2 Sam. 18-19:   “Absalom Is Killed In Battle, Then David Is Asked To Return As King”

By

Jim Bomkamp

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1.     INTRO:

 

1.1.                     In our last study, we looked at chapters 16 and 17 and saw the events that occured in David’s life as he was fleeing Jerusalem with his servants and the 600 Philistines who had come with him when he moved from Philistia to Israel. 

 

1.1.1.  We saw that as David was fleeing from his son Absalom, who had mounted a huge insurrection against him to take over the throne, that he was lied to and deceived by Ziba.

 

1.1.2.  A man named Shimei began to walk alongside of David and his men throwing rocks at them and cursing David for being a “bloody man” (“man of bloodshed”).  We saw how that David restrained any of his men from retaliating against Shimei for this act, and David allowed this man to continue doing this this because he realized that Shimei’s cursing him and throwing rocks at them was part of the Lord’s chastening of him because of his sin.

 

1.1.3.  We also observed how that Hushai, one of David’s loyal servants and counselors, a man who had remained with Absalom in the palace in order to spy on Absalom for David, foiled the wise counsel of Ahithophel and thus averted David and his men from being slaughtered by Absalom and his band of mercenaries.

 

1.2.                     In our study today, we are going to look at chapters 18 and 19. 

 

1.2.1.  We will see that when David and his men go into battle against Absalom and his forces that Absalom is killed in battle.

 

1.2.2.  We will see the process that occurs as David is then accepted back to Israel to again resume his reign as king.

 

2.     VS 18:1-4  - “1 Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent the people out, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3 But the people said, “You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” 4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.” -  David divided his forces into three groups and put three generals in charge over them, but the people talked David himself into staying behind

 

2.1.                     Dividing into multiple companies for fighting is a tactic that has been used since men have fought wars.  This approach keeps you from having all of your eggs and one basket plus allows your forces to fight on multiple fonts and if one company is defeated or beaten back the other companies can come to their aid.

 

2.2.                     Joab, Abishai and Ittai were the generals under whom the 1/3rd companies were placed.

 

2.3.                     Wisely, the people refuse to allow their king to go out with them since they know that if David goes out into the battle that Absalom’s army would focus primarily upon killing him knowing that if David was dead then all resistance would be squashed.

 

3.     VS 18:5  - “5 The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.” -  David asks his generals to deal kindly with his son Absalom, the leader of the insurrection

 

3.1.                     We have already mentioned in previous studies how that David loved Absalom above anything else upon earth and that he had intended to have Absalom succeed him as king one day. 

 

3.2.                     It appears that even at this point that David thought that there was a chance that Absalom could still become king over Israel.  David appears to think of this insurrection of Absalom’s as being almost a childish prank rather than the real threat that it was.

 

3.3.                     Notice also that all of the people heard David charge his generals with watching out for the safety of Absalom.

 

3.4.                     It must have been somewhat disheartening for David’s army to see their leader having so much affection for the rebellious and godless man who was instigating this rebellion to take over the kingdom and throne in Israel.

 

4.     VS 18:6-8  - “6 Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8 For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.” -  David’s army slaughtered 20,000 of Absalom’s men as they fought against them in the forest of Ephraim

 

4.1.                     David’s men were wise, experienced and battle-hardened fighting men and Absalom’s army was no match for them.

 

4.2.                     The tactic that Absalom used in the battle of fighting in the forest of Ephraim showed his inexperience and led to the defeat of his army.  The forest was so thick that Absalom’s men would get backed up into it and become sitting ducks for David’s men.  Thus, the forest killed more people than the sword on this day.

 

5.     VS 18:9-17  - “9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect for me the young man Absalom!’ 13 “Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not waste time here with you.” So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him. 16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 They took Absalom and cast him into a deep pit in the forest and erected over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.” -  Absalom is killed in battle

 

5.1.                     We saw earlier in our studies that Absalom had an incredible head of hair, so much so that when he got his yearly hair cut that they cut 3 ½ lbs. of hair off of him.  Josephus, the Jewish historian in the time of Christ, wrote that it was Absalom’s hair that got caught in the branches of this tree, leading to his death.

 

5.1.1.  Back in the late 60’s and early 70’s I had really long and bushy hair, and I came to Christ in 73’, but it was not until 74’ that I finally got a haircut.  What convinced me to get my hair cut was my job doing mechanical work on cars.  One day I was under a car on a hoist doing some work on a radiator and my hair got caught way up high on the engine and it took me several minutes to finally get my hair untangled.  By then my hair was covered in grease.  The next day I had my hair cut up to the bottom of my ears.

 

5.2.                     Well, whether or not it was Absalom’s hair or his head which got caught in the branches of this tree, a man under Joab’s command saw Absalom hanging there and reported this to Joab.  Joab told the man that if he had killed Absalom that he would have been rewarded by Joab.  However, the man told Joab that because of what the king had told them concerning Absalom that if he had killed Absalom that it would have led to his own death.

 

5.3.                     Joab didn’t want to argue with the man so he just immediately went to where Absalom was hanging and pierced his heart through with three spears.  Ten men with Joab then finished Absalom off. 

 

5.4.                     It will be good at this point in time for us to discuss this man Joab a bit :

 

5.4.1.  Joab had been carrying around a terrible secret, and this secret had caused him to become embittered against King David.  Joab had received the note from David to arrange for the murder of Uriah the Hittite, because David had committed adultery with Uriah’s wife and she was pregnant.  This secret had caused Joab to lose respect for David.

 

5.4.2.  Joab had once been a loyal subject and general for David, however over time his interests had become selfish.  He was no longer looking out for David’s best interests, but rather his own.

 

5.4.3.  Joab was also a fierce and ruthless warrior, and he really lacked any kind of spirituality or sensitivity to life or to others.

 

5.4.4.  Joab had no right to blatantly go against the king’s orders and kill the king’s son, and by doing this we know that at this point he had no respect for the king. 

 

5.4.5.  We should not look at what Joab did in killing Absalom and think that he did some great favor for Israel although in doing so he had to go against what he knew was poor direction by David.  His act was one of treachery against the king.

 

5.4.6.  Joab really needed to be stopped however he was no so firmly entrenched in power that David did not know how to pull the plug upon him.

 

5.5.                     Since Absalom was now dead, the insurrection was over and knowing this Joab blew the trumpet to cause his army to reunite.  Absalom’s army scattered and returned to their homes.

 

5.6.                     To show disrespect for Absalom they threw his body into a pit.  Then, as a reminder that because of his insurrection and rebellion against his father (plus the murder of his brother Ammon) he deserved to be stoned (Deut. 21:20-21), they threw stones on top of his body.

 

5.7.                     How could Absalom have thought that he could rebel against His father and prosper, for the scriptures are full of warnings for those who rebel against parents (See Prov. 15:5;  20:20; 30:17 for instance) ?

 

6.     VS 18:18  - “18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.” -  Absalom had set up a pillar to his name

 

6.1.                     Absalom had no son to carry on his name and he was concerned that he be remembered after his death e built a pillar for himself to be remembered.

 

6.2.                     Absalom had done no good or great deeds for which he deserved to be remembered.  He was just an egomaniac who had he not been stopped would have become an intolerable tyrant dictator over Israel.

 

7.     VS 18:19-32  - “19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has freed him from the hand of his enemies.” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since you will have no reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite. 24 Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. 25 The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “This is a good man and comes with good news.” 28 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “All is well.” And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “Blessed is the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” 29 The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. 31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”” -  Both Ahimaaz and a Cushite run to bring to King David news of the defeat of Absalom’s army and the death of Absalom

 

7.1.                     We don’t know why Joab did not want Ahimaaz to bring the news of Absalom’s demise to David, but some have surmised :

 

7.1.1.  David previously slew men who brought to him bad news of the death of King Saul (2 Sam. 4:10-12) and Joab felt that Ahimaaz was too valuable to have his life risked by bringing this news.  The Cushite was from Ethiopia and therefore could more easily be sacrificed.

 

7.1.1.1.      I believe that this view casts a bad and undeserving light upon David however.

 

7.1.2.  Others such as J. Vernon McGee have said that Joab did not want to send Ahimaaz because he didn’t know all of the facts, particularly about Absalom’s being dead.

 

7.1.2.1.      This view doesn’t hold water for in verse 20 Joab tells the men that Absalom is dead.

 

7.1.3.  Some have suggested that Ahimaaz wanted to be the one to break the news so that he could do it in the gentlest of ways. 

 

7.1.3.1.      This view is much better than the other two views.  This would then explain why Ahimaaz beat around the bush when asked by David if Absalom was dead.

 

7.1.4.  My conjecture is that perhaps also Joab was afraid that since Ahimaaz was a priest and feared the Lord that when he told David of what had happened that he might have cast Joab in a bad light.  He might have feared God more than man and told a truthful account of how Joab had disobeyed the king’s orders and intentionally killed Absalom thrusting three spears through Absalom’s heart.

 

7.2.                     David was sitting between the two gates of the Ephraimite city with watchman awaiting anxiously to hear news of how the battle had gone between his fighting men and Absalom’s army.  When David and his watchman saw a single runner and then a second runner, David knew that the battle had gone well with his fighting men.  Had the men fled in every direction and a hodgepodge of men had run towards the city then David would have know that the battle had not gone well for his men.

 

7.3.                     Neither Ahimaaz nor the Cushite blurt out that Absalom is dead when King David queries them.  It is only when the Cushite tells David that he wishes that all of the king’s enemies would end up like that man that David realizes that Absalom must now be dead.

 

8.     VS 18:33-19:7  - “33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 1 Then it was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom.” 2 The victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 7 “Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”” -  David grieves and wails excessively over the loss of his son and this causes his army to be discouraged until finally Joab comes to the king and rebukes him for discouraging his army after their valiant victory in battle

 

8.1.                     There were a number of “legitimate” reasons for David to display some level of grief upon hearing of the loss of his son Absalom :

 

8.1.1.  We can and should expect David to have expressed sorrow over the loss of his son.  Any parent should be expected to do likewise.

 

8.1.2.  David didn’t believe that Absalom was right with the Lord when he died and therefore he probably doubted Absalom’s salvation.  Remember, when David had heard that his baby had died but he would go to that baby one day, he was OK after hearing this news.

 

8.1.3.  David knew that he himself because of his sin was responsible for the death of his son. 

 

8.2.                     There were a number of “illegitimate” reasons for David having this excessive grief upon hearing of the loss of his son:

 

8.2.1.  David’s sorrowing over his son was excessive and done at the expense of any of the feelings of those under his command and leadership.  His men were humiliated thinking that they had done wrong and displeased their king by their victory.

 

8.2.2.  David was placing his son like an idol above the Lord and His calling for David as leader over God’s people.  The first commandment tells us that we are to set up no idols in our lives.

 

8.2.3.  David was letting his grief overcome him so that he cannot now function as he should before the Lord.  Leaders have to set aside their own feelings in order to function effectively.  They have to care about others and help and encourage them and deal with their own feelings at a different time.

 

8.2.4.  Absalom was a wicked son and really had no redeemable qualities in himself in order for David to have loved him as he did.

 

8.2.4.1.      We must remember that none of us really have any redeemable qualities that should cause the Lord to love us.

 

8.2.5.  David had “inordinate affection” for Absalom.

 

8.3.                     One of the signs of spiritual maturity in a Christian’s life is when he begins to get rid of every “inordinate affection” in his life.  By “inordinate” I mean an affection for something that is outside of the Lord’s will or leading for our life.

 

8.3.1.  Unchecked “inordinate affection” is a sinful craving or coveting of those things that are not the Lord’s will in our life.  This can never be pleasing to the Lord.

 

8.3.2.  It hinders our witness as Christians if we have things in our life that we deeply crave which are outside of God’s revealed will for our life. 

 

8.3.3.  In Lev. 10:1-11, there is found the story of two of Aaron’s sons who sinned before the Lord.  These boys had heard and knew the commands of God concerning how He was to be worshipped, however they determined that God could and should receive the offering and worship that they devised and thus they offered up “strange fire” before the Lord.  Because these young men had spurned God’s holiness before His people, the Lord slew them with fire.  Notice though that through Moses the Lord tells Aaron and his sons very specifically that they were not to have “inordinate affection” for these ones slain because of spurning the Lord’s holiness, for they were not to make any show of grief at all before the people.  Lev. 10:1-11: “1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the Lord spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.’ ” So Aaron, therefore, kept silent. 4 Moses called also to Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come forward, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to the outside of the camp.” 5 So they came forward and carried them still in their tunics to the outside of the camp, as Moses had said. 6 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, so that you will not die and that He will not become wrathful against all the congregation. But your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, shall bewail the burning which the Lord has brought about. 7 “You shall not even go out from the doorway of the tent of meeting, or you will die; for the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you.” So they did according to the word of Moses. 8 The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 “Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations— 10 and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them through Moses.””

 

8.3.4.  This boy of David’s had committed horrible sins, and though it was natural for David to have mourned his death, David should never have gone on and on in his mourning for this one killed because of his sin, for doing this was to dishonor the holy and righteous God that we serve.  David also greatly discouraged his army by doing this for they realized that if they had all died and yet Absalom had lived that David would now be happy.

 

8.3.5.  A number of scriptures exhort us to set our affections to match those things that the Lord Himself values, including :

 

8.3.5.1.      1 Corinthians 13:6, “6 [love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.”  

 

8.3.5.2.      Romans 12:9, “9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” 

 

8.3.5.3.      Proverbs 25:28, “28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.”

 

9.     VS 19:8-14  - “8 So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate,” then all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tent. 9 All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 “However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?” 11 Then King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 12 ‘You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 “Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’ ” 14 Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”” -  King David spoke to his people, and then won the hearts of the people of Judah back to himself

 

9.1.                     David first comforted his army here, encouraging them that they had done well and fought valiantly for him.

 

9.2.                     The people in all of the tribes of Israel were in a quandary after the death of Absalom.  They had supported the insurrection against King David started by his son Absalom, however their rebellion had been quickly squashed when the leader of the rebellion, Absalom, had been killed in battle.  All Israel was in a quandary because :

 

9.2.1.  They knew now that the Lord was not in this rebellion, however what were they now supposed to do?

 

9.2.2.  They couldn’t undo what had been done, but where do they go from here?

 

9.2.3.  In their hearts, the people of Israel realized now that all along David had been the king that the Lord had placed over them.  However, they had offended their king chasing him into exile.  How could they ever get their rightful king back after all that had transpired?

 

9.3.                     Judah was the most guilty in this respect for they were the tribe from which David was from, the very tribe that had initially recognized David’s calling from the Lord to rule, the ones who had originally anointed David as king over them at Hebron.

 

9.4.                     David now begins to help the tribes of Israel to re-establish him as their king.  He first appeals to Judah to return to him, and he is very wise in how he proceeds :

 

9.4.1.  He first asks Zadok, the high priest, and Abiathar, another priest to speak to the tribe of Judah on his behalf.

 

9.4.2.  David tells Zadok and Abiathar to ask the elders of Judah in essence why they had not been the first to ask him to return since he was from their tribe?

 

9.4.3.  David sends word that Absalom’s general Amasa that he shall be general over all of David’s army in place of Joab.  Amasa, though he had participated in this rebellion with Absalom, was after all the son of David’s sister (1 Chron. 2:17). 

 

9.4.3.1.      As we have discussed, David really wanted to replace Joab at this point in time.

 

9.5.                     Note that David wisely does not try to take the kingdom by force but rather waits until he is asked to return.  He had already had an insurrection against himself and thus he knew that if the people did not of their own free will choice ask him to again reign over them as king that any attempt to force himself upon them would only result in a further insurrection.

 

9.6.                     By waiting until he was asked to again reign as king, David acted as a type of Jesus Christ, our king.  Jesus will not force His rule over any person against their will.  People have to ask the Lord to come into their life before He will come and rule over them and be their Lord.

 

9.7.                     David’s words of reconciliation to the tribe of Judah who realized that they had made a big mistake in backing this insurrection won all of their hearts back to the king.  The tribe then asked David to return to them as their king.   

 

10.            VS 19:15-23  - “15 The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan. 16 Then Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, with Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they rushed to the Jordan before the king. 18 Then they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king’s household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. 19 So he said to the king, “Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart. 20 “For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22 David then said, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?” 23 The king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” Thus the king swore to him.” -  David crosses the Jordan and comes to Gilgal where Shimei and Ziba meet him

 

10.1.                At the invitation of Judah, David now crosses the Jordan from the wilderness into the land of Canaan, and he immediately meets Judah at Gilgal, and this is very significant.  In the book of Joshua, we saw that Gilgal was the place where having initially crossed the Jordan River they had reconsecrated their lives to the Lord and been circumcised.  Then, throughout their successful campaigns in conquering the land of Canaan they learned that they always need to return to Gilgal after each battle and reconsecrate their lives to the Lord.

 

10.2.                We see that the first person that meets the king is the man Shimei who had cursed him and thrown rocks and dust at him as he was leaving Jerusalem and walking up the Mount of Olives weeping and barefooted with his head covered.  Now, Shimei admits his sin in doing this and asks King David to not hold his sin against him.

 

10.3.                Shimei came to David with some insurance however, for he brought with him 1,000 men from the tribe of Benjamin.  Some of David’s men want to kill Shimei for what he had done to David previously, however David restrains them from doing this because in essence he realized that he was made king again therefore he shouldn’t even bother with petty issues such as defending himself against previous detractors.  David was king now, why worry about silly and small little issues?

 

10.3.1.                     When I was on the way moving from Seattle out to Wisconsin to plant the Calvary Church here in Green Bay a pastor friend of mine gave me his counsel concerning pasturing.  He said, “1)  Don’t sweat the small stuff.  2)  Everything is just small stuff.”

 

10.3.2.                     Interestingly, upon his deathbed, David gave orders to his son Solomon who was replacing him as king to have Shimei killed for his actions.  I wonder if this was wrong for David to do this on his deathbed?  Why reverse the decisions made on this day of grace and return to law and justice?   Plus, when Shimei was doing these things to David, David realized that this had come about from the hand of God because of his sin, and thus he didn’t retaliate against Shimei.  We wonder, at the end of his life did David despise the chastening hand of the Lord in his life?

 

10.4.                Another man met David, Ziba (and his sons and servants), the one who had deceived David when David was leaving Jerusalem and convinced him that Mephibosheth had rejoiced when David had to flee Jerusalem saying that finally the throne of his father, Saul, would now be given to him. 

 

11.            VS 19:24-30  - “24 Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 25 It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 So he answered, “O my lord, the king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 “Moreover, he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28 “For all my father’s household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should complain anymore to the king?” 29 So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have decided, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’ ” 30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.”” -  Mephibosheth comes and appears before David and David tests his loyalty

 

11.1.                Mephibosheth is one of these first ones to come and to meet David as he returned to Judah, and as soon as David saw him he realized that Mephibosheth hadn’t taken care of himself since David had left Jerusalem.  He hadn’t cared for his feet ( Did he have killer toenails now? ), trimed his mustache, nor washed his clothes for this entire time.

 

11.2.                David wasn’t sure whether he was again being deceived and manipulated, therefore he asked Mehpibosheth why he hadn’t gone with David when he fled.  Mephibosheth then replied that Ziba had tricked him and taken the donkey that had been saddled for him to leave with. 

 

11.2.1.                     I believe that the gift that Ziba presented to King David of the donkeys and food for the sustenance of his men was actually put together by Mephibosheth and that  Ziba took advantage of the opportunity and give the gift to David himself while also lying to David about Mephibosheth.

 

11.3.                Mephibosheth then defends himself to David saying that after the death of Saul that he was as good as a dead man, since kings usually killed off the previous king’s sons, yet David had let him even eat at his table.  Mephibosheth then tells David in essence, why should I want anything more than what you gave me, the one who deserved nothing but death.

 

11.4.                David however didn’t know if he was just being deceived again.  Therefore, he set up a test for Mephibosheth to determine his motives.  He tells Mephibosheth that he had already decided to give ½ of the land of Saul to Ziba. 

 

11.5.                We know that this was a test because David had previously given “all” of the land of Saul to Ziba, not ½ of it.  Therefore, David was really just putting Mephibosheth to the test to see how he reacts.  This test is very similar to that one that David’s son Solomon would later make saying to divide the child in half to see who his mother really was (1 Kings 3:25).  The real mother of the child told Solomon to give the child to the other woman. The woman who was lying said that dividing the child in half was a good idea. 

 

11.6.                Mephibosheth passes this test of David however.  He tells David that Ziba can have all of the land, he is just glad to get his king back.

 

11.7.                Though we are not told so in the scriptures, I believe that David next restored the entire estate of Saul back to Mephibosheth after he passed this test.  We also see later in the scriptures that Mephibosheth is still part of the king’s household.  Surely, David also punished Ziba after this.  

 

12.            VS 19:31-39  - “31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to escort him over the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me and I will sustain you in Jerusalem with me.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 “I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 “Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward? 37 “Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant Chimham, let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” 38 The king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you require of me, I will do for you.” 39 All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.” -  Barzillai comes and appears before David and David seeks to reward him, but Barzillai requests that the reward go to Chimham

 

12.1.                Next, Barzillai came with the king and escorted him back across the Jordan into the land of Canaan.  Barzillai was from Gilead in the transjordan area.  He had come to David when David was hiding from Absalom’s forces and brought food for David’s men.  Thus, David wanted to repay the debt that he owed to Barzillai for his kindness.  He suggested to Barzillai that he sustain him in Jerusalem with the king.

 

12.2.                Barzillai was an old man however, 80 years old, thus he told David that since he was old and near the end of his life that he wouldn’t really be able to enjoy the joys of that sustenance and preferred to go back and live among his own people for the rest of his life.

 

12.3.                Barzillai however did request that David transfer his kind gift to a man named Chimham.  David agreed to take this man and to sustain him in Israel.

 

12.4.                Interstingly, in Jer. 41:17 we see this Chimham’s name appears again much later in the history of Israel.  The estate of Chimham is mentioned as existing in Bethlehem.  Apparently, the Holy Spirit wanted us to know two things :

 

12.4.1.                     The Lord’s Word can be trusted as inerrant.

 

12.4.2.                     The Lord had not forgotten about the kindness of this man Barzillai.

 

12.5.                David kisses and blesses Barzillai.

 

13.            VS 19:40-43  - “40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel accompanied the king. 41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why had our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?” 42 Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative to us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has anything been taken for us?” 43 But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.” -  The men of Israel contend with the men of Judah

 

13.1.                It is sad to see here that the 10 tribes of Israel have to contend with the tribe of Judah on this day.  They come to David and ask him why the tribe of Judah had stolen David away? 

 

13.2.                Judah answers this question by saying that it was only natural that they they came first to David because he was from their tribe.

 

13.3.                The 10 tribes mention to Judah that since they had 10 tribes to Judah’s one that they had more claim upon David and thus the tribe of Judah had treated them with contempt.

 

13.4.                If the 10 tribes of Israel wanted David back so badly, why then weren’t they just glad that David had returned right away, by whatever means?

 

13.5.                We will see in our next study that not all of the 10 tribes now desired David to rule over them, only half of the people, and that another insurrection was already underway.

 

14.            CONCLUSIONS:

 

14.1.                It is an interesting story to read about Absalom’s rebellion being crushed so soon and the insurrection being stopped by the hand of the Lord. 

 

14.1.1.                     There are many scriptures that teach about how that the Lord will overthrow the wicked and that they will not last long in their wickedness :

 

14.1.1.1. In Prov. 2:22, “22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.”

 

14.1.1.2. Job 20:5, “5 …the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?

 

14.1.2.                     Though wicked people may arise in our world we need not worry about them for they will not last long before the Lord will overthrow and destroy them.

 

14.2.                There is unending blessing for those who follow the Lord, as Psalm 16:11 tells us, “11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

 

14.3.                Isn’t God’s grace amazing that David would be allowed to reign again as king after the horrible things that he had done with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah the Hittite? 

 

14.3.1.                     Whenever we humble ourselves in repentance before the Lord He again begins to use our life!  What an awesome God He really is.

 

14.4.                As a reminder, we do need to think long about David’s having had “inordinate affection” for his son Absalom and just continuing to go and and on grieving for Absalom after he hears about Absalom’s death.  We need to ask the Lord to help us learn to set our affections to match those things that the Lord Himself values.

 

14.4.1.                     1 Corinthians 13:6 tells us that if we are truly walking in God’s agape love that, “6 [love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.”

 

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