Near the end of David’s life, his eldest son Amnon committed a terrible abuse against his half-sister Tamar. When David learned of this he was furious, but because it was his eldest son, he did not put him to death as the law of Moses commanded.
After two years, Tamar’s brother Absalom decided that he would become the instrument of justice against his hated half-brother. He asked David to have Amnon join him in a field where his sheep were being watched. He gave his brother too much to drink and then had his men kill him. Absalom quickly fled the country fearing what his father would do when he found out.
David still loved his Absalom in spite of what he had done, but that kinslaying prevented him from reaching out to his son. Joab could see David’s anguish, so he devised a plan. He sent an old woman to meet with the king and told her what to say.
When she arrived, she bowed before the king and said, “Help me, your majesty.”
“What is troubling you?” David replied.
“I am a widow, but have two sons. They got into a fight with each other and no one was around to stop them and so one killed the other. Now my relatives want me to hand over the one who lived so they can kill him for his crime. They would kill my last son and end the line of my husband.”
“Go home. I will issue an order. If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me and they will not bother you again. In the name of Yahweh, no one will harm your remaining son.”
“Let me ask you one other thing,” the woman continued, “Why would you allow a criminal to remain unpunished but not reach out to your own son so that he might return home? Like water that spills on the ground and cannot be recovered, so we all must die. But Yahweh wishes for us to be reunited with each other.”
David was impressed by the woman’s boldness, but knew her words were not her own and said, “Joab was behind this story of yours, wasn’t he? Very well, I will do it. Let Absalom return.”
Joab, who had been present during this conversation bowed down and said, “Today I know that you are pleased with me because you have granted my request.” Then Joab went to Absalom and brought him back to Jerusalem. But David still could not bring himself to see his son.
David would not suffer Absalom’s presence for two years. When it was too much for him to bear, Absalom said to Joab, “Why did my father even bother bringing me back to Jerusalem. I want to see him and if he thinks me guilty of a crime then he can put me to death.” Joab delivered this message to the king and so Absalom was sent for. He bowed low before his father and though his father gave him a kiss of forgiveness, the rift between them grew wider.
Absalom secretly spent the years that followed telling anyone who came to Jerusalem with a complaint, that no one would help them, but that if he was made king, things would be different. His scheming led him to gradually steal the hearts of the people and those who were willing to follow him increased including one of David’s most trusted advisors, Ahithophel. When he felt he had gained enough support, he began his coup.
When David learned of this he said, “Come, we must flee, or none of us will escape Absalom and he will destroy the city.”
His supporters replied, “We are ready to do whatever you decide.” So David fled the city with his family and a large group of followers.
The Levites, along with Abiathar the high priest, and Zadok followed David out of the city carrying the ark of the covenant, but the king said, “Take the ark back into the city along with your family with my blessing. If Yahweh is pleased with me, I will see it again. If not, I’m ready for whatever may come.” So Abiahar and Zadok returned to Jerusalem to try to support David as much as they could from within the capital’s walls.
David travelled to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he walked barefoot with his head covered in sadness. Here he said to one of his men, Hushai, “If you return to Jerusalem and pledge your service to Absalom you might be able to frustrate the efforts of Ahithophel. Anything useful that you learn you can communicate to me by messenger.” So Hushai also returned to Jerusalem just as Absalom was triumphantly entering the city to claim his throne.
That night David’s heart once more moved his hands to write a psalm:
Yahweh, many are they that rise up against me.
Many there be which say, there is no help for him in God.
But you are my shield, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried to you with my voice, and you heard me from your holy hill.
I lay down to sleep and I awake again; for you sustain me.
I will not be afraid even if ten thousand surround me.
Arise, Yahweh. Save me, O God,
for you have struck my enemies in the face
And you have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
The next morning, as David continued to look for a place of refuge, he came upon Ziba, caretaker of Mephibosheth’s estate, waiting to meet him. He had brought supplies for David, donkeys, food and drink. David asked, “Where is Mephibosheth?”
Ziba replied, “He is still in Jerusalem. He thinks the kingdom of Saul will be restored to him by Absalom.”
Shocked that this man who he had treated like one of his own sons would betray him, David coldly uttered, “Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you.”
“I humbly bow before my king. May I always find favor in your eyes,” Ziba said.
Shortly after this, David came upon a house in the countryside owned by a man named Shimei, a relative of Saul’s. He came out of his house yelling curses at David and throwing rocks at him and his men. He said, “Get out you murderer. God is repaying you for everyone that died when you usurped Saul’s throne.”
One of David’s men said, “Why should this dog be allowed to curse the king? Let me go and cut his head off.”
But David replied dejectedly, “What does his cursing have to do with you. If he is cursing because God told him to, who can ask why. My own son is trying to kill me. How much more the family of Saul? Leave him alone and let him curse. Perhaps God will have mercy on me and restore his blessing and not this curse.”
That night, still reeling, not only from Absalom’s rebellion, but also the betrayal of Mephibosheth and the curses of Shimei, David wrote:
As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for you, God.
My soul thirsts for you, the living God.
When shall I come and appear before you?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say unto me, “Where is God?”
I will say to you, my rock, Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning while my enemy oppresses me?
Like a sword that breaks my bones, my enemies reproach me.
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul.
I had walked among the crowds,
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise, we celebrated together.
My soul, why are you downcast?
Place your hope in God, whom I will yet praise.
Yahweh will show me kindness in the daytime
And in the night Yahweh’s song shall be with me.
Back at the palace, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “You should quickly send a battalion of troops to kill David. Attack him now while he’s weak. Fill him with terror so his men abandon him. Then, kill only him so the people will think you merciful and continue to support you.”
It seemed like a good plan to Absalom but he also wanted to hear from Hushai, who said, “This time, Ahithophel is not giving you good advice. Your father and his men are fighters, fierce as wild bears whose cubs have been stolen. He is already hiding in a cave, lying in wait for you. If he attacked you first even your bravest men would be terrified. Instead, gather all the fighting men of Israel and attack him with an overwhelming force that you yourself lead. Even if he tries to escape into a city we will have so many men that we could drag its walls down.”
Then Absalom said, “The advice of Hushai is better than Ahithophel’s,” because Yahweh had chosen Hushai to subvert the advice of Ahithophel and frustrate the plots of Absalom. Hushai then relayed this information by messenger to David’s camp so that he could prepare.
David divided his forces into groups, one commanded by Joab, another by Joab’s brother Abishai. David also planned to go out with his men, but they said, “You need to stay behind. If we retreat, they won’t care, but if you are with us they would pursue and kill us by the thousands to get to you.”
David stayed back in camp as his army marched towards the impending battle. As the commanders left, David called out, “Be merciful to Absalom, for my sake.” The battle took place in the forests of Ephraim and Absalom’s forces were badly defeated by David’s army. 20,000 soldiers died that day. As Absalom was retreating on his mule, pursued by David’s men, his hair got caught in a tree and as his mule kept going he was left hanging from a branch.
The men pursuing Absalom relayed this information to Joab who said, “What, you saw him? Why didn’t you kill him then and there? I would have richly rewarded you.”
“Even if you gave us a fortune we would not touch the king’s son. We heard David say to have mercy on his son for his sake.”
“I am not going to debate this with you,” and with that he took his spears and killed Absalom where he hung. He took the body and threw it in a pit and covered it with a pile of rocks. Then Joab blew his horn and David’s men ended their fighting.
Two men ran to tell David that his soldiers had been victorious in battle. David saw the two runners approach from a distance. When the first arrived he bowed to David and said, “Praise be to Yahweh who has helped us defeat the enemies of the king.”
“Is my son Absalom safe?”
“There was a lot of confusion when I left. I don’t really know what happened.”
“Stand aside then,” and he waited for the second messenger to arrive.
He bowed to David and said, “My king, good news, Yahweh has helped us defeat your enemies.”
“Is my son Absalom safe?”
“May all of your enemies end up like he did.”
The king left them and went to his tent where he wept, saying, “My son! Absalom! My son! My son! Absalom! I should have been the one to die, not you! Absalom! My son! My son!” So the prophecy of Nathan against David’s family had been fulfilled.
After two years, Tamar’s brother Absalom decided that he would become the instrument of justice against his hated half-brother. He asked David to have Amnon join him in a field where his sheep were being watched. He gave his brother too much to drink and then had his men kill him. Absalom quickly fled the country fearing what his father would do when he found out.
David still loved his Absalom in spite of what he had done, but that kinslaying prevented him from reaching out to his son. Joab could see David’s anguish, so he devised a plan. He sent an old woman to meet with the king and told her what to say.
When she arrived, she bowed before the king and said, “Help me, your majesty.”
“What is troubling you?” David replied.
“I am a widow, but have two sons. They got into a fight with each other and no one was around to stop them and so one killed the other. Now my relatives want me to hand over the one who lived so they can kill him for his crime. They would kill my last son and end the line of my husband.”
“Go home. I will issue an order. If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me and they will not bother you again. In the name of Yahweh, no one will harm your remaining son.”
“Let me ask you one other thing,” the woman continued, “Why would you allow a criminal to remain unpunished but not reach out to your own son so that he might return home? Like water that spills on the ground and cannot be recovered, so we all must die. But Yahweh wishes for us to be reunited with each other.”
David was impressed by the woman’s boldness, but knew her words were not her own and said, “Joab was behind this story of yours, wasn’t he? Very well, I will do it. Let Absalom return.”
Joab, who had been present during this conversation bowed down and said, “Today I know that you are pleased with me because you have granted my request.” Then Joab went to Absalom and brought him back to Jerusalem. But David still could not bring himself to see his son.
David would not suffer Absalom’s presence for two years. When it was too much for him to bear, Absalom said to Joab, “Why did my father even bother bringing me back to Jerusalem. I want to see him and if he thinks me guilty of a crime then he can put me to death.” Joab delivered this message to the king and so Absalom was sent for. He bowed low before his father and though his father gave him a kiss of forgiveness, the rift between them grew wider.
Absalom secretly spent the years that followed telling anyone who came to Jerusalem with a complaint, that no one would help them, but that if he was made king, things would be different. His scheming led him to gradually steal the hearts of the people and those who were willing to follow him increased including one of David’s most trusted advisors, Ahithophel. When he felt he had gained enough support, he began his coup.
When David learned of this he said, “Come, we must flee, or none of us will escape Absalom and he will destroy the city.”
His supporters replied, “We are ready to do whatever you decide.” So David fled the city with his family and a large group of followers.
The Levites, along with Abiathar the high priest, and Zadok followed David out of the city carrying the ark of the covenant, but the king said, “Take the ark back into the city along with your family with my blessing. If Yahweh is pleased with me, I will see it again. If not, I’m ready for whatever may come.” So Abiahar and Zadok returned to Jerusalem to try to support David as much as they could from within the capital’s walls.
David travelled to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he walked barefoot with his head covered in sadness. Here he said to one of his men, Hushai, “If you return to Jerusalem and pledge your service to Absalom you might be able to frustrate the efforts of Ahithophel. Anything useful that you learn you can communicate to me by messenger.” So Hushai also returned to Jerusalem just as Absalom was triumphantly entering the city to claim his throne.
That night David’s heart once more moved his hands to write a psalm:
Yahweh, many are they that rise up against me.
Many there be which say, there is no help for him in God.
But you are my shield, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried to you with my voice, and you heard me from your holy hill.
I lay down to sleep and I awake again; for you sustain me.
I will not be afraid even if ten thousand surround me.
Arise, Yahweh. Save me, O God,
for you have struck my enemies in the face
And you have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
The next morning, as David continued to look for a place of refuge, he came upon Ziba, caretaker of Mephibosheth’s estate, waiting to meet him. He had brought supplies for David, donkeys, food and drink. David asked, “Where is Mephibosheth?”
Ziba replied, “He is still in Jerusalem. He thinks the kingdom of Saul will be restored to him by Absalom.”
Shocked that this man who he had treated like one of his own sons would betray him, David coldly uttered, “Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you.”
“I humbly bow before my king. May I always find favor in your eyes,” Ziba said.
Shortly after this, David came upon a house in the countryside owned by a man named Shimei, a relative of Saul’s. He came out of his house yelling curses at David and throwing rocks at him and his men. He said, “Get out you murderer. God is repaying you for everyone that died when you usurped Saul’s throne.”
One of David’s men said, “Why should this dog be allowed to curse the king? Let me go and cut his head off.”
But David replied dejectedly, “What does his cursing have to do with you. If he is cursing because God told him to, who can ask why. My own son is trying to kill me. How much more the family of Saul? Leave him alone and let him curse. Perhaps God will have mercy on me and restore his blessing and not this curse.”
That night, still reeling, not only from Absalom’s rebellion, but also the betrayal of Mephibosheth and the curses of Shimei, David wrote:
As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for you, God.
My soul thirsts for you, the living God.
When shall I come and appear before you?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say unto me, “Where is God?”
I will say to you, my rock, Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning while my enemy oppresses me?
Like a sword that breaks my bones, my enemies reproach me.
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul.
I had walked among the crowds,
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise, we celebrated together.
My soul, why are you downcast?
Place your hope in God, whom I will yet praise.
Yahweh will show me kindness in the daytime
And in the night Yahweh’s song shall be with me.
Back at the palace, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “You should quickly send a battalion of troops to kill David. Attack him now while he’s weak. Fill him with terror so his men abandon him. Then, kill only him so the people will think you merciful and continue to support you.”
It seemed like a good plan to Absalom but he also wanted to hear from Hushai, who said, “This time, Ahithophel is not giving you good advice. Your father and his men are fighters, fierce as wild bears whose cubs have been stolen. He is already hiding in a cave, lying in wait for you. If he attacked you first even your bravest men would be terrified. Instead, gather all the fighting men of Israel and attack him with an overwhelming force that you yourself lead. Even if he tries to escape into a city we will have so many men that we could drag its walls down.”
Then Absalom said, “The advice of Hushai is better than Ahithophel’s,” because Yahweh had chosen Hushai to subvert the advice of Ahithophel and frustrate the plots of Absalom. Hushai then relayed this information by messenger to David’s camp so that he could prepare.
David divided his forces into groups, one commanded by Joab, another by Joab’s brother Abishai. David also planned to go out with his men, but they said, “You need to stay behind. If we retreat, they won’t care, but if you are with us they would pursue and kill us by the thousands to get to you.”
David stayed back in camp as his army marched towards the impending battle. As the commanders left, David called out, “Be merciful to Absalom, for my sake.” The battle took place in the forests of Ephraim and Absalom’s forces were badly defeated by David’s army. 20,000 soldiers died that day. As Absalom was retreating on his mule, pursued by David’s men, his hair got caught in a tree and as his mule kept going he was left hanging from a branch.
The men pursuing Absalom relayed this information to Joab who said, “What, you saw him? Why didn’t you kill him then and there? I would have richly rewarded you.”
“Even if you gave us a fortune we would not touch the king’s son. We heard David say to have mercy on his son for his sake.”
“I am not going to debate this with you,” and with that he took his spears and killed Absalom where he hung. He took the body and threw it in a pit and covered it with a pile of rocks. Then Joab blew his horn and David’s men ended their fighting.
Two men ran to tell David that his soldiers had been victorious in battle. David saw the two runners approach from a distance. When the first arrived he bowed to David and said, “Praise be to Yahweh who has helped us defeat the enemies of the king.”
“Is my son Absalom safe?”
“There was a lot of confusion when I left. I don’t really know what happened.”
“Stand aside then,” and he waited for the second messenger to arrive.
He bowed to David and said, “My king, good news, Yahweh has helped us defeat your enemies.”
“Is my son Absalom safe?”
“May all of your enemies end up like he did.”
The king left them and went to his tent where he wept, saying, “My son! Absalom! My son! My son! Absalom! I should have been the one to die, not you! Absalom! My son! My son!” So the prophecy of Nathan against David’s family had been fulfilled.
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