2 Samuel 14

David has mixed feelings for Absalom. He longs to see his son, but does not really want to be in his presence either.

Joab decides to act to bring Absalom back from exile.

Joab gets a woman to pretend to be mourning for the death of her son, killed by another son. She just wants peace and reconciliation, and for the cycle of vengeance to stop. David promises it to her and she turns it back on him and asks he do the same for the nation of Israel. David asks her if Joab put her up to this, which she says yes.

David talks to Joab agrees for Absalom to be sent for. However, David decrees that Absalom cannot be in David's presence either. So, Absalom hangs out in Jerusalem and has a daughter, which he names Tamar (I assume after his sister). Absalom also has his hair cut once a year and it weighs 5 pounds.

Absalom gets bored of waiting around, so he twice sends for Joab to request a meeting with David. Joab does not come either time. Finally, Absalom sets Joab's crop fields on fire. This gets Joab's attention and he meets with Absalom. Joab wants to know why this happened and Absalom explains that it is because Joab did not come when Absalom asked him to.

I'm curious why Joab did not want to meet with Absalom after it was Joab's initiative to bring him back from Geshur. My guess is because he did not want to cross David on this since it was obvious David had mixed feelings with Absalom.