§76. The Treacherous Son and the Loyal Friends (II Sam. 14:25, 26; 15:1-15, 18-37)

A. ABSALOM'S BEAUTY AND TREACHERY

Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head, (now it was at every year's end that he cut it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he cut it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight.

And Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, "Of what city art thou?"

And he said, "Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel."

And Absalom said unto him, "See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee." Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!"

And it was so, that when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

And it came to pass at the end of four years, that Absalom said unto the king, "I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron."

And the king said unto him, "Go in peace."

So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"

And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

B. DAVID'S FLIGHT

And there came a messenger to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom."

And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword."

And the king's servants said unto the king, "Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose."

And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, "Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile; return to thine own place. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee."

And Ittai answered the king, and said, "As the Lord liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be."

And David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over."

And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

And, lo, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

And the king said unto Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: but if he say thus, 'I have no delight in thee;' behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him."

C. DAVID'S PLAN

The king said unto Zadok the priest, "Return into the city in peace. See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word from you." Zadok therefore carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.

And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

And one told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom."

And David said, "O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the ascent, behold, Hushai came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: and David said unto him, "If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, 'I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant': then shalt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have there with them their two sons; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear."

So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city.

§77. The Folly and Fate of Absalom (II Sam. 16:15, 16, 20; 17:1-16, 22, 24; 18:1-17, 21, 24, 25, 31-33)

A. ABSALOM'S COUNCIL OF WAR

And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass, when Hushai, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, "God save the king, God save the king."

Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel what we shall do."

And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, "Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: and I will bring back all the people unto thee: so all the people shall be in peace."

And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

Then said Absalom unto Hushai, "Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not, speak thou."

And Hushai said unto Absalom, "The counsel that Ahithophel hath given this time is not good. Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be fallen at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, 'There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.' And even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men. But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him we will not leave so much as one. Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there."

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai is better than the counsel of Ahithophel."

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, 'Lodge not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but in any wise pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.'"

Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan. And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

B. THE BATTLE AND THE DEATH OF ABSALOM

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, "I will surely go forth with you myself also."

But the people said, "Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou be ready to succor us out of the city."

And the king said unto them, "What seemeth you best I will do."

And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom."

And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. And the people of Israel were smitten there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country: and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went on.

And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."

And Joab said unto the man that told him, "And, behold, thou sawest it, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten pieces of silver, and a girdle."

And the man said unto Joab, "Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.' Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life, (and there is no matter hid from the king,) then thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me."

Then said Joab, "I may not tarry thus with thee." And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

C. DAVID'S GRIEF

Then said Joab to the Cushite, "Go tell the king what thou hast seen." And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

Now David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, "If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth." And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, "Tidings for my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee."

And the king said unto the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?"

And the Cushite answered, "The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is."

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

THE MEANING OF THE STORY

265. David did not bring up his sons well and there were very bad family quarrels. At last Absalom murdered one of his brothers and was obliged to flee. The king allowed him to return, but the wicked young man planned to rebel against his father.

266 (§76A). What are we told of this handsome young man? Beauty of face and figure is very desirable, but it frequently makes a person vain and selfish. Probably Absalom had been admired and spoiled, and had come to think only of himself.

267 (§76A). How did the young prince make a fine appearance? We see that people were accustomed to come to the king to have their matters of law decided. He was the supreme court. Of course it was not always possible to hear all the cases at once. How did Absalom persuade the people that he would make a better king than his father? Note how the prince pretended to be democratic. What do you think of all this conduct?

268 (§76A). This deceitful conduct continued for four years until Absalom thought he was ready to strike the blow. He decided to make Hebron the headquarters of his rebellion. Locate Hebron. It was where David had his capital when he was king of Judah. Can you think of any reason why that city might have been dissatisfied? What excuse did Absalom give for a journey to Hebron? How did he plan to gather an army? How many innocent men went with him? What wise man did Absalom get on his side?

269 (§76B). What did David decide upon as soon as he heard the news? Notice that he had a body guard of 600 Philistine soldiers. The old enemies were good warriors and he had taken them into his service. David had a wonderful way of gaining friends. Tell the story of Ittai. How did the people feel about the flight of the old king?

270 (§76B). It was customary for the ark to be taken when the army went to battle (§61A). So the priest thought he ought to carry it with David. But the king sent it back again, saying that he would trust in the Lord. Moreover he was glad to have a friend in the city. How did he arrange with Zadok to have news sent to him? Describe the sad journey up the Mount of Olives. What signs of grief did they show?

271 (§76C). Whom did David hear had joined Absalom? How did he plan that bad advice might be given to Absalom? How did he arrange for news to be brought to him? Let us get the movement of the story before us. Absalom is marching from Hebron with his counselor and his army; David is in flight with his 600 guards and some faithful friends, but he has left some friends in the city to send him news; presently Absalom marches into the city.

272 (§77A). The first act of the new king is to decide what to do. Ahithophel advised immediate pursuit of David. Tell what he said. Absalom decided to ask the wise old Hushai his advice also. Whose side was Hushai really on? What advice did he give? How did he frighten Absalom and how did he flatter him? Why was this advice good for David? What was decided?

273 (§77A). How was David informed of the council? He decided to cross the river at once, so as to have the swift stream between himself and his pursuers. Locate the Jordan. Did he succeed in getting his whole company over? What became of Ahithophel? Meantime Absalom was gathering a considerable army. After a lapse of a little time he followed his father, who had been gathering all the people that were loyal to him. The matter could only be settled by battle.

274 (§77B). How many divisions were there of David's army? Why did he not go himself to battle? Notice how he reviewed the troops as they went forth. What special command did he give to the captains? Why did he do this? Give an account of the battle.

275 (§77B). In the battle, which was going against him, Absalom met David's guards. What accident happened to him as he was trying to escape? What dispute took place between the soldier and Joab? What did Joab do? There was no need for further pursuit, so Joab called back his troops. What was done with Absalom? We see that with the death of the leader the rebels fled to their homes. Joab called a Cushite, that is a negro slave: what command did he give him?

276 (§77C). Where was David during the battle? What conversation took place between the king and the Cushite? How was David affected? What do you think of David in all this matter?

A REVIEW OF DAVID

David was one of those men who loved others and could make them love him. It will be interesting to make a list of all those of whom we have studied who felt the influence of his winning disposition. Read I Sam. 16:12, 21; 18:1, 20; 24:16; 25:42; II Sam. 1:26; 2:4; 5:3; 15:21, 32; 18:3; 23:15, 16. Write a little paper telling of all the people who loved David.