And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.
And when he cut his hair (which he did at the end of every year because his hair grew so thick and heavy that it bothered him), the hair from his head weighed two hundred shekels by the king's standard of weight.
This verse describes how Absalom's hair was so incredibly thick and heavy that when he cut it once a year, it weighed about five pounds.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes Absalom, King David's son, who was famous throughout Israel for his extraordinary beauty and especially his magnificent hair. In ancient times, abundant hair was considered a sign of vitality and attractiveness, and the 'king's weight' refers to the official royal standard used for measuring precious items.
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