6/4/2022 Bible in one year 2 Samuel Chapter 18 –20 Absalom is defeated, dies, King David returned Jerusalem
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts
Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &
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2 Samuel Chapter 18 King David’s son Absalom is defeated and dies
King David had lost the oldest son Amnon because of Absalom, now
his son Absalom intended to take his life. David fled from Jerusalem to
Nahanaim in his old age, the sense of distress, the picture of the beaten king
trudging barefoot up the Mount of Olives, head covered in mourning, cheeks wet
with tears, is as touching as any in the Old Testament. Particularly grievous
to David was the report that his wise counselor and friend, Ahithophel, joined
the rebels (16:15-23). One of the few bright spots was the loyalty of Hushai,
whom David commissioned to stay in Jerusalem to spy on Absalom
(15:32-37;16:16-19). When David came to Nahanaim, God’s provision and promise
to king David had never failed, the helpers through Shobi, Makir and Barzillar
who brought dedding, bowls, articles of pottery, wheat, barley, four, roasted
grain, beans and lentils, hone, curds, sheep, cheese from cows milk for David,
and his people. For the people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the
desert. King
David’s forces were mobilized in the north on Mahanaim. David’s son Absalom
crossed the Jordan intended to pursuit David.King David The battle took place
in the treacherous forest of Ephraim, N. of the Jabbok River in Transjordan.
Because of the rugged nature of the terrain, the pursuit through the forest
caused more deaths than the battle.(vv.6-8). Dave sent troops out, a third
under the commander of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai, and a third
under Ittai the Gittite.(v.2). David intended to go with the troops, but the
men said to David, “ you must not go
out…you are worth ten thousand of us, it would be better now for you to give us
support form the city” (v3). Now
Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He
was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large
oak, Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair,
while the mule he was riding kept on going.(v.9). one of men saw this, and told Joab, so Joab took three javelins in his
hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the
oak tree. And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and
killed him.(vv.14-15). Joab wanted the Cushite slave to report the
incident, in case David reacted with violence. The slaying of Absalom was
contrary to the king’s explicit orders (v.5). The Cushite answered plainly that
Absalom was dead. The king David was shaken. He went up to the room over the
gateway and wept.(v.33). The tragedy of Absalom was the consequence of David’s sin with
Bathsheba (12:11-12). Sin may be forgiven, but one still reaps its inevitable
consequences.
2
Samuel Chapter 19 King David mourned for Absalom and returned to Jerusalem
Joab
was told, “ the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” And for the whole
army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the
troops heard it said, “ the king is grieving for his son.”(vv.1-2). Joab warned
that David’s unrestrained grief could lead to political disaster. He said, “Today you have humiliated all your men,
who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the
lives of your wives and concubines. You love those who hate you and hate those
who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men
mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord
that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will
be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth
till now.”(vv.5-7). So the king got up and took his seat in the
gateway.(v.8) where the king granted audiences to his subjects. All the men
came before him. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes. The
Israelites, the people who had followed Absalom returned home. The elders of
Judah were reticent to invite David to return (v.11), perhaps because of the
part they had played in Absalom’s insurrection (15:10-11). David replaced his
commander Joab with Amasa, the commander of Absalom’s army (17:25). To secure
the allegiance of the rebel army and to discipline Joab for slaying Absalom.
Returning to Jerusalem from exile, David was met at the Jordan by his
supporters.(vv.15-40).
There were three person, king David acted in kindness to them.
First, Shimei had cursed David as he fled from Jerusalem(16:5-8). Shimei asked David for forgiveness, “ For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”(v.20). House of Joseph, a reference to the tribe of Ephraim (the offspring of Joseph’s son), a large tribe and representative of the ten northern tribes. King David forgave Shimei and acted kind to him.
Second, Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. David asked, “ why didn’t you go with me Mephibosheth?” (v.25). Mephibosheth said, “ my lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, ‘ I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king. But Ziba my servant betrayed me and he has slandered our servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever pleases you…(vv.26-27). Mephibosheth exhibited signs of extreme and extended mourning. David rebuffed Mephibosheth and decided to divide his property. David either (1) made a bad judgment, (2) was trying to keep from alienating Ziba, or (3) did not believe Mephibosheth to be totally innocent.
Third, Barzillai
was a very old men, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during
his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. He asked David let him
return that he may die in his own town near the tomb of his father and mother.
But he appointed Kimham who was apparently Brazillai’s son (1 Kings2:7) to
cross over with King David and do fto him whatever please him.(vv.34-38). So
all the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over, kissed Barzillai
and gave him his blessings. Then, Baarzillai returned to his home (v.39).
The
dispute between Israel and Judah gave rise to Sheba’s rebellion. Sheba a
Benjamite, sounded the trumpet and shouted, “
We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent O
Israel!”(v.1). So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son
of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan
to Jerusalem.
When David returned to his
palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the
palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not
lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death,
living as widows.(vv.3).
King
David said to Amasa to summon the men of Judah to come to him within three days, but When Amasa went to
summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him. David
said to Abishai, “ Now Sheba son of Bicri
will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him,
or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.” (v.6) Amasa’s slowness
to carry out order (vv.4-5) could have resulted in another disaster, and it
provided Joab with the opportunity to kill him and regain his lost position. Joab’s
men, and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out
under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba
son of Bicri.(v.7). Joab killed Amasa, all the men went on with Joab to pursue
Sheba son of Bicri. Joab apparently contrived to let his sword fall out of its
sheath so that as he picked it up, seemingly innocently, he could stab the
unsuspecting Amasa. Command of David’s army transferred again to Joab(v.13,23),
who pursued Sheba to Abel Beth Maacah, about twenty –five miles N. of the Sea
of Galilee in the Hula Valley. There Sheba was slain.(vv.11-22).
Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered to gather and follow him. All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called from the city, “ Listen ! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” She said, “ you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”(v.19) A mother in Israel. I.e., a mother city or capital; the prominent city of its region. The woman questioned Joab’s failure to submit to the citizens’ terms of peace in accordance with Deut.20:10. Joab said, “ that is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I will withdraw from the city.”(v.20) Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, they cut off the head of Sheba and threw it to Joab. So Joab sounded the trumpet and returned to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
Joab was over Israel’s entire army.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; Adoniram was in
charge of forcd labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Sheva was
secretary, Zadok and Abiathar were priests and Ira the Jairite was David’s
priest. (vv.22-23)
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
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