Ep. 91. 2 Samuel 15-19 | Absalom's Rebellion
EPISODE 91
ABSALOM'S REBELLION: 2 SAMUEL 15-19, PSALM 3
There are several key players in today's video, and we should look briefly at each. First of all, Absalom, David's son, spends four* years seeking to undermine his father's authority in Jerusalem. At that time, he was able to gather enough people around him to stage a coup in Hebron. He immediately sleeps with his father's concubines in the presence of all the people of Jerusalem to prove that he has utterly rejected the authority of David. He also seeks to gather an army around himself to hunt down his father.
David, Israel's still and true king, flees with his faithful followers. He regroups and gathers his faithful men around him while preparing for battle. He asks only that the soldiers deal gently with Absalom. Even in his leaving, David maintains his integrity and refuses to do evil, even to Shimei, who curses David as he flees Jerusalem. David also asks that the ark of God remain in the tent in Jerusalem.
Ziba, the servant to Mephibosheth, lies about his master to regain the land he had previously owned.
Shimei, a Benjamite, curses David on his departure, insisting that the kingdom is now going to return to the descendants of Saul. We are not told who he had in mind. Shimei repents when David returns to Jerusalem.
Zadok and Abiathar, both priests of God, stay behind in Jerusalem at the behest of David to keep the ark and to report to David what Absalom had decided to do.
Ahithophel was previously a counselor to David and then served Absalom. His counsel was as though someone had sought the very word of God. At the end of this narrative, he will kill himself.
Hushai, a faithful friend of David, stays to minister before Absalom and subvert the counsel of wicked Ahithophel. He does so brilliantly and spares David's life.
Ittai the Gittite, having only come to Jerusalem the day before, can identify David as the one true king of Israel and pledges to follow him. In the coming days, Ittai would become one of the three commanders of David's army.
Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, was one of the runners entrusted with taking the news of Absalom's death to David. Ahimaaz is such a unique runner that when seen from a distance, the watchmen say, "The running of the first man is like the running of Ahimaaz." That quote makes me laugh every time. Seriously, Ahimaaz's running stride was so messed up that you can recognize it from a great distance. Ahimaaz pretends not to know what happened to Absalom.
Joab, the man of bloodshed, despite having heard David's clear command to deal gently with Absalom, instead thrusts three spears into the young man's heart. Joab had no remorse but did rebuke David for his response to the loss of his son. Joab swears that they will abandon him by tomorrow unless David changes his attitude toward those who served him in war. Joab, though not complicit in the rebellion of Absalom, will turn away from David's will for his successor. But we will see that in the coming days.
*Some translations say "forty," but this is impossible. "Four years" makes much more sense. I covered this a little in the video.
ADDITIONAL READING: Psalm 3; 2 Samuel 9:1-13; 2 Samuel 12:11-12
