II Samuel 18: The Importance of Loyalty and Truth

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After David escaped Absalom’s army, he finds rest with allies and regroups. David divides the people that are with him under three leaders: Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. This information reveals a couple of insights: one is that David was able to attract a large amount of people to his side in the wake of Absalom’s takeover. The second is that his battle savvy is still alive and well as the divisions would have given him more flexibility in taking the fight to Absalom.

David wants to join the people as they go out to battle with Absalom’s forces but the people will not allow this as they fear for his safety. So David listens to them and remains but he does provide the following instruction, showing that despite all of the conflict and betrayal, he still loves his son: “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.”

The battle between David’s amassed forces and Absalom’s “Israel” begins and takes place within the woods of Ephraim. David’s strategy to thin out Absalom’s forces across the wilderness is a successful one as Israel is defeated. Many fall prey to natural obstacles in the unfamiliar terrain. Throughout the course of the battle, Absalom gets caught in a tree and is stranded there for a time. During this period, a man with David’s army found him there and reported it to Joab. When Joab comes to know about Absalom’s vulnerability, he questions why the messenger did not kill Absalom, to which the faithful messenger replies in verses 12 and 13:

“Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’ Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”

This messenger’s wisdom and integrity are admirable, especially as he seems to assume that Joab would have felt the same way if he were to have discovered Absalom. But this was not the case. We should remember Joab’s character from II Samuel 3:22-30, where he killed Abner, who had recently killed Joab’s brother Asahel. Killing Abner was not something that David had ordered Joab to do, but Joab did it out of vengeance and because he believed it to be right. Joab’s loyalty was in the right place, but his actions betray an unwise and self-righteous will. Joab’s will supersedes the will of the king, both in II Samuel 3 and in this chapter. In the same way does Joab kill Absalom, thinking it best and right, but in so doing he goes against the will of the king. Absalom’s body is put in a pit where a heap of stones is laid over him. His “monument” is a sad pillar that he leaves behind, testifying that he had no sons. 

When it is time for David to be notified of Absalom’s death, Joab stops Ahimaaz from running to deliver the news and has a Cushite go instead. But after the Cushite leaves, Ahimaaz asked Joab if he could also run to give the news (even though he has no news to deliver as the Cushite is the one delivering the news). Joab allows it and Ahimaaz actually outruns the Cushite. This is consequential because when David sees Ahimaaz coming to bring news, it brings him relief that all was well with Absalom. This was likely a motivator for Ahimaaz to run quickly and deliver the news first because he did not want to see David aggrieved at the death of his son. When Ahimaaz delivers the news, he does so without mentioning that Absalom has died. But then the Cushite arrives, David seeks his news as well. The Cushite does reveal to David that Absalom has died in verse 32:

“And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”

Naturally this affects David greatly. He weeps and laments that he would have died rather than Absalom. 

What are some lessons that we can learn from this chapter?

  • Honor the King.
    • The unnamed messenger honored David’s wishes concerning having mercy on Absalom and assumed that Joab would as well. Even though Joab took matters into his own hands, the messenger gave Joab an opportunity to think twice and do the right thing. The fact that Joab ignored the opportunity is something that Joab will ultimately pay for in time. Standing up for what is right is its own reward. Although it can go unrecognized, God sees it, and God rewards it. 
  • Loyalty can be misguided, especially when one is overzealous, hotheaded, or does not consider the mind of the one to whom they are loyal.
    • Look at Joab. He had the best of intentions, but they went too far when he went beyond the wishes expressed by David. There is a great lesson here for us in our relationship with God. Do we take vengeance, when God tells us that it is His to take? Or do we follow His instructions and guidance even when it is not what we want to do or not what we feel should be done? What we want and what we feel can and will very often impede us from fulfilling God’s will.
  • Adulterating the truth will backfire
    • Ahimaaz, even though he had the best of intentions and even though he put up great effort, still failed in his attempt to protect David from the news of Absalom’s death. Some news, although seemingly impossible to deliver, is better to be delivered in all honesty and truth. It should be done with sensitivity and compassion to the situation, but should not be altered because eventually, all truth has a way of coming out.

II Samuel 17: The Conflicting Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

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You will remember Ahithophel, a counselor that was esteemed by many in the kingdom as one that gave advice directly from God (II Samuel 16:23). Ahithophel had been a counselor to David but was now with Absalom. At the start of chapter 17, he advises to Absalom the details of a plan wherein David might be destroyed. But Absalom says in verse 17:14: ““The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.” Recall that David has deliberately sent Hushai back to Absalom so that Ahithophel’s advice could be foiled. It is interesting that Absalom, trying to overthrow David completely, consulting the wisest that he knew, ultimately does exactly what God wants Him to. Do you ever think that you are being directed by God in this way? If you were, how could it be known?

Hushai was a sort of undercover agent in Absalom’s court, along with Zadok and Abiathar, who had carried the ark back to Jerusalem when they had initially tried to flee with David. Hushai works with Zadok and Abiathar to warn David that Ahithophel’s plan could defeat David. The men (Jonathan and Ahimaaz) were spotted and reported to Absalom. After this, Absalom’s servants went looking for them. But they were not found because they were hidden by an ally of David’s in a well as they were searched for. The men eventually find David and warn him.

David flees over the Jordan river, away from the threat of attack. The precaution was unnecessary, because Absalom did not end up heeding the advice of Ahithophel in any case. The fate of Ahithophel is revealing after he finds out that his plan did not work: “Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.”

Absalom goes after David starting in verse 24, but David is ahead of him and is cared for by allies, one of which was Machir, who had cared for Mephibosheth before David took him in. In Mahanaim, David was met by these allies, who cared for David’s and his men’s needs so that they could rest and recharge. The chapter ends with David safely resting with those that had respect for him. 

There are three good lessons that we can learn from this chapter:

  1. Planning ahead can mean the difference between life and death.
    1. David knew his men, their personalities, and he was shrewd enough to pay attention to the situation that he was leaving behind. He knew that Ahithophel represented danger, so he countered that danger with Hushai. Also, Zadok and Abiathar were there to assist. It makes us wonder, do we pay enough attention to our surroundings to anticipate future threats and plan for them? It does little good to pray and then wait when there are things we can do within our control to influence a situation. We must be diligent and willing to act!
  2. Acting selfishly can paint us into corners.
    1. Ahithophel was wise, and while his designation as being one that spoke directly from God was not true, he had the opportunity to seek God and use his wisdom for good. But when we seek glory for our own and not for the Lord, the tendency to self-destruction increases.
  3. Doing good for others has a way of coming back around.
    1. Where would David have been without the help of his allies late in this chapter? Of course we do not do good in expectation of what others will do for us, but that help can come when we need it most. Such is the beauty of God’s design in human relationships. But all should be done for His glory!

II Samuel 15: Absalom’s Insolence

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We do not know the full extent of Absalom’s thoughts, but we do not really need to in light of his actions in this chapter. David has forgiven Absalom, but Absalom’s wickedness is not to be so easily quelled. Perhaps Absalom resented his father for being ignored for so long. Perhaps Absalom wanted kingly authority himself. Perhaps Absalom was truly evil. Whichever was his prime motivation, we cannot know, but we are likely safe to assume that it is a combination of these things as well as the outcome of David’s curse as the result of his sin with Bathsheba.

After David’s “forgiveness” of Absalom in chapter 14, Absalom sets out to undermine his father’s authority. He sets himself up near the city gate so that he can receive people that have traveled far to seek David’s counsel and judgment in difficult matters. People of the kingdom would travel far to possibly receive a judgment in their favor, but when they arrived, Absalom would tell them, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you … Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”

Absalom made his father look foolish in that it seemed as if David did not have enough time for the people but that he also did not see fit to appoint someone to delegate the work to. Absalom finished off the deception with the proclamation that he would give very favorable judgments were he the one in charge. In this way, Absalom begins to build for himself a group of men that are detractors from David’s authority. He stole the loyalty of the people away from his father. 

Absalom, with permission from his father, returns to Hebron. This would not have alarmed David, as it was where Absalom was born. Absalom’s true reasoning for returning there would be to consolidate power for a rebellion against David. He took with him two hundred men that did not know of his plans. Absalom correctly surmised that they would side with him once it was clear that his rebellion against David would be successful. Absalom sent out spies and grew stronger: “Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.” II Samuel 15:!2

Once David hears that the tide has turned he flees Israel. He leaves behind concubines to care for the home but he takes with him many advisors and men that are loyal to him, men from lands that he conquered that have been with him for many years. Ittai the Gittite and his men accompany David on his passage out of Jerusalem. Zadok the Levite priest brought with him the ark of the covenant, but David turned it back to Jerusalem, as that is where it belonged, with instructions to Zadok and Abiathar to send news to David of what would occur in Jerusalem now that David had fled. 

David ascends the Mount of Olives in tears (a messianic connection, to be sure!), and learned that a former advisor of his was not a conspirator with Absalom. At the top of the mountain, David encounters Hushai the Archite, who is grieving with David at the prospect of Absalom’s treason. David sends Hushai to Jerusalem to thwart the counsel that Absalom would receive from David’s former counselor. He is to tell Zadok and Abiathar, and they would get word to David. 

This is where the chapter ends: let us see what we can learn from this chapter:

  • Unfinished business can give birth to great calamity
    • David has many chances to meet with Absalom and to prevent negative outcomes.
    • When we address conflict head-on and with a spirit of peace, we have the best chance to put it to rest. Otherwise, it is left to fester.
  • Cunning ways and creative trickery are not the way of the righteous
    • Absalom acted nether honestly nor honorably when he intercepted people at the gate. His ways were sneaky and his intentions were neither noble nor were they righteous. Absalom could have worked with his father to effectively offer his services to the people, or even to create a succession plan, if that is what he wanted.
    • When we are honest and righteous, so are our methods.
  • Never give up hope and do the best with what you have
    • David was a sinner and experiencing the consequences of his sins, but he still had a lot going for him. His closest allies’ loyalty was still fierce and strong. David despaired, but not to inaction, he acted in hope for success and reprisal. 
    • When we accept our path, no matter how grievous, we will find that there are great advantages at hand.

II Samuel 14: False Forgiveness

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This chapter tells the story of David’s faux-reconciliation with his son Absalom. 

From this distance and from what the text provides, it is difficult for us to detect the exact mental state of David as he mourned for the loss of Absalom. The conclusion of chapter 13 indicates that David “longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.” This statement suggests that David was grateful for Absalom killing Amnon and ridding him of the problem of incest and rape. On one hand, Absalom saved David both the trouble and the deliberation of how best to execute judgment and punishment among his own sons. On the other hand, and at a much deeper level for David, he must have suspected that all was the result of his sin with Bathsheba; as God through the prophet Nathan had said after those events in II Samuel 12:11: “Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.” David’s forthcoming forgiveness of Absalom will be the beginning of adversity that comes from his own house.

II Samuel 14 opens with Joab, likely David’s most loyal servant in war, noticing that David had great sorrow over Absalom living so far away in Geshur. It seems understood that Absalom stayed there because he had received no indication from his father David that he was free to return, or that if he did return, that he would not experience some great punishment for the murder of Amnon. 

Joab works with a “wise woman” from Tekoa and has her go to David and tell a story that parallels David’s own story about Amnon and Absalom. It had the effect of prompting David to send for Absalom to return to Jerusalem, a sign that he would be forgiven.

Perhaps the woman’s ploy brought an honest compunction out in David; he knew all too well that it would be better to have his son back in his presence and that God would mete out the judgment in due time. 

But David’s forgiveness of Absalom is not whole: when David tells Joab to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, David does not meet him. Absalom returns to his own house and he does not see the king’s face. This went on for two full years.

Absalom tires of the fleeting “forgiveness” of his father and asks Joab to coordinate a meeting between them. When Joab does not respond to Absalom (perhaps out of respect for David’s decision to partition Absalom), Absalom burns Joab’s field. When Joab finally responds to Absalom to speak to him after his field is burned, he relents to Absalom and agrees to arrange the meeting. Absalom’s words are persuasive, after all: ““Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”

In the final verse of the chapter, we have a deceptively peaceful forgiveness scene: “So Joab went 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. Then the king kissed Absalom.” What happens in the chapters to follow is further fulfillment of God’s curse on David for his sin with Bathsheba.

There are quite a few things we can learn from this chapter:

  • Wisdom serves all parties well when it is used in the right way

Joab used wisdom to influence David’s decision. We should seek wise counsel to help ourselves as well as others.

  • Communication heals relationships

David and Absalom’s broken relationship was worsened by silence. Open, honest communication is key to healing broken relationships.

  • Forgiveness must be genuine

David forgave Absalom but didn’t fully restore their relationship. Half-hearted forgiveness can lead to bigger problems later. True forgiveness means restoring trust and love where possible.

  • Bad attitudes lead to bad actions

Absalom’s impatience led him to the poor decision to burn Joab’s field. When we let frustration control us, we can make rash and destructive choices. Patience and prayer are better responses.

  • God desires reconciliation

God desires that we be reconciled to him through Jesus, to have our sin absolved by His blood. God also wants us to seek peace in all our relationships, especially those within our family. 

II Samuel 13: Trouble with David’s Children

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The Bible names twenty children born to David across eight wives. His firstborn was named Amnon, and was born to David’s wife Ahinoam. Absalom was David’s third son, born to David’s wife Maacah. Tamar, David’s only daughter recorded in the Bible, was also born to Maacah, making Absalom and Tamar true siblings. Tamar and Amnon were half-siblings, but marriage among even half-siblings was still against Mosaic law. 

These dynamics are what makes the events of this chapter understandable. Tamar and Absalom had a special bond. David as the king had sired many children across many wives, many of the marriages being political ones, so the “siblings” that resulted in David’s marriages would have been quite different from one another. 

Absalom and Tamar however, have the same mother. They had a bond that was special and Absalom was protective of her. Playing into this drama is the fact that Amnon was greatly attracted to Tamar, such that it had blossomed to lust. Jonadab, a cousin, suspected this attraction of Amnon’s and suggested to him a sneaky way that he might take his half-sister to bed. 

When Jonadab’s plan works, Tamar is humiliated and raped. What is interesting about the episode between Amnon and Tamar is that Amnon hates Tamar after the act is over: “Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” II Samuel 13:15

See how what is thought to be pleasurable sin, brought about by yet more sin, results in hate and chaos. Is not this what Amnon wanted? Why then was he in a terrible state after? Because the pleasures of sin are fleeting, and after the deed was done, Tamar’s presence reminded Amnon of the terrible deed he had done. Thus he expelled her. 

Both David and Absalom come to know of Amnon’s doings and David is “very angry” while Absalom is recorded as speaking to his brother “neither good nor bad.” This can be explained in that Amnon had authority over Absalom, being the firstborn. There would have been a sort of fear and respect in this hierarchy that precluded Absalom from acting immediately. But Absalom does eventually act against Amnon.

In verses 23-29, we see how Absalom orchestrates the murder of his brother Amnon some two years after Amnon had raped Tamar. His wrath was left to simmer and it eventually led to this. 

David suffers greatly at the loss of both of his sons. In fact, the verse that described David’s grief is ambiguous as to whether or not it refers to Amnon or Absalom. Verse 13: “But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.”

What can we reasonably learn from this chapter? 

  • The first thing we can take away from this is to ignore unwise advice. Jonadab was a pot-stirrer and a wicked player that did not have the best interests of his family in mind as he proffered ideas that would seem clever only to evil and mischievous men.
  • Secondly, this is the beginning of David’s punishment. David had sinned with adultery and now fornication and murder is taking place within his own house. How else do we need it spelled out for us that our sins can have rash consequences on not only ourselves, but on those we hold dearest as well?
  • Lastly, look at the fallacies of Absalom’s approach. Why answer sin with more sin? Absalom’s heart may have been right to be offended and hurt by Amnon’s deeds, but vengeance was not his; it was God’s. When we take matters into our own hands, we can quite often make a bigger mess of things. 

Pray that you learn these lessons and sooner rather than later!