2 SAMUEL

Crossing the Line

2 Sam. 15:1-17:29

INTRODUCTION

In this episode everything comes apart at the seams for David. After David’s affair with Bathsheba and murder of her husband, Nathan informs David that the sword will never leave his house. At the beginning of chapter 15 David has already lost 2 sons, Amnon and the child born to Bathsheba. The name of a third son will be added to this list after this episode is finished.

One of the positives in the ancient world of kingdoms was that you normally knew who would ascend the throne after the king died. There was not the periodical uncertainty of an election every four years. One drawback, though, was that sometimes the heir to the throne felt that his father needed to relinquish the throne before he was ready. In order to help the father relinquish that throne, the heir would sometimes assassinate the father. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown, especially if you’re an old man with ambitious sons.

That alone would have been enough to explain what happens in these next chapters; however, more is operating here. Absalom is bitter against David, his father. After Amnon raped Absalom’s Tamar, David did nothing. Absalom took matters into his own hands and executed Amnon. For the next 5 years Absalom was estranged from David. Only after extreme measures were taken were the 2 men reconciled; however, it is too late. The depth of Absalom's misery and bitterness can be seen in the fact that he named his daughter Tamar after his abused sister. Absalom now sets his sights on David in order to exact revenge upon him. The third son is soon to die.

UNDERMINING DAVID IN JERUSALEM (15:1-6)

At first, Absalom does not have the power or the influence to depose his father. Instead, he implements a 3-stage plan which will draw Israel to himself away from his father. First, he applies to himself the trappings of royalty. Each day for a period of 4 years he rides out in his chariot with 50 men running before him. How impressive he must have looked to the people of Israel. How much he must have looked like a king. That was just the impression he was trying to create in the minds of the Israelites. Look like a king, talk like a king, walk like a king—my gosh, he must be the king!

The second stage in Absalom’s plan was to foster hostility and criticism against David. Each day he would go to the entrance of the city of Jerusalem and meet those who had come from other parts of the country to seek justice from David. Since David was the king, he served as the chief justice of the court system. Absalom would greet them and basically inform them that they were wasting their time because their cases would not be heard in Jerusalem. Then probably with a sigh, he declared that things would be different if someone would appoint him as the judge/king over Israel. (Now apparently Absalom had some basis for his criticism because otherwise the people would have known better and contradicted him.)

The third stage in his strategy was to make the Israelites feel like a million dollars in his presence. It was typical for people in that day to prostrate themselves before royalty; however, Absalom would have none of that. Instead, whenever a person bowed before him, he would raise him up and kiss him on the cheek, thus bestowing upon him great honor.

A certain junior minister tried to create a church out of the church he was serving. He used all three of these tactics in splitting the church. (Since he wasn’t all that astute biblically, these traits must come naturally to a traitor.) When he decided to split the church, he started wearing the nicest clothes, such as 3-piece suits, whereas before he always wore t-shirts, a country vest and blue jeans. He used to flaunt this freedom. He was trying to give the impression that he was serious pastoral material.

Next, whereas he had always been friendly before, he would now really press the flesh and shake everybody’s hands. I saw him poison younger people against the older people in the church. It was not too long before he criticized the pastor’s preaching. He would also promise those around him how wonderful the church would be if he pastored it. “Oh, that I were pastor! Then things would be different.” Beware of any junior minister who criticizes his senior pastor.

Finally, just like Absalom, he told people exactly what they wanted to hear. Once I got into a conflict with somebody else, and unbeknownst to both of us in the conflict, he took both our sides—my side behind her back, and her side behind my back! Anybody who tells you only how wonderful you are is doing you a disservice because he is not doing this for your benefit but is doing this in order to draw you into his camp so that he can use you later. The Bible states, “Better are the blows of a friend than the kisses of an enemy.”

DAVID FLEES JERUSALEM (15:13-17:29)

After 4 years have passed (not 40), Absalom feels that the time is ripe for his rebellion. Absalom approaches David and asks for persmission to go to Hebron for the purpose of fulfilling a vow he had made to the Lord while in Geshur. (He chooses Hebron as the site for his anointing because it was the exact same site where David was anointed king over both Judah and Israel.) According to Absalom, he had promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if the Lord had allowed him to return home. He felt that the time was now appropriate for him to fulfill his vow. Being totally unsuspecting, David grants Absalom permission. Absalom arranges to have 200 men accompany him to Hebron; they, however, are innocent and are not in on the conspiracy.

Others, however, are in on the conspiracy, one of them being Ahithophel, one of the wisest councilors in all of Israel. He is in Giloh awaiting word that Absalom has launched his conspiracy. At the appointed time when Absalom has the trumpet sounded throughout all Israel, spies declare that Absalom is now king over all Israel. Ahithophel arrives from Giloh to assist Absalom in the rebellion. When word reaches David what has happened, he along with his household and bodyguard flee Jerusalem. They head east, passing over the Kidron Valley, up the Mount of Olives, and head down towards Jericho, which borders the Jordan River. From Jericho, David will cross the Jordan River and head north to the city of Mahanaim which had served as Ishbosheth’s capital. David leaves behind only 10 of his concubines to care for his palace in his absence.

DAVID FLEES JERUSALEM (15:13-17:29)

What transpires next gives us wonderful insight into the character of David. David is emotionally distraught over the actions of Absalom. He is most likely feeling betrayed by one he loves. He is also feeling that the judgment predicted by Nathan has not hit him full force. Several years have elapsed since the sordid affair with Bathsheba and Uriah; however, judgment was a sure thing after Nathan pronounced it. It was not a matter of “if” but only of “when” the judgment would fall upon David.

This is something we need to appreciate: God judges His people. “But I thought God’s people would never be judged,” you might say. That’s simply not true. The neighborhood children do not receive any discipline from my wife and me, whereas our son and daughter do. Why? Because they are our children. Well, as much as Nathan and Molly are my children, how much more are we children of God! Second, a principle which operates in the kingdom of God is that those being disciplined don’t get to choose the kind of discipline God is going to mete out. Nathan and Molly don’t determine the nature of their discipline, and neither do we. God alone determines that.

Moreover, simply because we get away with something right after we have committed a sin does not mean that judgment will not befall us (1 Tim. 5:24). Whenever God brings judgment upon His people (1 Pet. 4:17), He does it in such a way that it will be the most effective. Many times His bringing about judgment is like a person putting together a puzzle. The puzzle is not complete until all the pieces are in place. Well, in David’s situation all the pieces of the puzzle are in place. Now it is time for David to feel the full force of God’s judgment upon him.

Realizing that he is under God’s judgment, David covers his head and walks barefoot as he leaves Jerusalem. As David is leaving Jerusalem, the people of the city lament his flight. In addition to his body guard and commanders of the army (Joab and Abishai), Abiathar the high priest and Zadok bring the Ark of the Covenant out of the city. Apparently, they want to take the covenant with them so that it can be used in battle against Absalom. After all the other people have passed through, David instructs the 2 priests to return to Jerusalem. David hopes that God will relent and allow him to return to Jerusalem where he may once again worship at the ark. Moreover, he needs Zadok and Abiathar to remain in Jerusalem to serve as spies. He asks them to send their 2 sons, Ahimaaz (the son of Zadok) and Jonathan (the son of Abiathar), to him with any news he might need to counter Absalom. Ever loyal to David, they return to Jerusalem with the ark.

Upon leaving Jerusalem, David receives the most unwelcome news that Ahithophel has joined forces with Absalom in the conspiracy. David correctly perceives this as a tremendous blow against him because of Ahithophel’s brilliant military mind. First, he prays that God subvert any good advice that Ahithophel give Absalom. Second, when he is met by Hushai, another one of his councilors, he implores Hushai to return to Jerusalem so that he can thwart any advice Ahithophel might give Absalom. Although Hushai had come for the express purpose of going with David, he obediently returns to Jerusalem. (Note that although David is trusting in the Lord to vindicate him ultimately, he nevertheless is being wise and crafty in his dealings with Absalom. Simply because one of these is true does not mean that the other is false.)

As David goes along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (known as the Jericho Road), he is met by Shimei, a relative of Saul the first king of Israel. For years, apparently, Shimei has been bitter against David for assuming the throne. Now in David’s humiliating circumstances, he finds the courage to heap insult upon injury. He begins to curse David as he mournfully walks towards Jericho. He throws dust and stones at David, claiming that God is bringing all this calamity upon him because of his treatment of the house of Saul.

Shimei was probably not thinking very clearly that day because David is accompanied by a bodyguard of 600 men. Abishai, Joab’s brother, approaches David asks permission to cut off Shimei’s head. David is repulsed by such a remark. “How long must I bear with you sons of Zeruiah [the sister of David]?” He replies that what he is experiencing is most likely another element of God’s judgment upon him. If he were to slay Shimei, he just might be short-circuiting God’s judgment upon him. He does not want that because he wants to drink to the last drop the judgment God has poured out upon him. Only this way will he know that no more judgment will be forthcoming. Moreover, how can he find fault with Shimei when Absalom, his own son, is running him out of town? David is really responding to all of this with a heart of humility.

In the meantime, Absalom and his entourage enter Jerusalem. He is greeted by Hushai, David’s spy. Absalom is stunned to see Hushai still in Jerusalem. Moreover, he is flummoxed when Hushai declares, “Long live the King! Long live the King!” What you’re going to see, though, in Hushai’s words is subtlety of language. He is going to speak to Absalom in such a way that Absalom will think that he is declaring allegiance to him while all along he is declaring allegiance to David. When he utters, “Long live the King!” he is not referring to Absalom but to David. When Absalom asks him, “Is this the way you show loyalty to your friend?” Hushai does not respond. Instead, he says, “Should I not serve the one whom the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen?” Well, whom did the Lord choose to rule Israel? Not Absalom! David. Whom did the Israelites originally choose to be king over Israel? Not Absalom! David. Then he goes on to claim that he will serve in the presence of David's son. He does not say that he will serve Absalom but only that he will serve in Absalom’s presence, meaning he will serve David in Absalom’s presence. He is as cunning as a snake. Absalom falls for the trap and welcomes Hushai wholeheartedly into his court. The truth, though, is that traps are being set everywhere around Absalom. (This is an instance of when translations matter. The New American Standard Bible is a much more literal and accurate translation of the Bible than many of our other modern translations. Unfortunately, some of the new translations totally mess up this passage because they translate it to say that Hushai will serve Absalom; this is not supported by the Hebrew text; Hushai will only serve in Absalom’s presence so that he can actually serve David by undermining Absalom.)

Ahithophel now kicks into high gear. He approaches Absalom with 2 pieces of advice. First, he advises Absalom to pitch a tent on top of the very roof where David had seen Bathsheba bathing, take the 10 remaining concubines, and then have sexual relations with the 10 in the tent so that all of Jerusalem and Israel will know what is transpiring. Ahithophel is creating a breach between Absalom and David which will never be healed now. The rule of law was that whoever had the harem was the ruler. Whenever a king died, his heir would assume the harem. By committing this act, Absalom will be telegraphing to the rest of Israel that for all practical purposes David as king is dead, that he, Absalom, is king over Israel. All hope of reconciliation is going to be dashed to pieces.

The author of 2 Samuel, though, wants us to remember that this is part of God’s judgment upon David. When Nathan delivered God’s judgment to David, he told David that whereas he did his sin in secret, one after him would violate his women in public. Nathan’s prophecy has here come to be fulfilled. This probably is the greatest degradation that David had to endure during this whole ordeal.

After Absalom degrades David with his concubines, Ahithophel approaches Absalom with a second piece of advice. At this moment, David is headed east towards the Jordan River. Unlike Absalom, David had made no prior plans for escape. Most likely he is trudging along slowly because of the lack of preparation. Moreover, he is fleeing along a narrow road no more than 15-feet wide in some places. While David and his people are in disarray, Ahithophel encourages Absalom to give him 12,000 men so that he can pounce upon David unexpectedly. They will search out and kill only David but spare the rest of the men. This will indicate to the people that Absalom is hostile only against David and not against the men themselves. This way Absalom will come across as a wise and beneficent ruler who will endear himself to the hearts of the Israelites.

Why did Ahithophel turn so against David? For the simple reason that he probably was bitter towards David. Although the text does not emphasize it, the fact is that Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba. This grandfather had seen his family so ravaged by David's lust; there was now hell to pay.

Absalom considers this advice wonderful; however, he has another councilor he wants to consult first, Hushai. When Hushai hears Ahithophel’s advice, he correctly perceives that if Absalom follows it, it will spell the end of David. He replies that this time Ahithophel’s advice is not good. Everyone knows that David is like a bear that will be ready to defend himself at a moment’s notice. If Absalom attacks right now, he will face certain defeat. This kind of defeat would demoralize the rest of the nation of Israel, something which would be bad PR for Absalom. Moreover, even if he did beat David’s army, David was such an expert regarding the caves in the desert that he would be able to hide from Absalom and thereby escape from him. It would be better for Absalom to amass a great army from every quarter of Israel and defeat David in the open field. Hushai offers this advice because it will allow David and Joab first time to escape from their dangerous situation and get to shelter, second to reorganize, and third to gather an army to defeat Absalom.

Absalom bites. He rejects Ahithophel’s advice in favor of Hushai’s. Ahithophel is totally despondent because he knows that the element of surprise is crucial to their success. Now that this element has been taken away, Ahithophel knows that they are doomed. Yes, they had beaten David to the punch; however, once David and Joab regroup and gather their army, he knows that he and Absalom would be sitting ducks. He knows that David’s wrath will fall hard upon him because of his betrayal. Realizing that all is lost, he returns home to Giloh, writes his last will and testament, and strangles himself, most likely by hanging himself. Because Absalom follows Hushai’s advice, David is able to escape from Absalom’s clutches.