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David-The Death of Absalom
October 17, 2020

We most recently read about Absalom’s rebellion against David and how Absalom forced David from Jerusalem where Absalom was now living. David and his entourage were fleeing in the wilderness and it was as David was descending a hilltop that Ziba, a servant of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, met up with David bringing donkeys, two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, summer fruit, and wine. Because Ziba brought summer fruit, we know that Absalom’s rebellion occurred at some point during the summer, probably closer to the time when the summer fruit would be ripe, because unlike today where summer fruit can be bought at any time of year if you are willing to pay the price, back in David’s time we have no record that they were able to store fruit using techniques that we would use today.

Ziba’s kindness took David by surprise. He probably thought with Absalom consolidating power in Jerusalem that people would align themselves with him, and Ziba explained that the donkeys and food were given to help David and his household during this time of difficulty. Even though Absalom rebelled against David, David wanted to know how Absalom was doing, and Ziba shared with David that Absalom was proclaiming that Israel would make him king over them.

David continued his journey northeast of Jerusalem and came to the town of Bahurim. It was at Bahurim that David was challenged by Shimei, of the house of Saul, who cursed David nonstop, who also threw stones at David. He loudly proclaimed that David was an evil man who had blood on his hands. He told David that God was exacting revenge on him for the bloodshed that had come to the house of Saul.

Abishai asked David why he was tolerating this man’s attacks, and David told him that by not responding perhaps God might find favor with David and God’s favor might help him endure the attacks of Absalom. Absalom took possession of Jerusalem and one of the wisest men in Israel, Ahithophel, was with him, along with Hushai, who was still David’s friend. Hushai proclaimed his loyalty to Absalom. Absalom sought advice from Ahithophel, who was so wise people generally considered his advice to be as good as if it came directly from the mouth of God. Both David and Absalom thought highly of Ahithophel. Ahithophel told Absalom to consolidate his power so that all the people would easily see Absalom was the new king by taking David’s concubines to a tent on the rooftop for all to see.

2 Samuel 16:1-23
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there. And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence. Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

Ahithophel then asked to be given twelve thousand men to fight David explaining they would have the advantage over David because David and his men would be tired from the constant moving around while on the run. He shared he would only kill David and safely return all others traveling with David. Ahithophel’s plan made sense to Absalom and his leaders. Absalom also wanted to hear what Hushai recommended, and Hushai recommended against following through with Ahithophel’s plan explaining that David had a long history of overcoming military adversity and being victorious.

Hushai advised that instead of fighting David by proxy through Ahithophel, that Absalom himself lead the army to go fight David, because this would rally the people of Israel around Absalom. In considering the two options presented to him, Absalom thought Hushai gave better advice. Hushai, David’s friend, sent word to David through the priests that Absalom was coming for him and that David should move. The priests wanted to ensure they did not end up on the losing side of the fight and went through great efforts to conceal their intent to tell David of Absalom’s plans. Their best laid plans were discovered by a boy who told Absalom what he saw. In a story that might make people think of the French resistance during World War Two, the messengers took the opportunity to hide themselves at the bottom of a well, which was covered by a woman with ground corn so that Absalom’s men would not find the messengers.

After Absalom’s soldiers departed, the messengers came out of the well and told David to move quickly because of the advice given by Ahithophel. Even though Hushai told Absalom to personally lead the fight against David, Hushai probably knew it would take Absalom longer to prepare for battle than if Ahithophel would have fought a proxy battle. Ahithophel also knew this and killed himself, probably realizing the delay would lead to David’s victory realizing Ahithophel’s treachery. While on the run, David came to Mahanaim, where he was treated kindly by the people and given beds to sleep in and food to eat. Nearby Absalom and Israel were preparing to fight David.

2 Samuel 17:1-29
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou. And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men. Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one. Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there. And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David. Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down. And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

David took this opportunity to prepare his men for battle and the people wanted to be removed from David knowing that David was more valuable to Absalom than thousands of people. David asked the military leaders to be kind to Absalom. The battle took place in a forest of Ephraim and that day twenty thousand people died, a huge loss of life. The battle was widely fought, over a huge piece of land, and that day the forest killed more people than the fighting. The forest likely had low tree branches and rocky and hilly terrain with rivers and streams in between. People probably died by riding into low tree branches, falling down steep hills, or drowning in streams that were deeper and faster than the people thought. Some might have been challenged by the terrain and died of heart attacks, and for some it could have been either too hot or too cold. Too many people died in this battle.

Absalom in leading the fight against David was riding his mule through the forest and got caught up in the boughs of a large oak tree, which pulled him off of his mule and left him hanging in the tree. Word got back to Joab who wanted to know why Absalom wasn’t killed right away, and the man who saw Absalom reminded Joab that it was David’s command to not harm Absalom. Joab was well aware of what David had said and would have none of it. He went to the oak tree where Absalom was still hanging and threw three darts at Absalom as Joab’s armor bearer approached Absalom and killed him. Joab sounded the trumpet that Absalom had on him signifying the end of battle. The fighting stopped and Absalom was buried in a pit in the forest covered with stones.

Ahimaaz wanted to immediately tell David of the death of Absalom, and even though Joab wanted to wait a day to relay the news to David, Ahimaaz convinced Joab otherwise, even though Joab had already dispatched Cushi to share the news. When Ahimaaz came to the city alone, David expected to hear good news about the battle. Ahimaaz told David there was a tremendous fight and he was unsure of the outcome. Cushi arrived later, and it was Cushi who told David that Absalom was dead. Even though Absalom sought the death of David, David mourned hearing that Absalom was dead

2 Samuel 18:1-33
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city. And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me. Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

Even with an act of betrayal, the loss of his son, Absalom, was difficult for David to endure.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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