2 Samuel 15:1-37
Q.1. How did Absalom manage to undermine his father’s reign? Why did Absalom go to Hebron? What strategy did he employ? – (2 Sam.15:1-12)
Absalom, the king’s handsome son, rode the best horses and chariots, with fifty runners to acclaim his importance (2 Sam.15:1 c.f. 14:25). He set about to ingratiate himself to the people of Israel. He went out of his way to embrace and take up issues at the expense of the prevailing processes (2 Sam.15:2-5). He undermined the people’s confidence in David’s fairness and competence. Thus he – stole away the hearts of the men of Israel (2 Sam.15:6). He planned a conspiracy to dethrone his father from Hebron (2 Sam.15:10). Firstly, he gained permission from David to fulfill a vow to serve the Lord (2 Sam.15:7-9). Then he sent his spies throughout Israel to acclaim him as king and – the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom (2 Sam.15:12). Some followed him innocently, while others such as David’s counsellor, Ahithophel, were promised prominence (2 Sam.15:11-12).
Q.2. What did David do? Who joined him in fleeing? Why did he leave the concubines behind? What made Ittai go with David? – (2 Sam.15:13-23)
When David was told that Absalom had mounted a successful conspiracy against him, he fled to avoid a bloodbath (2 Sam.15:13-14). It is a mark of David’s excellence as a ruler that his servants were prepared to do whatever he decided (2 Sam.15:15). The Bible makes particular mention of his six hundred faithful men who had followed him throughout his sojourn in the Philistine territory until they had made him king over Judah (2 Sam.15:18 c.f. 1 Sam.22:1-2; 23:13; 30:9-10; 2 Sam.2:3-4). David only left behind ten concubines, who were to look after the palace (2 Sam.15:16). Ittai, the Gittite was a faithful Philistine who, even though he was a foreigner, had attached himself to David. Sam.15:19). David advised him to go home to his brothers, since this was not his battle (2 Sam.15:19-20). However, Ittai encouraged the king – As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or life, there also your servant will be (2 Sam.15:21). He and his family had embraced David’s God and determined to fight for Him.
Q.3. Where did to the Ark and Zadok and Abiathar go? Who was Ahithophel? Why did David send Hushai back to Jerusalem? – (2 Sam.15:24-37)
Abiathar the priest who had survived the massacre at Nob remained true to David (2 Sam.15:24 c.f. 1 Sam.22:20-23). It must have heartened David to see Zadok the priest, with the Ark of the Covenant of God carried by the Levites, leading the people out of Jerusalem (2 Sam.15:24 c.f. 2 Sam.8:17). However, because David had a high regard for the Ark, he asked Zadok and the Levites to return it to its place in Jerusalem (2 Sam.15:25, 29). The king placed Himself at the mercy of God, saying – 25 … If I find favour in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back again and show me both it and His habitation. 26 But if He should say thus, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him” (2 Sam.15:25-26). He then sent both Zadok and Abiathar to minister in the Tabernacle in the administration of Absalom. He arranged for their sons to send him inside information about the progress of the rebellion (2 Sam.15:28). David was deeply wounded by the betrayal of Ahithophel, and prayed – O Lord, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness (2 Sam.15:31 c.f. Ps.41:9). David then asked Hushai the Archite to – thwart the counsel of Ahithopel for me (2 Sam.15:34). Thus, he enlisted Zadok, Abiathar, and Hushai to work on his behalf against Absalom (2 Sam.15:35-36).