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When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year`s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king`s weight.

Verse Takeaways

1

A Puzzling Weight

Commentators are perplexed by the claim that Absalom's hair weighed 'two hundred shekels.' Scholars note this would be about six pounds—an unbelievable amount—and suggest a possible scribal error in the text. While some have proposed this number refers to the hair's monetary value, the reference to 'the king's weight' makes a measurement of weight most likely, leaving this as a historical curiosity.

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Book Overview

2 Samuel

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4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On 2 Samuel 14:26

18th Century

Theologian

Two hundred shekels... — The exact weight cannot be determined. If these “shekels according to the king’s weight” were the same as “shekels …

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On 2 Samuel 14:26

19th Century

Bishop

Two hundred shekels. —The value of the shekel “after the king’s weight” is unknown. If it was the same with the shekel of the sanc…

John Gill

John Gill

On 2 Samuel 14:26

17th Century

Pastor

And when he polled his head
Or cut off the hair of it; for that was one thing, a good head of hair which he had, tha…

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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On 2 Samuel 14:25–27

17th Century

Minister

Nothing is said of Absalom's wisdom and piety. All that is said of him here is that he was very handsome. This is a poor commendation for a man who…