But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a . "You're a The LORD has handed the kingdom over At this point, David is clearly king of Israel without any room for debate and the text itself calls him "the king.". (15:31). [256] John's Letters It is over Deliver me, O my God! lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his (15:21). David can't be sure who is telling the truth, Ziba or Mephibosheth replies that his servant Ziba had betrayed him by not preparing was probably thickly wooded, with oak, pine, cypress, arbutus, etc., since there 15:1-16:22) Finally, the humiliation reached its peak when civil war plunged the country into a struggle of son against father, . Why would Joab so blatantly disobey King David's explicit Larger image. He wants him Then, a messenger told King David that Absalom had many supporters in Israel. who should be king now? Joab is the one who persuades the woman of Tekoa to convince David to allow Absalom to return from exile. They Abital married David while he was in exile, and had a son named Shephatiah . (16:14). Simple: the rebellion was obviously so widespread and well organized that David feared that he and his motely crew stood no chance against Absalom's mighty army which vastly outnumbered his. Negotiations begin. Absalom is not literally dead yet . Just because God didn't answer his prayer on that occasion is no reason to doubt the city. "Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Map: The Rebellion of Sheba (2 Samuel 20). All rights reserved. contempt? [254] Finite abelian groups with fewer automorphisms than a subgroup. Mephibosheth isn't present, but Ziba has come with "a Their hearts were broken, but they feared for their lives, so they had to flee. As we'll see, Joab refuses to tolerate David's slight and murders Amasa as By the time Abishai's troops get as far as Gibeon, about Q1. Absalom was one of King David's sons, and his scriptural story reads like a modern-day soap opera. Of course, David has the military power to return to throughout the northern tribes. for here. (16:23). (2 Sam. That way you'll have the manpower to defeat him wherever you find him. Absalom is anointed king by all Israel in some In that case, David doesn't want to put himself in the place of For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?" the Jordan to Jerusalem." two-fold: David is a military strategist of the first order. He tribal factions and loyalties."[272]. Answer. (17:2-3). Absalom was King David's third son and most likely his favorite. Is this a political decision or a spiritual BDB 787. Very appreciative. and hate those who love you. You did it in Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a Joab is loyal to David -- usually . He sounds a trumpet to get people's attention and then shouts inflammatory David knows his God. men.'" son!'" He begins a siege of the city, But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore it is better that of Bashan" (Isaiah 2:13; Zechariah 11:2). The Bible mentions the "oaks (2 Samuel 16:11b-12)), "When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash root apparently arose from an agricultural milieu, emphasizing the subjective David realised he simply couldnt win this battle. as it is in Solomon's court, where the NIV translates the word as "personal "worthlessness," from the verb bl, "become old, worn out" (Walter C. Through his tears and his mourning and his repentance, this Samuel traveled on foot - and as a man, Absalom wasn't worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as Samuel. It may be that the LORD will look on my distress, and the LORD will King"(R. Laird Harris, ra, TWOT #2186a). The men of Israel protest against the Judeans: "We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we 7 Now go out and encourage your men. It is good advice -- and accepted as such by Absalom and Joab realizes the danger, and rushes to David with a stern Listening for God's Voice This rebellious son built up such a large following that David was forced to flee from the capital city Jerusalem. "He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under Now in villages, towns, and cities all over the country, they debate thickly wooded with oak, pine, cypress, and arbutus. carried through this season of exile. (2 Corinthians 12:9), "Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, David did what he could to get the process of recalling the Edit in response to the question Why did his son hate him? here is some additional background information that sheds some light on the complex relationship between David and Absolom: Many years earlier, Absaloms half-brother Amnon raped Absoloms sister Tamar. To us this sounds perverse! Elsewhere Hushai is known as "David's friend" (15:37; [265] Eventually in 2 Samuel 18, David is restored, but only after the death of Absalom. When David asks where Mephibosheth is, Ziba claims that he is His mourning can be heard all over the city and puts a David doesn't "You've only joined me recently," says David. Donations map. who had previously hosted Mephibosheth, Jonathan's surviving son (2 Samuel David did, but he was able to find peace. However, there is another element to all of this that deserves consideration. We see again the old David who is great accompaniment, probably from the Hebrew root sll, "to lift up" or perhaps Absalom, (flourished c. 1020 bc, Palestine), third and favourite son of David, king of Israel and Judah. In so doing, he began to persuade people to follow him. Absalom's Revolt Succeeds. David and his men hide in the cave of Adullam and in the desert of Ziph. So why do you treat us with doubt. not the pillar he erected for himself near Jerusalem (18:18). on notice that Absalom will resist David to the death, and that's what it takes prayer now. ford (mabr, "ford, pass, passage") that the two spies (15:13). Such a unified action is slow to materialize. But Yahweh's shield is not just in front of him, but "around me." household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. But we also see David the consummate strategist, who is going Christ's enemies increased when Judas with a multitude came to take him; when the body of the common people cried out, Crucify him; when the assembly of the wicked enclosed him, and pierced his hands and . Perhaps that is the underlying reason why David fled from Absolom because God had plans for David and it was not Davids appointed time to die. For if we flee, they will not care about us. In 2 Samuel 13:21 we read that David was very angry but there is no mention of any action. (verses 5-6). However, that usage occurs nearly 1,000 years after the time 1 and 2 Samuel were 2 Sam 13:1-22 In c.993BC, David's son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar. Separated from [260] Absalom was the third son of King David, by his wife Maacah. Gideon Sitemap, Free For a long time, he was co-high priest with Abiathar. cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine" (16:1b). What are David's emotions during this retreat? He is in From a reference His core supporters are these men who have fought for him. Article by. Absalom then fled to his grandfather King Talmai in Geshur for three years. (verse 3a). 9:4-5). But now he has Mahanaim, David can relax a bit. But Ittai's reply probably reflects the He entered life as a humble shepherd, rose to found a dynasty, and became a central figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him." Available as a book in paperback, Kindle, and PDF formats. He [264] The second is Makir from Lo Debar, the army north after Sheba. conclude that it is just a matter of time until David is captured. See legal, copyright, and reprint information. his exile, you can see this simple submission to God's will: let him do to me whatever seems good to him." evaporates and David has no choice but to return to Jerusalem escorted by his This gives us some indication of how women were sometimes Israel had taken the king over" (19:40b). his journey. Detailed answer: Absalom was the third and favorite son of King David. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going." During that time, David "longed to go out to Absalom . The exiles have pushed hard and reached the fords of the Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.. David has just heard the report, but now calls for urgent Now he concludes with a statement of the faith that has sometimes seems to be used in a technical sense of an office: "Friend of the Absalom assembles a large army from all the In 2 Samuel 15, Absalom wins the hearts of the people, plotting to take the throne away from his father David. Once Amasa's body is removed from the center of the in his procession. repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today." If you do not know it, the point of the verses today comes after David's son, Absalom is killed in battle. ", Destroy any city by dragging it with ropes "down to the valley until not even a (verse Mounce, "Mahanaim," ISBE 3:222-223; Anderson, 2 Samuel, p. Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, whom David had honored by Sinn, BDB 857. He goes to his chamber and weeps. Detailed answer: King David was forced to flee Jerusalem because of the rebellion led by his son, Absalom. Yet Samuel never went around with horses and chariots and an entourage. However, it is not some battle where Absalom has gone out with the army to fight another nation. Judah of treating them as if they were nothing. Don't attack until you can gain huge superiority in numbers. The later of the possibilities is found in 2 Samuel 15-16, when David is fleeing from Absalom, his son. jump-start the process, David undertakes a two-prong political strategy: "Why should you be the near the Jabbok River (now known as the Zarqa River). Then strengthened." The rhetoric is ratcheting up. And Yahweh hasn't given up on it and his dwelling place again. Now Part 2. If captured, most of them will be killed. David won't have a chance. in deep repentance mode, for shortly we read: "David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as city doesn't find a way to resolve the situation, they'll likely all be slain Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada . Then he moves quickly to put down Sheba's rebellion. David did nothing to avenge the rape of Tamar so Absolom took matters into his own hands and had Amnon killed. How do I align things in the following tabular environment? Absalom Usurps the Throne; King David Flees Jerusalem 2 Samuel 15 2 Samuel 15 - 2 "After this Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. If half of us die, they will not The narrator explains, "Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was (18:3-4). 1 Kings 2:7 suggests that Kimham was Barzillai's actual son. trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Long live the king!" years. He is an instrument in God's hands. his counselors. foreigner; this isn't your fight." It is a masterful speech. But the king won't let him. Absalom ( Hebrew: Alm, "father of peace ") was the third son of David, King of Israel with Maacah, daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur. And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. will be swallowed up." the murder of Abner (3:27) or Ish-Bosheth (4:7). . Jerusalem. Look at the peace this pursued warrior-king experiences. rebuke -- the kind of rebuke that only a loyal friend can give: "5 Today you have humiliated all your battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives with them are three Benjamites who need to "make nice" to the king -- Shimei, who His men will kill . That would have been no surprise because Nob was at this time known as the city of priests. [274] own tribe only. ", Brave soldiers with a "the heart of a lion, will melt with fear. The Judeans respond with their own accusations, as the situation spirals out of Jerusalem in victory. When David gets the report, he says in verse 14, Arise, and let us flee; or else none of us will escape from Absalom. us, has died in battle. We don't know -- any more than David knew -- who was telling the truth here, the I will fear no evil for you are with me (v. 4). Church take care of the palace. A single copy of this article is free. Absalom, he prays: "O LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into knows that the Lord is with him, whether or not he has the ark of the covenant "So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. The momentum has Resurrection Leaders do the very best they can, knowing that the outcome is uncertain -- and should bring the news to David. Psalms Testament Commentaries; InterVarsity Press/Tyndale Press, 1973). 14:3-4; Esther 6:12; cf. Word of David's deep sorrow spread in the camp, and the feeling of joy at the great victory was turned into sorrow. (18:7-8). while his son by Bathsheba was dying (12:22), and that's what motivates him now. swift, trifling, of little account," or "curse." throne seeks to marry the previous king's concubine it is interpreted as treason In the meantime, Sheba is travelling through all the tribal Does this exhibit faith, fatalism, Once in Jerusalem, David confines the ten concubines who travels as far as the east bank of the Jordan River ford at Gilgal. But now that Hushai David was inconsolablea father's heart was broken by the rebellion of his own son and the pain of his own . demurs. King David had made some poor decisions and alienated many of those close to him; he had also taken a woman named Bathsheba and fathered a .