1-12 Absalom Usurps the Throne
- Absalom gets a chariot and horses and 50 men to run ahead of him.
- Then he begins appearing beside the road in the early morning to waylay those coming for judgment from the king, expressing his desire to make the judgments and showing each one affection.
- "So Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel." He must have had tremendous resentment toward David for his reluctance to see him or to forgive him when he returned to Jerusalem. Either that, or he sees something lacking in David that he thinks he can provide.
- After 4 years Absalom asks David if he can go to Hebron to offer sacrifices, when he actually plans to be crowned king there, with a group of conspirators he has gathered and by inviting 200 unsuspecting guests from Jerusalem. He also sends for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor. Absalom shows a lot of patience here, taking 4 years to build his support and also gaining David's trust.
- David receives a message that "the hearts of the Israelites have gone after Absalom."
- In an uncharacteristic show of weakness, David flees the city with all his household, including the Cherethites, Pelethites, and 600 Gittites from Gath (who go in front of the king) -- but leaving behind 10 concubines to look after the house. Or maybe it's not a show of weakness. David did a lot of fleeing before he became king, too.
- The king tries to persuade Ittai the Gittite to remain in Jerusalem with his family, because he is a newcomer to Jerusalem, but Ittai insists on following David with his family.
- The "whole country wept aloud" as his people passed by, across the Wadi Kidron and into the wildnerness.
- Priests Abiathar and Zadok and the Levites bring the ark, but David tells Zadok to return with the ark to the city, with his son Ahamaaz and Zadok and his son Jonathan: If the LORD wants me to return to Jerusalem, he will bring me back. David has inquired of God before when he needs to make a decision. Why doesn't he do so now?
- David goes up to the Mount of Olives, weeping, head covered and barefoot, and all the people with him do the same.
- He's told that Ahithophel is among the conspirators, and cries to God: "O LORD, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."
- Hushai the Archite (David's friend) meets David at the summit (of Mount Olives), coat torn and dirt on his head. I'm supposing this is from grief on David's behalf.
- David tells him he would be of better use to him as a spy in Jerusalem, passing messages to David through Abiathar and Zadok and their sons.
- Hushai gets to Jerusalem just as Absalom is coming in.
1-4 Ziba Brings Supplies to David
- Ziba, servant of Mephibosheth (Jonathan's crippled son), brings donkeys laden with bread, raisins, summer fruits, and wine to David for his household.
- When David inquires of Mephibosheth's whereabouts, Ziba tells him he has stayed in Jerusalem in hopes of receiving back his grandfather's kingdom. I didn't remember this betrayal of Mephibosheth. Apparently he has no respect for David, either, looking at his residence in David's house as a right, and not a result of David's kindness.
- David gives Ziba everything he had previously granted to Mephibosheth.
- When David comes to Bahurim, Shimei, a member of Saul's family, comes out and throws stones at David and his company and accuses him of murdering Saul, stealing his kingdom, and deserving Absalom's usurpation because David's a "man of blood."
- Abishai wants to go over and take off Shimei's head, but David forbids him, because after all, "My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite!" Maybe the LORD will bless me for Shimei's cursing me.
- They go on, with Shimei throwing stones and cursing as they go.
- They continue to the Jordan River, where worn out, they refresh themselves.
- Hushai comes to Absalom, swearing his allegiance to him, for it is the will of the people, and as he served Absalom's father, so he will serve Absalom.
- Absalom asks Ahithophel what he should do, and Ahithophel advises him to erect a tent on the roof of the house, and sleep with the concubines David has left behind, in view of all Israel. Another of God's prophecies fulfilled (2 Samuel 12:11-12), though he said it would be a neighbor of David's. David would never have suspected this "neighbor" would be one of his sons.
- In those days everyone respected the counsel of Ahithophel, looking at it as if he consulted an oracle of God.
- Ahithophel offers to take 12,000 men and pursue David, killing only David, and bringing back the people with him, "as a bride comes home to her husband."
- The advice "pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel."
- Absalom requests Hushai's advice, and he disagrees with Ahithophel, reminding Absalom that David is a mighty warrior, surrounded by mighty warriors, and an army of 12,000 will not be enough. At the first defeat, the Israelite warriors will get scared and run.
- Hushai tells Absalom he must go in person to meet David, with all the armies of Israel with him, gathered "from Dan to Beersheba." Is this the first time this phrase is used?
- When "we" come upon him, we will either overcome him, or if he withdraws into a city, we will drag that city into a valley so that not even a pebble will be left.
- Absalom prefers Hushai's counsel, because the "LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel." David had prayed for God to "turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." David apparently knew that Ahithophel would give Absalom good advice.
- Hushai tells Zadok and Abiathar of the plans and tells them to advise David to cross over the Jordan.
- They would relay messages to David by telling them to a servant girl, who would tell Jonathan and Ahimaaz, who were outside the city.
- But a boy saw them and told Absalom, so Jonathan and Ahimaaz go to Bahurim to a man's house with a well, and the man's wife hides them in the well by stretching a covering over the well and spreading grain on it.
- When Absalom's servants come, she tells them they have crossed over the brook.
- Jonathan and Ahimaaz are able to warn David, and his whole company crosses the river by night.
- In the meantime, when Ahithophel sees Absalom is not following his advice, he goes to his home, sets his house in order, and hangs himself. He is wise enough, apparently, to see the consequences of Absalom's decision and doesn't want to be taken by David.
- When Absalom crosses the Jordan, David is in Mahanaim.
- In place of Joab, Absalom has set over his army Amasa, the son of Ithra the Ishmaelite, who is married to Joab's aunt (making him Joab's first cousin).
- Absalom and his army encamp in Gilead.
- Shobi (son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites), Machir (son of Ammiel from Lo-debar) and Barzillai (Gileadite from Rogelim) provide sufficient food and supplies for David and his company: beds, basis, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, etc., etc., etc. Why is the name "Barzillai" familiar?
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