April
20th
2 Samuel 14
Joab plots Absalom’s return
1:
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was
toward Absalom. 2:
And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said
unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now
mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman
that had a long time mourned for the dead: 3:
And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put
the words in her mouth. 4:
And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face
to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. 5:
And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am
indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. 6:
And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the
field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other,
and slew him. 7:
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and
they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him,
for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the
heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall
not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth. 8:
And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give
charge concerning thee. 9:
And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the
iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his
throne be guiltless. 10:
And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me,
and he shall not touch thee any more. 11:
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God,
that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any
more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth,
there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. 12:
Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word
unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on. 13:
And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing
against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one
which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his
banished. 14:
For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which
cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet
doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 15:
Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the
king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid
said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will
perform the request of his handmaid. 16:
For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of
the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the
inheritance of God. 17:
Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be
comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to
discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.
18:
Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I
pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let
my lord the king now speak. 19:
And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And
the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king,
none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my
lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he
put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: 20:
To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this
thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of
God, to know all things that are in the earth. 21:
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go
therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. 22:
And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and
thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I
have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath
fulfilled the request of his servant. 23:
So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24:
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see
my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's
face.
Absalom
returns to Jerusalem
25:
But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for
his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head
there was no blemish in him. 26:
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. 27:
And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose
name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance. 28:
So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's
face. 29:
Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he
would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he
would not come. 30:
Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine,
and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's
servants set the field on fire. 31:
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto
him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? 32:
And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come
hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come
from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now
therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in
me, let him kill me. 33:
So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for
Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the
ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
2
Samuel 15 Absalom prepares for revolt
1:
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots
and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2:
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and
it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king
for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city
art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3:
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but
there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4:
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that
every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I
would do him justice! 5:
And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him
obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6:
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king
for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 7:
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the
king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto
the LORD, in Hebron. 8:
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying,
If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will
serve the LORD. 9:
And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to
Hebron. 10:
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying,
As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say,
Absalom reigneth in Hebron. 11:
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were
called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any
thing. 12:
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counseller,
from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the
conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with
Absalom.
David
Escapes from Absalom
13:
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of
Israel are after Absalom. 14:
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem,
Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom:
make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil
upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15:
And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are
ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. 16:
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the
king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. 17:
And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in
a place that was far off. 18:
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites,
and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which
came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19:
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also
with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a
stranger, and also an exile. 20:
Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up
and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take
back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. 21:
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my
lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be,
whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. 22:
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite
passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with
him. 23:
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed
over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the
people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. 24:
And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark
of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and
Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the
city. 25:
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the
city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring
me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 26:
But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let
him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 27:
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return
into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son,
and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28:
See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come
word from you to certify me. 29:
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to
Jerusalem: and they tarried there. 30:
And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went
up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the
people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went
up, weeping as they went up. 31:
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with
Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of
Ahithophel into foolishness. 32:
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the
mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to
meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 33:
Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be
a burden unto me: 34:
But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy
servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so
will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the
counsel of Ahithophel. 35:
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests?
therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of
the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the
priests. 36:
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's
son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me
every thing that ye can hear. 37:
So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into
Jerusalem.
David has sown the
wind now he will reap the whirlwind. In Chapter 14 to 16 we read that
David finds all sorts of problems in his kingdom. First his most
trusted captain plots to bring back Absalom. Absalom does rerun from
exile but then proceeds to claim the throne. And he will take it by
force if he has to. David has to escape again but this time from the
murderous intent of his own son. Joab saw that David heart went out
to Absalom. This means that Absalom was on David’s mind. So he
decided that he would conspire to bring him home but not in a bad
way, but in a good way. Joab found this clever woman from Tekoah and
he coached her to pretend that she had been a long time in mourning.
When she came to David he asked her what was the matter. She said l
am a widow and l have two sons who have fought and one son killed the
other. And the whole family has become against me saying give up your
son, but she says he is the only heir. David said go home and l will
make a judgment on this matter. She said please stop those who would
avenge blood and destroy my son. David replied not one hair will fall
from his head. (How appropriate for Absalom) Then she said may l say
one more thing? The king is at fault because he has a son that is
banished and must be punished yet cannot God find a way to bring him
home? Then David said tell me the whole truth of the question l will
ask. She said ask. David said didn’t Joab plan all this? And she
replied you know everything. She said yes Joab has taught me to say
and do all this. But you are wise like the wisdom of an angel of God
to know everything in the earth. David spoke to Joab and said bring
Absalom home. Joab bowed to David and thanked him. Joab went and
brought Absalom home but he was never invited to court, he never saw
the kings face. Absalom was the tom cruise of his day. He was very
handsome from toes to head. He had no blemish. When he cut his hair
once a year it weighted 200 hundred shekels. (2280 grams or 5 lbs) He
had three sons and one daughter who he called Tamar. She was very
beautiful too. Absalom lived in Jerusalem but never saw David’s
face. Absalom wanted to get the attention of Joab so he set his
barley field on fire. Joab came to Absalom and asked him why he had
done this. Absalom said l have called for you – now if David will
not see me then let him kill me. Joab told David what Absalom had
said. David called for Absalom and when he came he bowed to the
ground and David kissed him. Absalom began by building up a military
strength of chariots horse and 50 men to run ahead of him. And
Absalom got up early to stand at the city gate (the place of business
and civil law). There he interfered in the kings business. Absalom
wished to be the judge of all the affairs of state. When ever men
came near Absalom kissed them and made them feel important in this
way he made himself loved by the people. He stole the hearts of
Israel. Absalom asked David to grant him permission to go to Hebron
and he left. But Absalom sent spies throughout all Israel saying to
the people when you hear the sound of the trumpet then you will know
that Absalom is king over all Israel. Absalom reigned as king in
Hebron. 200 men went out of Jerusalem and they went out in simplicity
- they knew nothing!! They were ignorant men who were duped by
Absalom. Absalom asked for Ahithophel who was David’s trusted
councillor. The conspiracy against his Father David to steal his
kingdom was very strong and the people were going over the Absalom
all the time. Then a message came to David that the hearts or rather
the minds of Israel were following Absalom. So David said lets run
quickly because we must not be attacked by surprise. David had learnt
from long years in the wilderness that you cannot be surprised if you
are always on the move. David left leaving ten concubines in charge
of his house. He went out with only 600 men. Those people who
understood wept as they saw David flee from his son. The Levites
carried the Ark of the Covenant with them. Then they carried the Ark
back to Jerusalem to see if all was well there. David went up to look
on Jerusalem and he wept and bared his head and was unshod. Then
David was told that Ahithophel was part of Absalom’s conspiracy. So
David prayed that his wisdom might be turned into folly. When he came
to the top of Olivet he worshipped the LORD. David sent Hushai to
listen to what was said in the city. It’s sad that David is on the
run again. Yet at least he is seeking the LORD.
- Why does Joab plot the return of Absalom?
- What happens when Absalom returns to Jerusalem?
- What does David have to do when Absalom seeks the crown?
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