Absalom's claim that he made a vow during his exile in Geshur—that if the Lord would bring him back to Jerusalem, he would serve the Lord—provides the religious justification for his requested journey and suggests the depth of his calculation in planning his rebellion. The reference to his earlier exile and his vow made during that time provides a cover story for his current request while potentially playing on David's sympathies regarding his earlier estrangement from his son. The invocation of God as a party to the vow and the reference to his previous exile create an emotional and religious context for the request designed to make David more sympathetic to Absalom's plan. The verse demonstrates Absalom's continued willingness to employ both religious justification and emotional appeal in pursuit of his objectives.

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