king-david

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.

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.