DBG - April 12 - II Samuel 15-17

In this chapter Absalom begins his rebellion against David.

vs. 1-6 – Absalom begins his plot to seize the throne in earnest. He moves about with great pomp and fanfare with chariots and runners. He involves himself in matters of civil judgment while planting seeds of doubt about David’s abilities. He honored those that honored him.

vs. 7-12 – The time marker of 40 years in vs. 7 is often misunderstood assumed to be an error and changed to 4.  Reese says at this time Absalom is 27 and David is 59.  I think the 40 years is the time that David held the hearts of the people from I Samuel 18:16 to II Samuel 15:6.  I wrote an article detailing this  - https://www.baptistbasics.org/2022/02/10/ii-samuel-157-forty-years-or-four-years/ - if anyone is interested.  Absalom decides that the time has come and readies to proclaim himself king.  We also note that Ahithophel, Davd’s counselor and grandfather of Bathsheba, is one of the conspirators.

vs. 13-18 – David does not confront Absalom head on.  He retreats from Jerusalem, taking his family and those loyal to him.

vs.19-37 - David’s escape across the Jordan River is marked by many episodes where he interacts with various people. The first is Ittai (“with the Lord”), a Philistine mercenary, who with his men willingly choose to follow David.  The second is Zadok the High Priest, who arrives carrying the Ark. David sends them back with instructions that Zadok should signal him when it was safe to return (vs. 28).  The third is Hushai (“hasting”), who is sent back as a spy to counter the counsels of Ahithophel.

In this chapter David continues his flight and Absalom takes Jerusalem. 

vs. 1-14 – We continue from the previous chapter the various encounters David had as he flees Jerusalem.  The fourth encounter is Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth. He comes bearing gifts with a story that his master stayed behind in hopes of taking the kingdom for himself. It is a rather absurd story if considered thoughtfully and it appears to me that Ziba is seeking to profit in the situation. David carelessly says that Ziba can have all of Mephibosheth’s properties. The fifth is Shimei (“renowned”), a kinsman of Saul that uses the opportunity to curse David while he is at such a low point. The sixth is Abishai, Joab’s brother, who helpfully offers to kill Shimei. David refuses his offer.

vs. 15-23 – Absalom marches into Jerusalem and takes the capital without a fight.  Hushai is able to convince Absalom that he is turned against David and is welcomed into Absalom’s inner circle.  Ahithophel advises Absalom to take a drastic and evil action (Leviticus 18:8, 20:11) in publicly claiming the ten concubines David had left as his own wives.  This act made reconciliation impossible.

In this chapter Ahithophel’s plans are defeated which allows David to escape and prepare the battle ahead.

vs. 1-14 – Ahithophel enters with a plan to defeat David by quickly striking him with a small force of 12,000 men. This tactic would not allow David time to regroup his supporters or seek refuge in a defensible position. This plan would have likely worked in defeating David and establishing Absalom as the king.  Note in verses 4 that “all the elders of Israel” support the plan. This shows how widespread Absalom’s rebellion is. Hushai had been left behind in Jerusalem for just such a situation and is able to appeal to Absalom’s pride.  Absalom is swayed by the thought of himself riding at the front of a large army to defeat his father.  This plan allowed David more time to escape and the ability to decide when and how he would counter Absalom.

vs. 15-22 – Hushai sends word to the high priests Zadok and Abiathar so they can warn David. Their sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz are sent with the message and narrowly escape capture at Bahurim (“low ground”). They hid in a camouflaged well to escape Absalom’s men. Once David receives their message, he springs into action and crossed over Jordan to put more distance between Absalom and himself.

vs. 23 – Ahithophel could anticipate the outcome of following Hushai’s advice. He knew David would be allowed time to escape and his forces would be able to defeat the prideful Absalom. Seeing the sureness of David’s victory, he commits suicide rather than being captured by David.  It may be observed that there are some parallels between Ahithophel and Judas Iscariot. Both betrayed their masters, and both hung themselves. Some believe that Psalms 41:9 and 55:12-13, which speak prophetically of Judas, speak of Ahithophel in their primary application.

vs. 24-29 - David makes camp near Mahanaim on the east side of Jordan. Absalom gathers his forces and crosses over in pursuit. Amasa (“a burden”), who is  is made the general over the armies of Absalom. Amasa’s lineage is difficult to unpack, but do take note that he is related to Joab and that makes him also related to David.  Three allies come to David’s aid with much needed supplies. Shobi (“glorious”) appears to be the son of the Ammonite king Nahash, brother of the deposed king Hanun. Machir (“sold”) is the man who had cared for Mephibosheth (II Samuel 9:5), perhaps here repaying David’s kindness toward Mephibosheth. Barzillai (“iron, that is strong”) will have his kindness to David repaid by Solomon.

Why did David allow Absalom to steal the hearts of the people and the throne? Some speculate that his health is already failing (he only lives about 10 more years).  I think there are two reasons.  First, because David understood the true cause of the calamity was his own failures.  You can trace this rebellion directly to David’s sin with Bathsheba.  Second, that because it was so personal to David he felt he had no moral high ground to discipline Absalom.  Rarely do we weigh the true consequences of our actions or count the people that will be affected.

Our hymn today is a short verse written by Charles Wesley.    It is based on David’s flight and his abuse at the hands of Shimei.  It challenged us to regard such attacks as not targeted at us, but at the Lord as they truly are.

Lord, I adore thy righteous will,
Thro’ every instrument of ill
My Father’s goodness see,
Accept the complicated wrong
Of Shimei’s hand, and Shimei’s tongue,
As kind rebukes from thee.