David’s Return to Jerusalem

In today’s passage, David is heading back to Jerusalem after the rebellion and death of his son Absalom.

2 Samuel 19: 15- 30 NLT
David’s Return to Jerusalem
¹⁵ So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river. ¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David. ¹⁷ A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king. ¹⁸ They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king’s household across the river, helping him in every way they could.

David’s Mercy to Shimei
As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him. ¹⁹ “My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. ²⁰ I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king.”
²¹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed king!”
²² “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Israel!” ²³ Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared.”

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
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. But I know that my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do what you think is best. ²⁸ All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?”
²⁹ “You’ve said enough,” David replied. “I’ve decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”
³⁰ “Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 19: 15- 30 NLT

David’s Return to Jerusalem 

¹⁵ So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river. 

• The location where David was escorted across the Jordan River is where Joshua had led the Israelites across the Jordan River, on dry ground, into the Promised Land?

Joshua 4:19 NLT
¹⁹ The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho.

David’s return is significant not just politically but symbolically—crossing the Jordan is reminiscent of Israel’s entry into the Promised Land. The tribe of Judah, David’s own tribe, takes the initiative to escort him, likely as a gesture of reconciliation after the rebellion, indicating a desire for stability and a return to the established order.

The exact location of Gilgal is uncertain.

Some of the people who greeted David:

¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David. ¹⁷ A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul (or the servant of Miphiboseth), and Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants.

• Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin and Ziba were among those eager to welcome King David.

2 Samuel 16:1-4 NLT
David and Ziba (The chief servant of the house of Saul (or the servant of Miphiboseth) 

^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.”

More about Ziba in verse 27

2 Samuel 16:5-8 NLT
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!” 

They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king. ¹⁸ They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king’s household across the river, helping him in every way they could.

It appears that these men wanted to get on the good side of the king.

Shimei had actively opposed David,

Ziba had misled him (apparently), and later

Mephibosheth (v. 24) had not supported David.

• By forgiving these Benjamites, David would secure the support of this tribe.

King Saul had come from the tribe if Benjamin.

King David had come from the tribe of Judah.

David’s Mercy to Shimei

As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him. ¹⁹ “My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem.

May the king put it out of his mind.  

²⁰ I know how much I sinned.

Shimei pleads for forgiveness, admitting his offense. His confession appears sincere, though some view it as political expediency rather than genuine repentance.

• Shimei pleads for forgiveness

• Shimei’s confession may have been genuine, or it may simply have been an attempt to save his life.

That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king.”

²¹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed king!”

Abishai was a powerful and successful warrior and a leader ibn David’s army.

He was David’s nephew and the brother of Joab.

Abishai was completely loyal to David and quick to suggest violence against David’s enemies.

Abishai wanted to assassinate Saul.

Abishai wanted to cut off Shimei head (16:9).

• Abishai believed that Shimei should die for cursing the Lord’s anointed king. 

²² “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Israel!” 

• David wants this day to be a day of rejoicing.

• David shows a desire to unify the fractured nation rather than settle personal scores. 

²³ Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared.” 

David shows mercy to Shimei, the pro-Saul northerner who had cursed David when he fled from Jerusalem.

• Shimei’s life was spared until the time of David’s death.

David’s charge to Solomon

1 Kings 2:8-9 NLT
⁸ “And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me (David) with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. ⁹ But that oath does not make him innocent. You (Solomon) are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”

(Verses 36-43 lead up to Shimei’s death) 

⁴⁴ The king (Solomon) also said to Shimei, “You certainly remember all the wicked things you did to my father, David. May the Lord now bring that evil on your own head. ⁴⁵ But may I, King Solomon, receive the Lord’s blessings, and may one of David’s descendants always sit on this throne in the presence of the Lord.” ⁴⁶ Then, at the king’s command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth 

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. 

An act of mourning.

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. But I know that my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do what you think is best.

Review: Previously David had given all of Saul’s estate to Ziba.

2 Samuel 16:3-4 NLT
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.”

 ²⁸ All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?”

Mephibosheth’s basic needs were being met.

Mephibosheth felt honored to be eating at King David’s table.

• Mephibosheth explains his reasons for not going with David when David fled from Jerusalem.

• There is no evidence that Mephibosheth wanted to get back the kingdom of his grandfather Saul.  

²⁹ “You’ve said enough,” David replied. “I’ve decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”

David is faced with conflicting testimonies. He seems to acknowledge the possibility of Ziba’s deceit but opts for a compromise, dividing the land between them. This decision reveals David’s weariness and perhaps a degree of political pragmatism. He might be prioritizing a swift return to stability over a thorough investigation.

• Faced with conflicting testimonies from Ziba and Mephibosheth, David divided Saul’s estate equally between the two men.

David must navigate conflicting reports (as with Ziba and Mephibosheth) and determine how to reestablish unity without alienating factions. His decisions reveal both wisdom and ambiguity. 

³⁰ “Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!”

• Mephibosheth concern about David’s safety appears to be genuine.

This demonstrates Mephibosheth’s deep allegiance to David, showing loyalty over material gain.

Mephibosheth’s response underscores his deep loyalty to David and his relief at the king’s return, even at personal cost. This selfless act contrasts sharply with Ziba’s self-serving behavior.

Final thoughts:

David demonstrates grace and political wisdom. He chooses mercy over vengeance, especially during a sensitive time of national reunification.

David acts as a king seeking to reunite his people rather than punish rebels.

With limited information, David tries to act fairly, but human justice is shown to be fallible.

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Joab Rebukes the King

This passage portrays a fragile restoration of unity, foreshadowing further tensions to come.

2 Samuel 19:1-15 NLT
^19:1 Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. ² As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. ³ They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. ⁴ The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
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.”
⁸ So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him.
Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes. ⁹ And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, “The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country. ¹⁰ Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?”
¹¹ Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, “Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready. ¹² You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?” ¹³ And David told them to tell Amasa, “Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.”
¹⁴ Then Amasa convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, “Return to us, and bring back all who are with you.”
¹⁵ So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river.

  Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 19:1-15 NLT
Joab Rebukes the King 

^19:1 Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 

• Joab is made aware of David’s intense grief.

Joab soon recognizes the need for an intervention.

Joab will intervene.  Joab is looking out for the needs of the nation. 

² As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 

Despite securing a decisive victory against his rebellious son, King David is consumed by overwhelming grief.

• David’s grief over the death of his son caused him to neglect his duties as the king and even caused him to neglect thanking God for saving the nation.

³ They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. 

Because of David’s grief over the death of his son, the soldiers returned from battle not as rejoicing victors, but as if they had been humiliated by defeat.

• The hard-won victory, which should have been a cause for celebration and relief, is overshadowed by the king’s sorrow.

David’s personal grief blinds him to his soldier’s loyalty and sacrifice. 

⁴ The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

• David’s focus remains solely on his personal loss.

David is expressing intense emotional pain.

This behavior reveals a deep and perhaps unhealthy attachment to Absalom. 

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. 

• Joab went to the king to confront him for his behavior.

This intervention is necessary for the welfare of Israel.

Joab acts in what he perceives to be the best interests of the kingdom, even if it means confronting the king directly.

Joab tells David that his behavior is detrimental to the morale and well-being of those who fought for him. 

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. 

• Joab strongly advises David to change his behavior.

The soldiers, feeling unappreciated, could easily shift their allegiance. 

Then you will be worse off than ever before.”

Joab’s blunt and arguably harsh words highlight the king’s misplaced priorities.

Joab openly and boldly rebukes David for allowing his personal grief to keep him from expressing his appreciation for the loyalty of those who risked their lives to preserve his throne, Joab warns David that his love for Absalom can still undo him.

• Joab’s rebuke is harsh but crucial.

Joab forces David to confront the negative impact of his prolonged grief.

⁸ So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him.

David begins acting like a king should act.

David slowly emerges from his mourning and begins to take the necessary steps to reclaim his throne.

David’s leadership, though delayed, is reasserted.

Previously:

The king had stood by the Gate when the troops marched out to battle.

2 Samuel 18:4 NLT
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.

• David responds wisely, taking Joab’s advice and presenting himself publicly. 

Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes. ⁹ And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on.

• “Much discussion and argument” indicates factions within Israel concerning David’s return to the throne.

Clearly there was instability throughout the land. Israel had anointed Absalom as king, but his death left a leadership vacuum. There was ambivalence about David’s return, but he remained the only viable leader.

This passage reveals a divided kingdom. Although the rebellion is over, unity has not yet been restored. 

The people were saying, “The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country. 

The people (the northern tribes) are now remembering the good things David had done for them.

¹⁰ Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?”

• The tribes of Israel agreed to ask David to come back and be the king again.

Note how quickly public sentiment can shift in times of crisis and uncertainty.

The people recognized that it was time to actively work towards bringing David back. 

¹¹ Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, “Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready. ¹² You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?” 

The northern tribes (Israel) had agreed to ask David to be the king.

• Now David appeals to the elders of his own tribe (Judah) to take the imitative in restoring him to the throne in Jerusalem.

David recognizes the need for Judah and Israel to be unified. 

¹³ And David told them to tell Amasa, “Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.”

David sought to unify the kingdom and offered Amasa the position of commander over his army, replacing Joab, who had disobeyed David by killing Absalom.

• By offering Amasa Joab’s position, David attempts to unify the kingdom and reconcile with those who followed Absalom. But it’s also a subtle punishment for Joab, who disobeyed David’s command not to kill Absalom.

Amasa deserved death for treason.

Amasa was appointed commander of King David’s army in place of Joab, but he served for only a very short time.

Amasa had been commander of Absalom’s army.

Joab will soon kill Amasa (2 Samuel 20:8–10), reclaiming command for himself.

¹⁴ Then Amasa convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, “Return to us, and bring back all who are with you.”

• Judah sends a clear and direct invitation for David and all his followers to come back.

David’s Return to Jerusalem 

¹⁵ So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river. 

This political reconciliation is successful.

David begins his physical return to Jerusalem.

• David starts back to Jerusalem.

Summary:

David’s mourning is authentic, but leadership demands that he rise above personal pain for the good of the people.

David’s grief, while understandable, threatened to destabilize his kingdom.

The tension between Joab and David highlights the difficulty of balancing justice, loyalty, and authority.

Joab’s actions, though harsh, and seemingly disrespectful, highlight the necessity of pragmatic decision-making in maintaining order and authority, and setting the stage for the restoration of his kingdom.

Leaders must be mindful of their responsibilities and act strategically to ensure the well-being of those they lead.

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David Mourns Absalom’s Death

Absalom, David’s son, has led a rebellion against his father. In the battle that ensues, David gives explicit orders to deal gently with Absalom. When the battle ends, Absalom is killed by Joab, despite David’s wishes. This passage tells how this news is relayed to David and how he receives it.

2 Samuel 18:19-33 NLT
David Mourns Absalom’s Death
¹⁹ Then Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said, “Let me run to the king with the good news that the Lord has rescued him from his enemies.”
²⁰ “No,” Joab told him, “it wouldn’t be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today.”
²¹ Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The man bowed and ran off.
²² But Ahimaaz continued to plead with Joab, “Whatever happens, please let me go, too.”
“Why should you go, my son?” Joab replied. “There will be no reward for your news.”
²³ “Yes, but let me go anyway,” he begged.
Joab finally said, “All right, go ahead.” So Ahimaaz took the less demanding route by way of the plain and ran to Mahanaim ahead of the Ethiopian.
²⁴ While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them. ²⁵ He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, “If he is alone, he has news.”
As the messenger came closer, ²⁶ the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, “Here comes another one!”
The king replied, “He also will have news.”
²⁷ “The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok,” the watchman said.“He is a good man and comes with good news,” the king replied.
²⁸ Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “Everything is all right!” He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king.”
²⁹ “What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?”
Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn’t know what was happening.”
³⁰ “Wait here,” the king told him. So Ahimaaz stepped aside.
³¹ Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, “I have good news for my lord the king. Today the Lord has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.”
³² “What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?”
And the Ethiopian replied, “May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!”
³³ The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 18:19-33 NLT
David Mourns Absalom’s Death

The rebellion against King David has failed.

¹⁹ Then Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said, “Let me run to the king with the good news that the Lord has rescued him from his enemies.”

• Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the priest, volunteers to carry the news of the failed rebellion to King David.

²⁰ “No,” Joab told him, “it wouldn’t be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today.”

Joab knew that the news of Absalom’s death would not be good news to David.

During this period, the choice of the messenger depended on the content of the news.

Ahimaaz is not the right person to carry bad news.  David would be expecting good news from Ahimaaz.

Joab is not hiding anything from David (see verse 21) but he appears to be trying to protect Ahimaaz from having to deliver the bad news to David.

• Joab wants the news of Absalom’s death to be delivered to David by someone other than Ahimaaz. 

²¹ Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The man bowed and ran off.

• Joab wants the news of David’s death to be delivered to David by a man from Ethiopia (a foreigner) rather than by Ahimaaz.

The well-being of the messenger of such bad news might not be well received.

Joab most likely believed that an Ethiopian would likely be less emotionally invested in the situation and would be better equipped to deliver the message accurately, tactfully, and completely.

Joab knew that it was predictable for David to react to the news of Absalom’s death.

In 2 Samuel 1:1-16 

David orders the execution of an Amalekite messenger.

The circumstances are not the same as today’s story, but the story in 2 Samuel chapter 1 predicts how David might react to the news of Absalom’s death.

The incident in 2 Samuel occurring after the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan.

The Amalekite messenger claimed to have killed Saul at Saul’s own request.

David ordered his death because the Amalekite claimed to have killed “the Lord’s anointed” (Saul), which David viewed as a sacrilegious act, regardless of Saul’s circumstances. 

²² But Ahimaaz continued to plead with Joab, “Whatever happens, please let me go, too.”
“Why should you go, my son?” Joab replied. “There will be no reward for your news.”
²³ “Yes, but let me go anyway,” he begged.
Joab finally said, “All right, go ahead.” So Ahimaaz took the less demanding route by way of the plain and ran to Mahanaim ahead of the Ethiopian.

• Ahimaaz insists on delivering the news to David, and Joab eventually allows it.

This is not a good decision on Joab’s part.

Joab knows that bringing bad news to a grieving king can have negative consequences.

Why is Ahimaaz insisting on getting his own way, and how do we deal with that?

• Ahimaaz outruns the Cushite, probably due to a longer but less demanding route and a faster pace. 

²⁴ While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, 

• David was anxiously waiting by the gates of Mahanaim for news of the battle.

Review from previous lesson:

2 Samuel 18:2-4 NLT
² … 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. 

the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them. ²⁵ He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, “If he is alone, he has news.”

A man running alone would most likely be a messenger.

A group of men running would probably be men fleeing from the battle. 

As the messenger came closer, ²⁶ the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, “Here comes another one!”
The king replied, “He also will have news.”
²⁷ “The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok,” the watchman said.

Ahimaaz was well known by David, and those close to David.

Ahimaaz’s distinctive running style was recognized by the watchman. 

“He is a good man and comes with good news,” the king replied.

• David was not expecting bad news from Ahimaaz.

David’s hope clouded his judgment.

At this point in time David’s heart is that of a father and not of a king. 

²⁸ Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “Everything is all right!”

“Everything is all right!”

David will interpret things very differently.

He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king.” 

²⁹ “What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?”
Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn’t know what was happening.”

Ahimaaz gives a vague answer.

This answer isn’t truthful. (Refer back to verse 20.)

²⁰ “No,” Joab told him, “it wouldn’t be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today.”

Ahimaaz may have been trying to break the news gently.

Ahimaaz avoids a direct answer.

Ahimaaz, arriving first, delivers a carefully worded report, focusing on the victory and deliberately avoiding the mention of Absalom’s death.

Remember: Joab wants the news of Absalom’s death to be delivered to David by someone other than Ahimaaz.

• Ahimaaz was not the right person to be delivering this news to David.

³⁰ “Wait here,” the king told him. So Ahimaaz stepped aside.

 ³¹ Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, “I have good news for my lord the king. Today the Lord has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.”
³² “What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?”
And the Ethiopian replied, “May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!”

The “foreigner” was the better choice to deliver the outcome of the rebellion to King David.

The Ethiopian delivers the devastating truth directly and unequivocally: “May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!” 

This bluntness, while painful, is honest and leaves no room for misinterpretation.

• The Cushite’s diplomatic language shows tact. He honors the king but doesn’t ignore the reality. 

³³ The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”

• David’s reaction is heart-wrenching.

“My son” is used five times.

David was heartbroken over the news of the death of a son he loved.

David loved Absalom in spite of all of the evil Absalom had done.

This behavior shows David not as king, but as father—a man torn by love for a wayward child.

• David appeared to be more concerned about Absalom than the well-being of his soldiers (next lesson).

Think about:

The complexity of parental love:

This passage starkly portrays the conflict between David’s responsibility as king and his deep love for his son. The victory secures his kingdom, but at the cost of his child’s life, leaving him in profound anguish. 

The consequences of rebellion: 

Absalom’s rebellion ultimately leads to his death, serving as a tragic reminder of the destructive nature of ambition and defiance against legitimate authority.

The challenge of being both just and merciful:

David’s heart for Absalom contrasts with the justice carried out by Joab.

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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
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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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