JOAB didn’t care for the exchange of pleasantries when he arrived at Absalom’s place.
His visit wasn’t a pleasant one after all. So the man just went straight to the matter that brought him.
‘Why did you burn down my field?’ he spat his question standing in front of the prince in the house.
‘What have I got to do with you that you’ll raze down my labour in one day?’
Now Absalom was seated with his arms folded across his chest in a settled stance.
Everything was his plan; and that plan had worked to bring his father’s aide.
So the young prince looked up at the fifty-year-old, who also happened to be his cousin.
He smiled and replied him.
‘You’re finally here in my house, General. So why stand aloof and talk down at me.
‘Get your butt down and let’s have a talk.’ He tapped the space beside him on the straw mat where he sat.
Joab just looked away and scoffed beneath his breath.
‘Aw, a talk. As if there’s anything to talk about!’
But Absalom was insistent. ‘You’re here already, aren’t you?
‘You see, what my servants couldn’t do is what I have done. And what many pleas couldn’t achieve is what fire has brought.
‘So now that I’ve made you come by your own self, let’s talk it out here… man to man.’
Right at that moment, Joab realized that the Third Prince had compelled him to come to his house. And the fire was simply the summon he couldn’t decline.
In that instant, a cold shiver poured through his frame and his heart melted in fright.
Yet the warrior’s fear wasn’t for Absalom’s wildfire. It was for the young man himself.
He feared the prince and what he could do next. He feared S’alom and the trouble he could cause.
Nay, he feared the fire in the boy’s soul.
So now, Joab decided that it was better to give the troublemaker whatever he wanted. So as to avoid a bigger disaster.
He swallowed his pride and conceded defeat. He decided to hear out the prince’s demand.
Even still, Joab wasn’t ready to sit with the Third to talk. He was a man of principle like David his master and king.
And so he remained standing and asked aloud. ‘What do you want?’
Absalom responded with a big laugh.
Then he said, ‘I’m sure you know what I want already! But then I’ll put it in words since you asked it.
‘General, it has been two years since I returned home, hasn’t it? And yet I haven’t got to see my father face to face.
‘I’m sure you too can’t go that long without seeing the king. After all, you are a loyal servant of his.
‘So Joab, arrange for my meeting with the king and you will be spared from further trouble.
‘I must say my greetings to my father. I must come bow myself to the king.’
Joab leaned forward to confirm. ‘Is that all? I mean, everything?’
Absalom laughed. ‘Did you think there’ll be anything else? Did you fear I’ll cause trouble?
‘No, I simply want to see my father’s face, and I’ve waited these two years to have you help me!
‘Now, you see this is not worth losing your barley field for, huh? I wished you’d given me audience much earlier!’
Joab heaved a heavy sigh and replied him.
‘I will speak to the king. And I’ll send to you when all is set and ready.’
‘Now thank you!’ shouted Absalom, warming up to him. Then he demanded: ‘Now let me have my scarlet crown back!’
At this demand Joab was a little confused. He hardly knew what his cousin meant.
He squinted a curious eye at the man. ‘What d’ you…? Did you mean...?’
Absalom stood up just then. He held three fingers to his own forehead; and from there traced a circle round his head to signal the band that often crowned him.
Joab got it now and nodded. ‘Oh, oh! That band, yeah, yeah!’
He just stammered at the awkwardness caused by the name the prince gave it.
Absalom simply smiled. ‘Yeah, my scarlet crown, give it back.’
Right away Joab handed the Third Prince his signature band. And it felt somehow as he placed it in his hand and watched him crown himself.
The army chief was therefore restless as he left the place a moment later. He didn’t even bid the prince goodbye or exchange pleasantries.
He didn’t say his greetings, no. But S’alom did.
‘Peace, my cousin. And thanks for the promise!’
Even still, David’s general had sensed something already. Something beyond what their talk today held.
It was the fact that the Third was anything but peaceable.
Or harmless.
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