2 Samuel 21:1-22 - Justice Served, Blessings Preserved

2 Samuel 21:1-22

David Avenges the Gibeonites

1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.

3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”

4 And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.”

So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

5 Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, 6 let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose.”

And the king said, “I will give them.”

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; 9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

10 Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.

11 And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa. 13 So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.

Philistine Giants Destroyed (1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”

18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

20 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

David aimed to set right the bloodthirsty act of Saul on the non-Israeli Gibeonites of the Amorites who had been under the protection of Israel (Joshua 9:15, 19-20) since the time of Joshua.  The matter came to David’s attention when there was a prolonged famine in the land and he asked the LORD why that was happening and why they were not realizing the blessings of God.  The answer was the Gibeonites whom Saul had slaughtered and so the king asked them to come to him and inquire what would satisfy justice for them and atone for the sins of his people against them.  They asked for seven men of Saul’s descendants caught and brought to hang for the sins of their father.  David spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan of Saul because of the oath David swore before the LORD and Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:15, 16, 2 Samuel 9:7) to preserve him and look after him always.  The sons of Rizpah the concubine of Saul and Michal his daughter were not spared, but hung to enact justice for the house of Saul against the Gibeonites to settle the matter.  David then brought bones of Saul Jonathan from Jabesh Gilead and reburied them in the tomb of Kish, the father of Saul, along with the bones of those who had been hanged.  Then there was peace in the land as justice had been served at last for the crimes of Saul committed against the slaughtered Gibeonites.  After this, the Israelites had victory over the ungodly giants who were used like Goliath as uber warrior weapons of the Philistines against God’s people.  There was a close call against David, so his army asked him to stay off the battlefield to live and continue to lead them.  The army went on to defeat four more of them, including the brother of Goliath the Gittite whom David had earlier killed when he threatened and blasphemed the LORD (1 Samuel 17:23, 26, 45) and His people.  The victory came after first providing justice for the Gibeonites as recompense for the failed promised of protection under Israel that Saul had willingly violated.  Justice was served and blessings of victory were restored.  Likewise, when we honor God and our promises to trust and obey His word, we enjoy the blessings of protection and victory in His grace.  This does not mean that we will not suffer tribulations or persecution (2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Peter 3:17), but that the blessings of His favor and avoidance of consequences will be rewarded (1 Corinthians 3:14-15) as crowns for our faithfulness as we obtain ultimate victory in the battle over the adversary (1 Corinthians 15:57) in Jesus Christ.  In the end, justice will be served and blessings restored to those who honor the Lord in our faithful following as we pursue peace (Romans 12:18, 14:19, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 3:11-12, 14, 17) and right wrongs as we are able. 

Samuel 20:1-26 - Unity Interrupted

2 Samuel 20:1-26

The Rebellion of Sheba

1 And there happened to be there a rebel, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said:

“We have no share in David,
Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;
Every man to his tents, O Israel!”

2 So every man of Israel deserted David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.

3 Now David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4 And the king said to Amasa, “Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.” 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape us.” 7 So Joab’s men, with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, went out after him. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out. 9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab’s hand. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus he died.

Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 Meanwhile one of Joab’s men stood near Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David—follow Joab!” 12 But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted. 13 When he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also went after Sheba. 15 Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and they cast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.

16 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’” 17 When he had come near to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?”

He answered, “I am.”
Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your maidservant.”
And he answered, “I am listening.”

18 So she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,’ and so they would end disputes. 19 I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”

20 And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.”

So the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” 22 Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.

David’s Government Officers

23 And Joab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; 24 Adoram was in charge of revenue; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 25 Sheva was scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; 26 and Ira the Jairite was a chief minister under David.

Just when David had returned to rule as king in Jerusalem again after the death of his son Absalom, the rebel Sheba rallied Israel with a trumpet call to have no part or inheritance in David.  The unity of the nation under the anointed king David’s rule was interrupted for a while by this rebellion stirred up by one man.  The power of a poisonous influence can be extremely potent as we see in this account of consequences within the sovereignty of God.  Israel then deserted David to followed Sheba of the tribe of Benjamin.  Israel and Judah were then a divided kingdom over the choice of God in David His anointed ruler (1 Samuel 16:13) and progenitor of the Messianic Seed (Micah 5:2, John 7:42) out of Judean Bethlehem who would be heaven’s Anointed King of kings in (Galatians 4:4-5) due time.  Joab pursued the rebel Sheba when Amasa did not as ordered by David to quell the rebellion, and cornered him at Abel where they were going to siege the city until a wise woman intervened with Joab and led the inhabitants to step in to save their city by decapitating Sheba and throwing him over to Joab’s forces outside the walls.  This wise decision to deliver the rebel saved an entire city and stopped the one who disrupted the unity of God’s kingdom on earth.  Sometimes we need to deal with those disrupting the unity of the body of Christ and His kingdom in the church with discipline, not violence, to restore that unity and strengthen what remains to avoid splits and damage to the city of that congregation from further damage.  This is a loose parallel of the situation with scriptural merit nonetheless.  We must seek unity in the body (Romans 14:19, Ephesians 4:3, 13, 14, 16) when such disruptions rise up from within to preserve the health and spiritual growth of the church by following biblical (Matthew 18:15, 16-17, Titus 3:10-11) guidance to either bring repentance to restoration or protection by exclusion from the body for its health in the kingdom.  When unity of the body is interrupted, it may be necessary therefore to cut of the head of the rebels causing unrepentant disunity in a figurative sense in this manner to save the rest of the inhabitants. 

2 Samuel 19:31-43 - Kindness Repaid

2 Samuel 19:31-43

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

The Quarrel About the King

40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”

42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”

43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”

Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Barzillai the rich Gileadite came to meet David to cross the Jordan with him, the same man who had supplied David while in exile out of the abundance God had provided.  The king offered to take him along and provide for the aged man, but Barzillai instead offered his servant Chimham since he was too old to enjoy the provisions of the king himself.  He also did not want to to be a burden since he was eighty years old.  David then blessed his benefactor and crossed the Jordan escorted by half of Israel and all of Judah who were closer related to him.  This caused some conflict to the Israelites because they claimed ten shares, one for each tribe, was more than just one of Judah, as if they owned him.  It took a heated exchange for Judah to speak louder and more fiercely to sway the controversy as they reminded Israel that they did not taken any gift to sway David to themselves even if Israel first advised bringing the king back after Absalom’s demise.  We see the kindness returned by David to his benefactor and then then argument to earn his favor as he returned without the one who had shown him such grace.  We can learn from these accounts to appreciate the servants of the Lord who provide for us (Galatians 6:6, Philippians 4:16-17, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, Hebrews 13:17) and not to argue over who deserves him more or more for themselves.  Our kindness and grace is rewarded by the Lord as crowns of blessings.  There is no entitlement to grace.

2 Samuel 19:18-30 - Repentance, Mercy, and Forgiveness

2 Samuel 19:18-30

18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good.

David’s Mercy to Shimei

Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19 Then he said to the king, “Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. 20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”

22 And David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

David and Mephibosheth Meet

24 Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And 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 eyes. 28 For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?”

29 So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’”

30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

This passage has elements of repentance, mercy, and forgiveness with grace holding them all entwined together in the actions of king David, the anointed of the LORD.  Shimei cursed the LORD’s anointed, king David, as he left Jerusalem to escape the hand of his son Absalom set against him for his own sin with his sister.  Instead of listening to the calls to put Shimei to death for this, David showed mercy in grace to forgive when the man repented for his sin against the king.  The king instead swore with an oath to him before all to hear, “You shall not die.”  Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul came to meet the king and was unkempt from not caring for himself sing David left.  He explained why he did not ride with the king when he left due to deception that left him there while being slandered as disloyal when he was not.  He saw David as an angel of God in doing no wrong and was willing to accept any punishment he deserved.  He did not see that he deserved any mercy and put himself in the hand of the anointed for judgment.  This is just how all we sinners now confess our sins and repent of them in sincerity and place ourselves completely in the hands of God’s mercy and grace in Christ the Anointed of God for judgment.  David showed grace and compassion to forgive and accept Mephibosheth as he had promised, just as the elect have been chosen by promise before time began (Matthew 25:34, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2) to be acquitted of judgement and released from the sentence of death (2 Corinthians 1:9-10, Romans 3:23-24, 6:23) we all deserve.  We then give him everything we possess and to others as well to meet their needs as the pattern of Saul’s son exemplifies here.  May we receive and show the same mercy we have received in forgiving grace to the penitent who wrong us as we consider the grace in which we stand in the Anointed of God.

Samuel 19:1-17 - The King Returned and Received

2 Samuel 19:1-17

1 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king 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 disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, 6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.

For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent.

David Returns to Jerusalem

9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. 10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”

11 So 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 words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house? 12 You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’” 14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”

15 Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a 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, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.

King David greatly mourned his dead son as the people questioned the grief over his enemy Absalom.  Joab wisely snapped the king out of the grief enough to appear before the people at the gate as reassurance of his power and reign, bringing back all of Israel who had run home during the banishment and battle that brought all to a conclusion.  Israel then questioned themselves as to why they did not all just accept David as king of both Judah and the other tribes.  David then sent word to gather the elders of Judah to put him back on the throne as he swayed their hearts back from Absalom to him.  He crossed back over the Jordan River and was welcomed with an escort to assume the throne.  This was the beginning of the restoration to the calling and anointing of the LORD for David to be king over all as a man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22, 23) in spite of his sins, the forefather according to the promise of the Seed who is Christ the Messiah to come as King of kings and sovereign Ruler of all rulers.  The imperfect was put on the throne by grace and the perfect to come had no need to be put on the throne He already ruled from in heaven and on earth.  Do we then dare not to enthrone Him as Lord and King over our hearts and minds, our very lives as part of His kingdom (Luke 17:21) within us?  The king on earth was returned and received by his own; when the Lord returns from heaven, who will receive Him then if not (John 1:11-12) now? 

Samuel 18:19-33 - Victory Tainted by Mourning

2 Samuel 18:19-33

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”

20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, 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 himself to Joab and ran.

22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.”
So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”

23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.”
So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

24 Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone. 25 Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.

26 Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!”

And the king said, “He also brings news.”

27 So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.”

And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

28 So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”

29 The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”

30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

31 Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”

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!”

David’s Mourning for Absalom

33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”

David heard the news of his son’s death from a messenger sent by Joab who sent a messenger to bring the news of Absalom’s demise as a triumph as David’s adversary.  The one authorized by Joab simply conveyed the sad news as the loss of a son, not something to gloat over.  All this Ahimaaz said was that the LORD God delivered up the men who raised their hand against the king.  The other Cushite messenger pointed specifically to Absalom as the enemy of the king who was eliminated as if a good thing, not being sensitive to David’s loss of his son.  This points out that compassion is required when an adversary who is also family is stopped from doing harm.  Grace and mercy are essential.  The messenger of Joab understood this while the Cushite one only saw victory over an enemy.  David saw the victory tainted by his mourning for the great loss, even the loss of a rebellious son who was set on taking the throne from his father and even attempting to kilo him as Saul once tried with David.  We must be sensitive to the loss of others and show grace with forbearance to (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, Romans 12:14, 1 Peter 2:9) our enemies and their families.  Gloating over the defeat of our enemies is not the example nor the command given by our Lord to us.  Such victories are always rightly tainted by mourning when we have compassion for the lost under the sway of the (1 John 5:19) wicked one.

Samuel 18:1-18 - Pierced to the Heart

2 Samuel 18:1-18

Absalom’s Defeat and Death

1 And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”

3 But the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in 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 by thousands. 5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the woods of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day. 8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. 10 Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”

11 So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”

12 But the man said to Joab, “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!’ 13 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.”

14 Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.

16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

David sent forth his small but mighty army against Absalom’s because the people of David did not want to lose him to Israel as their future king once more.  The battle ended badly for the king’s son but it was not due to death in the battle; he ran into the forked branches of a tree on his mule and was stuck hanging there as the mule kept going without him.  The first man to see Absalom hanging helplessly there was of David’s army.  He dared not kill the son of his sovereign because David gave explicit orders not to kill him due to his love for him and his own guilt and consequences of his own sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.  This soldier told Joab who had no such reservations and he went and pierced Absalom to the heart with three spears while hanging helplessly there in the tree and others joined him to ensure he was dead.  This pierced David to his heart when he heard the news just as the son was pierced as a kind of picture of the Son of God pierced through on the cross (Zechariah 12:10, Psalm 22:16, John 19:37) as the Seed of David according to the flesh that grieved the Father yet was necessary for the King to rule over death (Isaiah 9:6, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 24-25) by the resurrection to follow.  We have no monument as Absalom did for our pierced Savior King but the cross of our curse on which He sacrificed Himself and shed His lifeblood to atone for our sins forevermore.  He set they up for Himself that we may look on the One we have pierced who is the Son of God and man who hung seemingly helplessly there as His side was pierced along with the Father’s heart to establish the everlasting kingdom which is far greater than the shadow of the anointed one of king David in this account.  Our Father’s heart was pierced for our salvation from divine wrath by His plan of infinite grace and mercy on that tree of our curse due to sin.  Praise Him! 

2 Samuel 17:15-29 - The Providential Hand of God

2 Samuel 17:15-29

Hushai Warns David to Escape

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. 16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. 19 Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

So the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”

And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, “Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” 22 So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 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.

24 Then David went to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, 29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Hushai, the inside man for David (2 Samuel 15:34), set a warning when he knew of Absalom’s plan to hunt the king down.  He sent Ahimaaz and Jonathan through an intermediary woman servant via the priests Zadok and Abiathar (2 Samuel 15:35, 36) as prearranged for this kind of warning.  Unfortunately, a boy saw the two and told Absalom; they hid in a well until danger had passed and then passed the warning on to David who crossed over the Jordan before being apprehended by Absalom.  This failure to follow his counsel distressed Ahithophel to the point of committing suicide by hanging himself after first settling his family affairs.  David and his band of brothers continued on to Mahanaim with Absalom on his heels crossing the river behind them.  David and his companions were fed in Mahanaim by several supporters there to ease their weary and starving bodies worn out by the hasty and swift escape from danger.  This shows God’s sovereign providence in protecting His own and bringing the plans against him to nothing through the efforts of those supporting God’s anointed one.  We see this time and again such as when Saul escaped out of a window (2 Corinthians 11:32-33) and Peter was miraculously released from prison (Acts 5:19, 12:7) by the hand of God through circumstance and divine messengers.  These things demonstrate the providential hand of God to protect and provide for His own.  Do we read these accounts and choose to trust His counsel over the enemy and His deliverance to serve Him for His glory? 

2 Samuel 17:1-14 - Disinformation and Thwarted Council

2 Samuel 17:1-14

1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. 3 Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

The Advice of Hushai

5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says too.” 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”

7 So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8 For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. 9 Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

14 So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “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.

The disinformation of Hushai against the good advice of the wise Ahithophel who switched to the wrong side from king David to support and advise his son Absalom is seen effectively working here.  This was the will and intent of the LORD Himself to curb the destruction of David’s family that was a consequence of his sins of adultery and murder by the disinformation campaign of the king’s servant planted there for a time like this.  So when Ahithophel came up with a brilliant plan to overtake David and his men whole they were still weary from escaping Jerusalem and death at the hand of Absalom, the divine intervention moved the usurper to ask the counsel of Hushai as well, he advised strongly against the plan by misdirecting the facts of it and instead indicating it was bad timing and assumptions because David was likely to be holed up and not easy to find or defeat like a strong bear protecting her cubs.  He also indicated any lack of victory in the least would likely turn the followers of Absalom against him for failing to defeat David and his band of brothers straightaway.  He also spun the idea that if David hid in a city they would not be able to find him either.  These convincing arguments by the spy turned Absalom against the good advice of the turncoat Ahithophel because God had His purpose to defeat that good plan to save David for His future plan to bring the Seed who is the Messiah into the world twenty-eighty generations (Matthew 1:17) later.  This disinformation that he followed to thwart good counsel would be the disastrous outcome for David’s rebellious son to accomplish God’s will and eternal purpose.  We see throughout history how the Lord moves hearts and circumstances to bring His obedient Son into the world to establish His kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:25, 27, 28) by all means at His disposal in the hearts and plans of men to bring us to the cross and resurrection to life from the death of our sin begun in the Garden with Adam and Eve and completed in the Seed of David according to the flesh (Romans 1:1-3, 4) at the proper (Galatians 4:4) time in God’s eternal plan (Proverbs 19:21, Hebrews 6:17, 19-20) no matter what disinformation the adversary speaks against the gospel of truth.