2 Samuel 14:26

“And when he polled his head, etc.] Or cut off the hair of it; for that was one thing, a good head of hair which he had, that made him look very comely and beautiful: for it was at every year’s end that he polled [it]; or cut it off once a year; but the Jews say f247 he was a perpetual Nazarite: because [the hair] was heavy upon him, and therefore he polled it; it grew so very thick and long in one year’s time, that he was obliged to cut it; and what might add to the weight of it, its being oiled and powdered; and, as some say, with the dust of gold, to make it look yellow and glistering: he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king’s weight; and a shekel being the…”

“Two hundred shekels ... - The exact weight cannot be determined. If these “shekels after the king’s weight” were the same as “shekels of the sanctuary,” the weight would be about 6 lbs., which is incredible; “twenty” shekels is more probable. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Weighed - Others understand this not of the weight, but of the price of his hair. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 14:27”

“14:26 cut his hair only once a year: Absalom’s hair, an aspect of his attractiveness, ended up being a deadly snare for him (see 18:9-15).”

“when he polled: Sa2 18:9; Isa 3:24; Co1 11:14 two hundred shekels: If the shekel be allowed to mean the common shekel, the amount will be utterly incredible; for Josephus says that "two hundred shekels make five mine" and the mina, he says, "weighs two pounds and a half;" which calculation makes Absalom's hair weigh twelve pounds and a half! But it is probable that the king's shekel was that which Epiphanius and Hesychius say was the fourth part of an ounce, half a stater, or two drachmas. the whole amount, therefore, of the 200 shekels is about 50 ounces, which make 4 lb. 2 oz. troy weight, or 3 lb. 2 oz. avoirdupois. This need not be accounted incredible, especially as abundance of oil and…”