2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 14:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

But the king said: Let him return into his house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned into his house, and saw not the king's face.
Douay-Rheims

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ יִסֹּ֣ב אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֣א יִרְאֶ֑ה וַיִּסֹּ֤ב אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

What could Absalom charge his father with in this situation? Was it because his father had banished him from his presence? Instead, he ought to have been in awe of him and grateful for the way he accepted the act of fratricide with such humility.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Rev 22:4And they shall see his face: and his name shall be on their foreheads.
Gen 43:3Juda answered: The man declared unto us with the attestation of an oath, saying: You shall not see my face, unless you bring your youngest brother with you.
2 Sam 14:28And Absalom dwelt two years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
Ex 10:28And Pharao said to Moses: Get thee from me, and beware thou see not my face any more: in what day soever thou shalt come in my sight, thou shalt die.
2 Sam 3:13And he said: Very well: I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me.