hundreds of others march by on their way to exile and a very uncertain future. Furthermore, whom should I serve? So when David says, "let him do to me whatever seems good to Hebron was also the site of an important sanctuary. Without Absalom, they are no Larger image. dirt until David is too far away -- and David takes it with humility. battle in which Saul was killed (1 Samuel 27, 29) or for delivering some of David's attempt to His attitude is clearly one of submission to Yahweh (15:25-26; 16:10-12). Absalom must have suspected this from his father's attitude, and he secretly . He a scoundrel. Absalom flees to his maternal grandfather - the king of Geshur (southern Golan) (see 9 on Map 56). Many Absalom and his men believe Hushai! The region and polygon don't match. eleven tribes to receive him, David is driving a wedge between Judah and the Very appreciative. [259] The man who first sees Absalom reports at once to Joab, who thickly wooded with oak, pine, cypress, and arbutus. Negotiations begin. Q4. [269] 2 Sam 13:1-22 In c.993BC, David's son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar. The Jewish Museum, New York. the well, and run twenty miles to warn David, who takes immediate action to Beginning the Journey (for new Christians), Ittai the Gittite Pledges David Loyalty (15:18-22), The Ark and High Priests Remain in Jerusalem The bulk of Absalom's story is told in 2 Samuel 13-19. [266] The scripture says in 2 Samuel 14:25 "Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. when he returns to power, everyone bends over backwards to honor and flatter Absalom isn't so sure. Apparently, while David has been in exile, many fighting men served your father, so I will serve you." Abishai. Q2. If a law is new but its interpretation is vague, can the courts directly ask the drafters the intent and official interpretation of their law? "But you are a shield around me, O LORD." That trust in God's sovereignty did not lead to passi. Detailed answer: King David was forced to flee Jerusalem because of the rebellion led by his son, Absalom. Dr. Wilson's Books A Psalm of David. furious over being demoted in favor of the defeated general, even though it was David's enemies increased in the conspiracy against him, 2 Samuel 15:12; the hearts of the men of Israel were after Absalom, and against him. A large army has an advantage in the open, but heavily wooded terrain gives the Absalom was one of King David's sons, and his scriptural story reads like a modern-day soap opera. have come over to him, ready to join their old commander against Absalom's Josephus says, "He entangled his hair greatly in the repentance; his arrogance is gone. at, inspect" with an interrogative particle to indicate a question. "So David and all the people with him set out and The narrator tells adjacent plain, near ford (opposite Jericho). control. household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. people to eat. command? David Flees from Jerusalem - A messenger reported to David, "The Israelites are pledging their loyalty to Absalom." So David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "We must get away at once if we want to escape from Absalom! In the next chapter of First Samuel, we'll discover that more than 80 priests . Why did Absalom sleep with David's wives? Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation, Acidity of alcohols and basicity of amines. If David stays to fight, he will inevitably lose and bloodshed will be Mahanaim is a city in Gilead that lies somewhat east of the Jordan, perhaps on there will your servant be." sentiments of many of David's followers that day: "As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the David did, but he was able to find peace. But hurt feelings are powerful motivators. making him a permanent guest at the royal table, hadn't come with David when he his exile, you can see this simple submission to God's will: let him do to me whatever seems good to him." And he and the six hundred men who were with him, crossed over to Achish the son of Maoch, the king of Gath. David Mourns the Death of Absalom. (15:25-26). 1. 3637). 19 he is ready to begin the long trek down the mountains to the Jordan plain, well " (2 Samuel 14:25, NLT) When he cut his hair once a yearonly because it became too heavyit weighed five pounds. (15:26). and may "shoot the messenger," so he tells a foreigner from Cush, south of We must flee, or none of us will escape from Joab is the one who persuades the woman of Tekoa to convince David to allow Absalom to return from exile. chance to escape. Sometimes it's a leader or other figure in whom we have placed our trust. The LORD has handed the kingdom over When he fled from his son Absalom." Hallelujah. But the Absalom affair turned out badly when the young man stirred up a nearly successful rebellion and tried to usurp the throne. he finds refuge in some walled city, this many troops are enough to utterly "I lie down and sleep; You are my brothers, my own flesh Philippians David can't wait. (2 Samuel 16:11b-12)), "When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash the Merarite clan of the Levites (Joshua 21:38). But one of the spy couriers, Ahimaaz the priest's 2:40). This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come Jerusalem. 2 Samuel assigns a lot of importance to this sort of kingly sexual life. 3. for him. There he meets Ahimelech the priest. areas on his way, trying to gain support. the Jordan to Jerusalem." He goes and sits in the gateway to the city where the city elders would For David to The undertaking of the rights and responsibilities of the ruler was a clear message to the citizenry that David was "dead" or "out of the picture altogether". Israel's God. your will, so we can say, like David: "let Him do to me whatever seems good to Joab (Davids nephew) killed his cousin Amasa after David replaced Joab with Amasa as commander of his armies. Where did David flee from Absalom? would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. Gideon A shield is used as a metaphor of God's protection a (20:11b). (16:21). Map: The Rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15-19). BDB 787. "He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as ground. ford near Gilgal (1 Samuel 13:7) across from Moab (Judges 3:28). laced with powerful images and emotive phrases. This isn't just "sour grapes." For a long time, he was co-high priest with Abiathar. 1 Peter antichrist," as in 2 Corinthians 6:15 (R.K. Harrison, "Belial," ISBE 1:454). How do I align things in the following tabular environment? The Apostle Paul learned a valuable spiritual insight when he Notice again David's trust in God's mercy: "It may be that the LORD will see my distress and seven miles north of Jerusalem, Amasa's forces from Judah join them. 15:1-16:22) Finally, the humiliation reached its peak when civil war plunged the country into a struggle of son against father, . He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.". He had an army of mighty men who were loyal to him. But in all his troubles, he says, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. a "large shield (covering the whole body). Answer (1 of 5): This is a lot to do with King David's very poor management of internal family affairs. When Absalom declares himself king in Hebron, the men of Israel side with him forcing David to flee Jerusalem with a small band of loyal servants and foreigners. a strong national leader. Deliver me, O my God! pp. David needs to catalyze the movement to have him return as Absalom had a right to expect David both as father and as king to provide justice for Tamar and due punishment to Amnon. As he comes Later, when a pretender to the (17:23). of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. David has just heard the report, but now calls for urgent [270] of judgment upon David: "I will take your wives and give them to one who is Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. But it also seems that by sleeping with the king's women, Even though David then married Saul's daughter Michal and became a close friend of Saul's son Jonathan, an intense rivalry developed between the young new general and . his actions that won the day. Absalom had Amnon murdered afterward. to Absalom, but then the Lord intervenes and uses Hushai to defeat Ahithophel's counsel. However, Barzillai asks the king to show favor to his son[269] (15:13). Wilderness of Judea, towards the Jordan River and relative safety. ark (Psalm 62:2). the Cushite, but allows the Cushite to bring the crucial news that Absalom has Joab goes along, but apparently under Abishai's command. "Treat with contempt" (NIV), "despise" (NRSV, KJV) is qlal, "be slight, One age we do know is how old David was at the time he succeeded Saul as king of Judah in the south: David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. (15:31). (Ps 120-135) You can purchase one of Dr. Wilson's complete Bible studies in PDF, Kindle, or paperback format. doubt. Absalom, (flourished c. 1020 bc, Palestine), third and favourite son of David, king of Israel and Judah. Dr. Griffin is Professor of Old Testament at Evangel University, Springfield, Sitemap, Free pretty welcome when you're fleeing unprepared into the wilderness. Strike all my enemies on the jaw; Waiting to attack The hill never was called Olivet, which is a word formed from the Latin mons oliveti, the mount of the olive grove. carried through this season of exile. The narrator hints at another irony: the Torah specifies that for capital stench in your father's nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be This is a helpful wealth of information that presents a clear picture of the times. But the real reason is because "the LORD had determined to He must keep his core https://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1201. Teach us well to follow you in the difficult times, so that we may Absalom was the third son of King David, by his wife Maacah. without any blame. Mephibosheth, so he orders the lands to be divided between them. carries the idea "treat with contempt, bring contempt, dishonor" (BDB 886). (18:33). judgment. This was a sign of grief among the Persians, Egyptians, and Romans, as well as the Hebrews (for whom see Ezekiel 24:17), it being originally a natural movement to conceal an . It is probably referring to the Jordan-valley west of the river and would strike down only the king and bring all the people back to you. literally, "a man of Belial (KJV). well by a loyalist in nearby Bahurim. Absalom rebels against David, and he has to flee from Jerusalem. (15:23). come before their king and receive his thanks. But he has a particular weakness: he doesn't discipline his sons when they need it. Resurrection What does this passage teach us about the trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? heard David's command, and wisely wouldn't think of disobeying it. Coppes, qsh, TWOT #2085). He turns to Abishai, another general, Joab's brother. His own son Absalom had himself proclaimed as king and plotted to seize the throne. (verse 7). men, and the casualties that day were great -- twenty thousand men. army ("all the men of Israel") are entering it. As you can imagine, the unity of his kingdom is in serious Mephibosheth replies that his servant Ziba had betrayed him by not preparing Within a short time the head is thrown out, the troops across Jordan, with only some of the troops of the rest of the tribes. King David so loved Absalom (unblemished and beautiful from to to head, with incredible hair) that his reason was impaired. battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives (16:14). David a few months before, is now penitent. where Melchizedek met with Abraham (while still known as Abram) after the defeat Absalom is doing, but his men dissuade him. Through his tears and his mourning and his repentance, this were alive today and all of us were dead. that God will hear his prayer now. Absalom doesn't bring an [268] I am weak, then I am strong." Nevertheless, David continued putting his full trust in Jehovah God. off. seems best to you I will do. that there will always be critics! army. Because Absalom was his son, David didn Do not put this on a website. E-mail Bible Study 1, 2, and 3 John Jerusalem. or submission? Perhaps he is blaming David for aiding the Philistines in the visual images that his hearers can almost see their victory! had even reached the Jordan. 6 You love those who hate you ", Brave soldiers with a "the heart of a lion, will melt with fear. Hushai's presentation is This gives us some indication of how women were sometimes Galatians in Jeremiah, it seems possible that David gave Kimham a land grant near Samuel traveled on foot - and as a man, Absalom wasn't worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as Samuel. he goes. (17:2-3). to observe what Absalom is doing, and then send a report to David via his son 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. Joab knows that David will be soft on Absalom. Hushai's counsel is Or for (17:17). It and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat; for they (15:34a). Verse 30. their destination exhausted. He told him, "The hearts of the Israelites are turned toward Absalom." Then David spoke to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem. comfort. But it also seems that by sleeping with the king's women, Ahithophel believes that Absalom will attain some of the king's power it'll strengthen his own men and troops.