Absalom’s Defeat and Death

2 Samuel 18:1-18 NLT
Absalom’s Defeat and Death
^18:1 David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them. ² He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Joab, one under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath. The king told his troops, “I am going out with you.”
³ But his men objected strongly. “You must not go,” they urged. “If we have to turn and run—and even if half of us die—it will make no difference to Absalom’s troops; they will be looking only for you. You are worth 10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it.”
⁴ “If you think that’s the best plan, I’ll do it,” the king answered. So he stood alongside the gate of the town as all the troops marched out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.
⁵ And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom.” And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.
⁶ So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, ⁷ and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives. ⁸ The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.
⁹ During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. ¹⁰ One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, “I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.”
¹¹ “What?” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!”
¹² “I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver,” the man replied to Joab. “We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom.’ ¹³ And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me.”
¹⁴ “Enough of this nonsense,” Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree. ¹⁵ Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.
¹⁶ Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men returned from chasing the army of Israel. ¹⁷ They threw Absalom’s body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones over it. And all Israel fled to their homes.
¹⁸ During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 18:1-18 NLT
Absalom’s Defeat and Death

^18:1 David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them. 

David organized his troops in preparation for an encounter with Absalom and his troops.

• David’s methodical preparation shows his leadership strength being put into action.

King David is widely considered a highly skilled and successful military leader. 

² He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Joab, one under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath.

A three pronged attack was a customary military strategy.

Judges 7:16 NLT Gideon Defeats the Midianites 

¹⁶ He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.

1 Samuel 11:11 NLT Saul vs. the Ammonites

¹¹ But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.

1 Samuel 13:16-17 NLT Used by the Philistine army

¹⁶ … The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash. ¹⁷ Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, ¹⁸ another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness. 

The king told his troops, “I am going out with you.”

Unlike:

2 Samuel 11:1 NLT
David and Bathsheba
11:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

• David wanted to be a part of this military campaign. 

³ But his men objected strongly. “You must not go,” they urged. “If we have to turn and run—and even if half of us die—it will make no difference to Absalom’s troops; they will be looking only for you.

You are worth 10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it.”

• David’s comrades insisted that he remained behind.

The counsel of many.

Proverbs 11:14 NLT
Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisors.

Proverbs 15:22 NLT
Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
Many advisors bring success. 

Note:   David was getting old and was no longer the warrior he had once been.

David was likely in his 60s or 70s during the events of 2 Samuel 18.

All of Absalom’s troops were looking to kill David.

2 Samuel 17:1-4 NLT (Ahithophel speaking)
^17:1 Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. ² I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, ³ and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

• If David were killed, the whole cause would be lost and Absalom would become the next king.

⁴ “If you think that’s the best plan, I’ll do it,” the king answered. So he stood alongside the gate of the town as all the troops marched out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.

No one knows the size of David’s army, but it appears to have grown.

⁵ And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom.” And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.

• David reluctantly agreed to stay behind but commanded his officers that they not harm Absalom.

“Young Absalom” is used in this verse and in verses 12, 29, and 32.

David’s love for his son was undying and almost his undoing.

From a future lesson:

2 Samuel 19:5-7 NLT
⁵ Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. ⁶ You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. ⁷ Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.”

• David’s command regarding Absalom (“Deal gently with young Absalom”) reveals his deep paternal love for Absalom despite Absalom’s rebellion against David. It sets up a painful tension between David’s role as king and as father.

David’s order to spare Absalom shows how difficult it is for him to separate justice from mercy.

 ⁶ So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, ⁷ and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives. ⁸ The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.

It seems like David’s army of experienced soldiers could effectively attack a much larger force, most of whom were apparently unable to maneuver well in the dense forest.

God is clearly behind David’s victory.
“more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword”
God used his creation to defeat Absalom’s army.

• The Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives. 
  

⁹ During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule,

Mules were ridden by the royal family in David’s kingdom.

It appears that the forest (God) caused chaos for Absalom’s army.

But as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. 

• Absalom became a victim of the elements of the inhospitable terrain.

Absalom’s “famous long hair” became his downfall.

2 Samuel 14:25-26 NLT
²⁵ Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. ²⁶ He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!

• Absalom’s pride, notably his hair, contributes to his downfall.

Food for thought:
His death hanging in a tree also evokes Deuteronomy 21:23: “a man hanged on a tree is cursed,” implying divine judgment.

Deuteronomy 21:23 NLT
²³ … for anyone who is hung^[a] (on a tree) is cursed in the sight of God. …

Footnotes
21:23 Greek version reads for everyone who is hung on a tree. 

¹⁰ One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, “I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.”

¹¹ “What?” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!”

• Joab’s actions and interests did not always coincide with David’s wishes.

At times David was unable to control Joab.

Example:
2 Samuel 3:39 NLT
³⁹ And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

¹² “I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver,” the man replied to Joab. “We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom.’ ¹³ And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me.”

• One of David’s soldiers found Absalom dangling from a branch of a large tree but the soldier refused to harm Absalom further because he had heard David order his men not to harm Absalom. 

¹⁴ “Enough of this nonsense,” Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree. 

Joab felt differently than the soldier who had spared Absalom’s life.

¹⁵ Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.

• Joab and his armor bearers disobeyed a direct order of David (see verse 5).

• Joab acts decisively, believing the rebellion must end completely.

These men wanted Absalom completely out of the picture. 

¹⁶ Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men returned from chasing the army of Israel. 

• After Absalom’s death, Joab calls off the pursuit, signaling the rebellion’s end.

David’s army appeared to be in control. 

¹⁷ They threw Absalom’s body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones over it.

This is not a formal or honorable burial. Being tossed into a pit and covered with stones is more akin to the burial of a criminal or someone disgraced.

Being buried away from family tombs was considered shameful, again highlighting Absalom’s tragic end.

Similar imagery is seen in the deaths of Achan (Joshua 7:26) and the king of Ai (Joshua 8:29)—both marked by a pile of stones that served as a visible sign of divine judgment.

Joshua 7:26 NLT
²⁶ They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the Lord was no longer angry.

Joshua 8:29 NLT
²⁹ Joshua impaled the king of Ai on a sharpened pole and left him there until evening. At sunset the Israelites took down the body, as Joshua commanded, and threw it in front of the town gate. They piled a great heap of stones over him that can still be seen today.

• Absalom’s body was thrown into a deep pit in the forest and a great heap of stones was piled over it. 

And all Israel fled to their homes. 

The narrative shifts to a strange epilogue about Absalom’s monument, which he had built for himself 

¹⁸ During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.”

2 Samuel 14:27 NLT
²⁷ He (Absalom) had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.

He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day.

• Absalom had already erected a memorial to his own name in the Kidron Valley.

Absalom was not unique in doing this.

1 Samuel 15:12 NLT
¹² Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”

Absalom was a vain, prideful, and ambitious man.

The monument became a symbol of Absalom’s pride and tragic end.

• This contrasts starkly with his actual fate: buried in a pit and covered with stones—a dishonorable end, far from the glory he desired.

Absalom’s desire for legacy ends in disgrace. The “monument” becomes a symbol of failed ambition and rebellion against God’s anointed.

Absalom’s ambition leads to personal ruin and national bloodshed, underscoring the dangers of pride and disloyalty.

Comments from commentaries.

For generations, people threw stones at it in contempt of Absalom’s rebellion against his father.

Today there is a monument (a different monument), a tomb, in that area called Absalom’s tomb on which orthodox Jews spit when passing by.

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Hushai Saves David

In this lesson, we will see the unfolding drama of Absalom’s rebellion against his father, King David.

We will clearly see how God gives Hushai a critical role in shaping the events of this narrative.

Again, this passage demonstrates the power of divine intervention in human affairs.

This is another lesson on human behavior.

2 Samuel 17:11-29 NLT
Hushai Saves David
¹¹ “I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops. ¹² When we find David, we’ll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. ¹³ And if David were to escape into some town, you will have all Israel there at your command. Then we can take ropes and drag the walls of the town into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down.”
¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!

Hushai Warns David to Escape
¹⁵ Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said to Absalom and the elders of Israel and what he himself had advised instead. ¹⁶ “Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.”
¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David. ¹⁸ But a boy spotted them at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard. ¹⁹ The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.
²⁰ When Absalom’s men arrived, they asked her, “Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
The woman replied, “They were here, but they crossed over the brook.” Absalom’s men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem.
²¹ Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. “Quick!” they told him, “cross the Jordan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed. ²² So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.
²³ When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.
²⁴ David soon arrived at Mahanaim. By now, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River. ²⁵ Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. (Amasa was Joab’s cousin. His father was Jether, an Ishmaelite. His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.) ²⁶ Absalom and the Israelite army set up camp in the land of Gilead.
²⁷ When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim. ²⁸ They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, ²⁹ honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 17:11-29 NLT
Hushai Saves David 

¹¹ “I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. 

Review:

2 Samuel 15:34 NLT (David talking to Hushai)
³⁴ Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice.

• Hushai, who was secretly loyal to David, cleverly countered Ahithophel’s plan to immediately attack David with a small force.

bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south.

Meaning from the northernmost to the southernmost parts of Israel.

Refer to a Bible map. 

That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore.

+ Hushai’s plan would produce an overwhelmingly superior fighting force.

–  This plan would take longer to implement.

Verse 14 tells us that Ahithophel actually had the better plan.

“the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan”.

(more about this later.) 

• In reality, Ahithophel’s battle plan was better than the plan Hushai had proposed. 

And I advise that you personally lead the troops. 

This plan appealed to Absalom’s vanity and desire for glory, as it positioned him as a powerful leader. 

• Hushai’s plan appealed to Absalom’s vanity. 

¹² When we find David, we’ll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 

Notice, Hushai says “we”.  Hushai cleverly links himself with the revolt.

Hushai’s ability to gain Absalom’s trust is crucial. 

¹³ And if David were to escape into some town, you will have all Israel there at your command. Then we can take ropes and drag the walls of the town into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down.”

• Hushai’s imagery pictures a total destruction of David and his men.

Review Ahithophel’s plan: 

Ahithophel proposes an immediate attack on David while he is weary and unprepared.

His plan is strategic: a swift strike would create panic, isolate David, and allow him to be killed without a prolonged war.

This would be a victory for Absalom that would not weaken the nation.

Hushai’s plan involved far more death and destruction. 

¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.”

Absalom’s acceptance of Hushai’s plan highlights the blinding nature of pride. His desire for personal glory led to his eventual demise. 

• Absalom’s acceptance of Hushai’s plan highlights the blinding nature of pride. 

For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!

the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!

• The Lord had determined to defeat the rebellion of Absalom.

• Absalom’s power grab was doomed from the start.

Hushai Warns David to Escape

¹⁵ Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said to Absalom and the elders of Israel and what he himself had advised instead. ¹⁶ “Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.”

• David and his men were currently in a very venerable position.

Hushai’s advice is for David to cross the Jordan River, knowing that Absalom might change his mind and immediately set out after David.

Hushai informed the priests Zadok and Abiathar about Absalom’s decision. They, in turn, sent their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to warn David.

Review:

2 Samuel 15:35-36 NLT
³⁵ Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, ³⁶ and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.” 

¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David. 

En-rogel is a spring on the outskirts of Jerusalem,

• An unnamed servant girl played a crucial role in passing this message discreetly on to Jonathan and Ahimaaz.

A servant girl going to the spring for water would attract no attention.

¹⁸ But a boy spotted them at En-rogel (Jonathan and Ahimaaz), and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim,

Refer to a Bible map

where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard. ¹⁹ The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.

• Jonathan and Ahimaaz’s mission was intercepted, and they were forced to hide in a well. 

²⁰ When Absalom’s men arrived, they asked her, “Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

The woman replied, “They were here, but they crossed over the brook.” Absalom’s men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. “Quick!” they told him, “cross the Jordan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed.  

²² So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.

• Jonathan and Ahimaaz eventually reached David, urging him to cross the Jordan River to safety. 

²³ When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.

• When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself.

This act highlights Ahithophel’s pride and his inability to cope with the rejection of his wisdom.

His suicide underscores his profound despair and the perceived dishonor.

This passage highlights the contrast between the characters of Ahithophel and Hushai. Ahithophel was proud and self-assured, while Hushai was humble and loyal. 

²⁴ David soon arrived at Mahanaim.

David’s trip from the Jordan River to Mahanaim would have been 30-40 miles.

• Going to Mahanaim places David and his troops in a fortified position, allowing time to regroup and prepare for the impending confrontation.

Mahanaim had served as the capital of Israel under Ish-Bosheth.

2 Samuel 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. 

Ish-bosheth was the second king of Israel, succeeding his father Saul after his death at the Battle of Mount Gilboa. He reigned for several years from the city of Mahanaim. 

By now, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River. ²⁵ Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. (Amasa was Joab’s cousin (and David’s nephew). His father was Jether, an Ishmaelite. His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.) 

• Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. 

Joab is not specifically mentioned as accompanying David when he fled from Jerusalem during However, Joab remained loyal to David throughout the rebellion.

Amasa was a nephew of David.

Amasa was a cousin of Joab, Abishai, and Absalom. 

²⁶ Absalom and the Israelite army set up camp in the land of Gilead. 

²⁷ When David arrived at Mahanaim,

he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, 

and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, 

and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim. 

Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai were not direct relatives of David but were loyal allies who provided him and his people with supplies when he fled from Absalom. 

Shobi was a son of Nahash, the king of Ammon.

Makir was from Lo-debar and had previously taken care of Mephibosheth,

Barzillai was an elderly and wealthy individual of Gilead from Rogelim. 

Refer to a Bible map.

• David still had loyal allies.

²⁸ They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, ²⁹ honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him.

Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai supplied the necessary essentials such as sleeping mats and food needed to sustain David and his weary followers.

These men demonstrated true friendship and played a crucial role in David’s eventual victory.

For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”

This passage demonstrates the power of divine intervention in human affairs. God had determined to thwart Ahithophel’s wise counsel. Hushai’s seemingly foolish advice was actually God’s instrument to protect David and ultimately fulfill His promises to him.

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Ahithophel Advises Absalom
&
Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

We are at the part in our story when David and his group of loyal followers just left Jerusalem and Absalom and his followers are now arriving at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 16:15-17:11a NLT
Ahithophel Advises Absalom
¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. ¹⁶ When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!”
¹⁷ “Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with him?”
¹⁸ “I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord and by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied. ¹⁹ “And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you? Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!”
²⁰ Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do next?”
²¹ Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” ²² So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.
²³ Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.
^17:1 Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. ² I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, ³ and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

⁵ But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.” ⁶ When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?”
⁷ “Well,” Hushai replied to Absalom, “this time Ahithophel has made a mistake. ⁸ You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops. ⁹ He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered. ¹⁰ Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.

¹¹ “I recommend that …

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 16:15-17:11a NLT
Ahithophel Advises Absalom

¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. 

We are now at the part in our story when David and his group of loyal followers just left Jerusalem and Absalom and his followers are now arriving at Jerusalem.

• Absalom, having gained significant support, enters Jerusalem triumphantly.

Ahithophel’s presence is significant—he was one of David’s wisest counselors, and his defection to Absalom represents both betrayal and the gravity of the rebellion.

David just lost the support of someone who would have been a part of his inner circle of advisors.

The support of people is shifting to Absalom. 

¹⁶ When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!”
¹⁷ “Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with him?”

This is a good, insightful question.  You better listen carefully to the answer.  Make sure that you are not just hearing what you want to hear.

¹⁸ “I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord and by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied. ¹⁹ “And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you?

• Read “between the lines” and notice the illusiveness of Hushai’s response.

Hushai’s words were deliberately ambiguous.

He was in fact an agent of the true king, King David.  David was the man chosen by the Lord.  Hushai avoided using the king’s name, leading Absalom to believe that Hushai was loyal to him rather than to David.

Note: Hushai does not say that he will serve Absalom. 

Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!” 

• Hushai’s ability to gain Absalom’s trust is crucial to David’s survival.

Review:
2 Samuel 15:32 NLT

³² When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him.
Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. ³³ But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. ³⁴ Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice. 

David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as a spy within Absalom’s court. He is tasked with countering the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom’s chief advisor, whose advice was highly regarded. 

• In reality David had sent Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as a spy within Absalom’s court. His role was to counter the advice Ahithophel was giving Absalom. 

²⁰ Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do next?”
²¹ Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace.

• In the Near East, taking possession of a previous king’s harem was a direct claim to his throne.

• Absalom slept with David’s concubines to assert or strengthen his claim to the throne.

Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.”

This was a definitive and irreversible declaration of the break between father and son, making reconciliation virtually impossible. 

²² So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.

This is a fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy. 

Review:
Nathan rebukes David

2 Samuel 12:11 NLT
¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.

• Absalom was making it clear that he was claiming the throne.

Absalom’s shameful act echoed David’s adultery with Bathsheba, which also began on that roof.

• The consequences of David’s past sin now unfold in his own household.

The fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy reminds us that sin has consequences, even for great leaders like David. 

²³ Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.

• Ahithophel’s advice was highly valued, first by David and now by Absalom.

“For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.”  

Hushai’s assignment was going to be challenging.

Though it seems Absalom is succeeding, God is at work through Hushai to overturn Ahithophel’s counsel and bring David back to the throne.

Remember: God is an all-powerful sovereign God.

2 Samuel 7:8-9 NLT
⁸ “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!

Jeremiah 32:26-27 NLT
²⁶ Then this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²⁷ “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?

Matthew 19:26 NLT
²⁶ Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” 

^17:1 Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.

Ahithophel suggests that he himself lead the force against David.

 ² I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, ³ and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people.”  

• Ahithophel proposes an immediate attack on David while he is weary and unprepared.

His plan is strategic: a swift strike would create panic, isolate David, and allow him to be killed without a prolonged war.

This would be a victory for Absalom that would not weaken the nation. 

⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

Ahithophel offers the good advice to attack and kill David immediately.

With no one else to turn to, he says, the whole country would embrace Absalom.

If this advice had been followed, it is likely that David would have been defeated.

• Ahithophel’s plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

• Absalom’s rebellion appears to have gained backing from “all the elders (leaders) of Israel”.

Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

⁵ But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.”  

• Although Ahithophel’s counsel is wise, Absalom still seeks a second opinion. 

Proverbs 11:14 & Proverbs 15:22 encourage the counsel of many.

 ⁶ When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?”

⁷ “Well,” Hushai replied to Absalom, “this time Ahithophel has made a mistake. ⁸ You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops. ⁹ He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered. ¹⁰ Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.

Hushai, David’s secret ally, crafts his response to subtly undermine Ahithophel’s advice.

• David’s double agent Hushai gave a convincing argument pointing out the weaknesses in Ahithophel’s plan.

Hushai reminds Absalom that David is a seasoned warrior, unlike Ahithophel’s portrayal of him as weak and exhausted.

He warns that David and his mighty men are “enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs”.

He suggests that if an initial attack fails, Absalom’s troops will lose heart.

¹¹ “I recommend that …

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Two stories:

David and Ziba

Shimei Curses David

A Lesson on David’s Character.

Consider: Is there something in this lesson that you could apply to your life?

2 Samuel 16:1-14 NLT
David and Ziba
^16:1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, was waiting there for him. He had two donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine.
² “What are these for?” the king asked Ziba.
Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
³ “And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him.
“He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’”
⁴ “In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything Mephibosheth owns.”
“I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David

⁵ As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. ⁶ He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. ⁷ “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. ⁸ “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”
⁹ “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. “Let me go over and cut off his head!”
¹⁰ “No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”
¹¹ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. ¹² And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” ¹³ So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.
¹⁴ The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 16:1-14 NLT
David and Ziba

^16:1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives, 

Refer to a Bible map. 

Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth,

Read this brief review about Ziba:

2 Samuel 9 NLT
^9:1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ² He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked.
“Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.
³ The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”
Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
… ⁵ So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. ⁶ His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. …
¹² …  From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. ¹³ And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.

• Ziba was the servant of Mephibosheth,

• Mephibosheth was the disabled grandson of King Saul, and the son of Jonathon, whom David had taken into his care.

(Ziba) was waiting there for him. He had two donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine.

Ziba was waiting for David.

• Ziba arrives with provisions for David and his people.

Remember: (add this to the brief review of Ziba.)

2 Samuel 9:9-10 NLT
⁹ Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. ¹⁰ You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

Ziba had easy access to these resources.

² “What are these for?” the king asked Ziba.

Don’t you wonder why David asked that question?

Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” 

³ “And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him. 

“He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’”

Ziba implies that the gifts are entirely his idea, and that Mephibosheth sees David’s difficulty as an opportunity to reclaim the kingdom. Ziba accused Mephibosheth of saying “Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul”.

Ziba was lying to David.

In reality, it was Ziba looking to profit from this political crisis.

• Ziba lied to David. Ziba was looking to profit from this political crisis in David’s life. 

⁴ “In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything Mephibosheth owns.”

• David responds quickly, without hearing Mephibosheth’s side of the story.

David was quick to assume the worst.

“I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king.” 

Mephibosheth has the opportunity to share his side of the story at a later date.

2 Samuel 19:24-27 NLT
²⁴ Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, came down from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes since the day the king left Jerusalem. ²⁵ “Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” the king asked him.
²⁶ Mephibosheth replied, “My lord the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle my donkey so I can go with the king.’ For as you know I am crippled. ²⁷ Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refused to come.

• Shimei Curses David 

⁵ As King David came to Bahurim,

Bahurim was in the territory of Benjamin located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives.

Refer to a Bible map.

We know that some of Bahurim’s inhabitants were loyal to David, (Chapter 17) but since it was in the territory of Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, it is likely that many of the people harbored resentment against David’s rule.

a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. 

• Shimei’s exact relation to Saul is unknown, but since he was from the same clan as Saul’s family, he likely had a strong loyalty to Saul.

⁶ He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him.

Shimei was gutsy.

There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard. (15:18)

It would have been easy for David’s men to subdue Shimei. 

 ⁷ “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. ⁸ “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”

These accusations likely stem from Shimei’s resentment over David’s rise to power and the perceived displacement of Saul’s lineage.

However, in reality, David never directly harmed Saul or his family—Saul died in battle, and David mourned his death.

• Shimei’s accusations were clearly inaccurate, and if God was punishing David, it would have been for his sin with Bathsheba.

2 Samuel 12:10-11 NLT
¹⁰ From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.
¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. … 

⁹ “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded.

Abishai is the son of Zeruiah, who is David’s sister, making him David’s nephew. His brothers are Joab (David’s military commander) and Asahel.

Abishai is one of David’s elite warriors.

• Abishai is depicted as fiercely loyal, courageous, and sometimes impulsive—quick to suggest violent action in defense of David or justice.

This dead dog is an expression of absolute contempt. 

“Let me go over and cut off his head!”

• Abishai wanted to kill Shimei and he certainly had the resources to do so. 

¹⁰ “No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! 

If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”

David displays remarkable self-control.

David is working to defuse the tension.

David recognized that God was allowing Shimei’s actions. In his understanding, nothing happens outside of God’s ultimate authority.

David may be wondering whether all this opposition is the Lord’s just punishment for his past sins, and he humbly endures the abuse.

David may have seen Shimei’s actions as a possible form of divine chastisement.

• David leaves open the possibility that God has seen fit to terminate his rule.

2 Samuel 15:25-26 NLT
²⁵ Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. ²⁶ But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.” 

¹¹ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. 

David disagrees with Abishai’s impulsive violent reaction.

• David’s response demonstrates his humility and acceptance of his circumstances. He chose not to retaliate, but to submit to what he perceived as God’s will.

David chooses humility and faith over vengeance, demonstrating a deep trust in God’s sovereign control.

David understood why a relative of Saul might hate him. 

¹² And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”  

¹³ So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.

¹⁴ The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River.

The journey from Jerusalem to the Jordan River was 21 miles. 

This passage highlights David’s character in adversity.  (Some good and some not so good.)

Though deceived by Ziba, he maintains humility and patience in the face of Shimei’s curses.

His response foreshadows Jesus’ teaching on loving enemies (Matthew 5:44) and serves as a model for enduring hardship with faith. 

Is there something in this lesson that you could apply to your life?

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David Escapes from Jerusalem

In this lesson we get a glimpse of the heart of a leader who seeks God in the midst of betrayal and uncertainty.

2 Samuel 15:19-37 NLT
¹⁹ Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. ²⁰ You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.”
²¹ But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”
²² David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.
²³ Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.
²⁴ Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city.
²⁵ Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. ²⁶ But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”
²⁷ The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. ²⁸ I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.
³⁰ David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. ³¹ When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”
³² When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. ³³ But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. ³⁴ Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice. ³⁵ Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, ³⁶ and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”
³⁷ So David’s friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.

Examine the Scriptures

David Escapes from Jerusalem

2 Samuel 15:19-37 NLT 

• At this point in the story King David is leaving Jerusalem with all his household and personal guards, except for the ten concubines he left behind to look after the palace.

2 Samuel 15:13-14 NLT
David Escapes from Jerusalem
¹³ A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
¹⁴ “Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”

Scripture does not tell us how many people left with David, but we do know that the group included:

600 men from Gath (v. 18)
Along with the king’s bodyguard (v.18)
His personal servants and officials (v. 15-16)
Zadok and all the Levites (v.24)
Other loyal followers

All indications are that David plans to return to Jerusalem at some point in time.

2 Samuel 15:16 NLT
¹⁶ So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. 

2 Samuel 15:25 NLT
… “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again.  

1 Samuel 16:13 NLT
¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

2 Samuel 5:12 NLT
¹² And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 

¹⁹ Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. ²⁰ You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.”

• David urged Ittai and his kinsmen to return to Jerusalem.

²¹ But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”

Ittai was a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile who arrived only recently.

Ittai may have seen David as the rightful and just leader of Israel.

Ittai displayed his loyalty to David by going into exile with David.

• Ittai must have seen something very special in David’s leadership and character to vow to go with David no matter what happens.

Later:

2 Samuel 18:1-2 NLT
^18:1 David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them. ² He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Joab, one under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath.

David later appoints Ittai as commander of one-third of his army indicating his appreciation for Ittai’s loyalty. 

²² David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along. 

²³ Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by.

David was a beloved leader, and his departure signaled not just a personal loss but a national crisis. The people’s weeping signifies deep sorrow, loyalty, and uncertainty about the future.

There was the potential for a radical, disastrous change in the leadership of Israel. 

They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness. 

• The wilderness often symbolizes a place of testing, hardship, and isolation. 

Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan.

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after their exodus from Egypt

For David, this was a return to the kind of hardship he had faced in earlier years while fleeing Saul. 

²⁴ Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city.

Zadok and Abiathar were chief priests.

• The presence of Zadok, Abiathar and the Levites underscores their loyalty to David as God’s chosen king. 

²⁵ Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city.

• David does not take the Ark with him.  David knows that possession of the ark does not guarantee God’s blessing.

David believes that the Ark needs to stay in Jerusalem as a symbol of the Lord’s rule over the nation, no matter who the king might be. (2 Samuel 6)

2 Samuel 6:17 NLT
¹⁷ They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 

It was David, not the Lord who was going into exile. 

“If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. ²⁶ But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”

David understands the following Biblical principle:

Daniel 2:21 NLT
²¹ He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.

Romans 13:1 NLT
Respect for Authority
^13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 

• David is putting his life into the hands of the Lord. 

²⁷ The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. ²⁸ I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.” 

More about this in verses 35-36

²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.

³⁰ David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning.

Indicating his depth of despair.

And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. 

The Mount of Olives was the location from which Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-12). 

³¹ When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”

Ahithophel was one of David’s advisors.

1 Chronicles 27:33 NLT
³³ Ahithophel was the royal adviser…

• David now learned that his advisor Ahithophel had joined Absalom’s cause.

2 Samuel 15:12 NLT
¹² While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh. 

Don’t miss what is happening here! 

³² When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him.

Hushai the Arkite was a loyal friend and advisor of King David.

1 Chronicles 27:33 NLT
³³ Ahithophel was the royal adviser. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend.

While the Arkites were likely Canaanites by origin, Hushai was a trusted ally of David, suggesting that he had integrated into Israelite society and was a devoted supporter of the king.

Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. ³³ But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. ³⁴ Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice. 

David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as a spy within Absalom’s court. He is tasked with countering the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom’s chief advisor, whose advice was highly regarded. (More about this later in the story.)

• David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as a spy within Absalom’s court. 

³⁵ Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, ³⁶ and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”

David is asking Hushai to tell him Absalom plans (through Ahimaaz and Jonathan).

• David is setting up a system of communication between himself and Jerusalem.

Refer back to verse 27.

²⁷ The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. ²⁸ I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.” 

³⁷ So David’s friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.

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