17. I know that the words of my lord the king will give me rest, because you are like an angel from God. You know what is good and what is bad. And the Lord your God is with you.”
18. King David answered the woman, “You must answer the question I will ask you.” The woman said, “My lord and king, please ask your question.”
19. The king said, “Did Joab tell you to say all these things?” The woman answered, “As you live, my lord and king, you are right. Your officer Joab did tell me to say these things.
20. Joab did this so that you would see things differently. My lord, you are as wise as God’s angel. You know everything that happens on earth.”
21. The king said to Joab, “Look, I will do what I promised. Now please bring back the young man Absalom.”
22. Joab bowed with his face on the ground. He blessed King David, and said, “Today I know that you are pleased with me. I know because you have done what I asked.”
23. Then Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24. But King David said, “Absalom must go back to his own house. He cannot come to see me.” So Absalom went back to his own house, but he could not go to see the king.
25. People really bragged about how good-looking Absalom was. No man in Israel was as handsome as Absalom. Every part of his body was perfect—from his head to his feet.
26. At the end of every year, Absalom cut the hair from his head and weighed it. The hair weighed about five pounds.
27. Absalom had three sons and one daughter. Her name was Tamar, and she was a beautiful woman.