Absalom flees as David and his sons mourn the death of Amnon. But eventually, in 2 Samuel 13:39 “King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was consoled that Amnon had died”. Joab knows that David cannot resolve this dilemma, David loves Absalom but Absalom committed murder, so Joab sends a woman before David who says in 2 Samuel 14:15–16 ‘I will speak to the king, perhaps the king will grant the request of his servant. 16 For the king will listen, to deliver his servant’. David understands and Absalom is finally back in Jerusalem, restored and reconciled by the King, his father. But Absalom is still angry at David and begins a campaign to undermine David’s position and over four years, in 2 Samuel 15:6 “Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel”. When he is ready, Absalom sends messengers to signal his takeover as king. But first, in 2 Samuel 15:11 “Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom as invited guests, going in their innocence as they did not know anything” so it appeared to the people that Absalom had the support of these leaders and the conspiracy grew.
The Sons of the King Have Come
2 Samuel 13:34–39
Absalom had killed his brother Amnon for the rape of his sister Tamar and in 2 Samuel 13:34 “So Absalom fled”. All of the other sons of David gathered themselves to their father and in
2 Samuel 13:36 When he finished speaking, look, the sons of the king came and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also, the king and all his servants wept a very great weeping.
None of the reasons matter when you face the loss o a close family member. It is a loss you feel, and grieve as they all did, except for Absalom in
2 Samuel 13:38–39 But Absalom had fled and went to Geshur, and he was there three years.
It takes time to grieve, and while David felt the loss of Amnon, he also loved his son Absalom and in
2 Samuel 13:39 King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was consoled that Amnon had died.
Go to the King and Speak to Him
2 Samuel 14:1–11
Some things are very difficult for us to face directly. Joab was a close confidant of David’s as the longtime head of his army. Joab knows David longs to bring Absalom home so in 2 Samuel 14:2 “took a wise woman” and sent her saying in 2 Samuel 14:3 “go to the king and speak to him according to this word”.
As the woman speaks to David, and he answers her with grace and assures forgiveness in 2 Samuel 14:11 “As Yahweh lives, surely not one hair shall fall from your son to the ground.”
Perhaps the King Will Grant the Request
2 Samuel 14:12–22
This woman continues to speak before David as Joab has instructed her and says in
2 Samuel 14:15–16 ‘I will speak to the king, perhaps the king will grant the request of his servant. 16 For the king will listen, to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who seeks to destroy me and my son together from the inheritance of God.’
These are almost the same words David used in his pleading with the Lord for the life of his son in 2 Samuel 12:22. Now, David recognizes the hand of his friend Joab and asks her in
2 Samuel 14:19–21 The king asked, “Was the hand of Joab with you in all of this?” The woman answered and said … Yes, your servant Joab himself commanded … In order to change the situation … Then the king said to Joab, “Look, please, I will grant this thing. Go and bring back the young man Absalom.”
By seeing the plight in someone else’s life, David was not caught up in his own emotions and knew what to do for this woman. And that was what he needed to do for his own family.
Let Me See the Face of the King
Going in Their Innocence They Did Not Know
2 Samuel 15:1–12
After Absalom’s three year exile, it is two more years in Jerusalem before he is allowed to see the king, David, his father, even though Absalom has repeatedly asked. Now that his position is restored with the king, we find that he is again, as he did with Amnon, waiting and planning and he begins his political campaign to win the people in
2 Samuel 15:1 It happened afterward that Absalom made himself a chariot with horses and fifty men running before him.
Absalom makes a show everywhere he goes and stands at the gate of the city where he begins to undermine the people’s trust in David in
2 Samuel 15:4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh, that someone would appoint me as judge in the land, that anyone might come to me who had a legal dispute or a case, and I would give him justice.”
Which is the same as saying that people cannot get justice with David as king. So, in 2 Samuel 15:6 “Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel” and he is ready to overthrow his father as king. But he doesn’t do this openly, he first gets the kings permission to go the Hebron in 2 Samuel 15:7-9. Then he sends messengers in
2 Samuel 15:10 Then Absalom sent scouts throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall shout ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’ ”
Then comes the masterfully underhanded deception to manipulate the people of Israel. Absalom invited many leaders that had no idea what Absalom was planning in
2 Samuel 15:11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom as invited guests, going in their innocence as they did not know anything.
And Absalom continued to invite key leaders so that as the people saw them come, the people were drawn in to this conspiracy in
2 Samuel 15:12 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the advisor of David, from his city Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew in strength, and the people were going and increasing with Absalom.
Get Up and Let Us Flee
2 Samuel 15:13–23
Study Verses
- 2 Samuel 13:34–39 The Sons of the King Have Come
- 2 Samuel 14:12–22 Perhaps the King Will Grant the Request
- 2 Samuel 15:1–12 Going in Their Innocence They Did Not Know
Today’s Reading
- 2 Samuel 13:34-39
- 2 Samuel 14:1-33
- 2 Samuel 15:1-23