hair highlights Absalom’s self-congratulation. Displaying the amount parallels later acts of self-promotion, such as setting up a monument to himself (2 Samuel 18:18). according to the royal standard • “Royal standard” affirms an official weight, verifying the figure and stressing that Absalom’s hair was measured in the king’s court. – This ties his vanity directly to the palace culture and foreshadows his political ambitions (2 Samuel 15:10). • It also reminds us that worldly systems often celebrate external splendor; yet God measures by a higher, unchanging standard (Psalm 62:9; James 2:1-4). summary Absalom’s yearly haircut, its remarkable weight, and its royal verification illustrate how outward beauty and personal pride can captivate a heart and, unchecked, prepare it for downfall. God records these details to contrast fleeting human glory with lasting inner righteousness, urging readers to pursue humility before the Lord who “does not see as man sees” (1 Samuel 16:7). |
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