Joab knew that David longed for his son Absalom. He had a woman pretend to be a widow in mourning because her two sons had a fight and one killed the other, and everyone wanted him dead too, leaving her destitute. David told her he would protect her son. Then she asked to speak and told David the rest of what Joab had told her to say which was if the king could save her son, couldn't he also save his own? Then David became wise to what was going on and asked if Joab was involved to which she replied that there was no pulling the wool over his eyes. Then David told Joab that he would bring Absalom back. Then Joab bowed down and thanked David.
So Joab brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. However, David wouldn't see him. He made him live in his own house. Absalom was a very handsome man, with thick rich hair. He had 3 sons and a daughter named Tamar, who became a beautiful woman.
Absalom became impatient that after 2 years, he still hadn't seen David. He sent for Joab twice and he refused to come, so he set Joab's barley field on fire. That got Joab's attention and he came to see Absalom. Joab asked why he set his field on fire and Absalom told him he did it because Joab wouldn't come. Then he asked Joab to find out when he could see David. So Joab went to the king and told him that his son told him to put him to death if he was guilty. Then David sent for Absalom and they were reunited.
Time passed and Absalom started a campaign to win the hearts of the people. He got a chariot and horses and 50 men to go ahead of him. He waited by the gate and when people would come through on their way to issue a complaint to David, Absalom would tell them that he would listen to them if he were made judge. He kissed everyone and gave them love and support and they lapped it up. After 4 years, he told David that he'd made a promise to the Lord that if he were welcomed back to Jerusalem, he would go to Hebron to worship God. So David told him to go in peace. So he went.
The conspiracy gained strength when Absalom sent secret messages all throughout Israel that when they heard the trumpets they were to name Absalom king in Hebron. Absalom had been accompanied by 200 men from Jerusalem who didn't know about Absalom's plan. Absalom summoned a counselor of David's to join him, and his conspiracy gained strength.
When David heard about this he thought that he would not escape Absalom. David set out with his whole household, but left 10 of his concubines to take care of the palace. On the way he urged Ittai the Gittite who had just arrived the day before from his own country to stay behind and be comfortable, since he didn't know where he was going. Ittai told him that wherever David went there he would go too. So David told him to go on ahead of him with his men. When people saw the king leaving, they all wept. They had brought the ark of God with them, but David told them to take it back to its place in the city. David would accept whatever God had intended for him. David climbed up the Mount of Olives with the people that were with him, all with their heads covered and weeping. When he reached the summit his friend, Hushai, was there waiting for him. David asked him to return to the city and get word to him about what was going on. Hushai arrived just as Absalom was entering the city.
As they were coming down the other side of the mountain, they met Ziba the steward of Saul's crippled grandson. He had donkeys, bread, fruit and wine for the tired travelers. When he told David that Mephibosheth believed that he would now be the king, David gave all Mephibosheth's property to Ziba.
As they traveled, a man came out shouting curses at David and throwing stones. Joab's brother Abishai wanted to go kill the man, but David forbade him because the man might be speaking words of God. They continued on their way.
By this time Absalom met Hushai, David's friend. Hushai successfully fooled Absalom that he was there to support whoever was in charge.
A man named Ahithophel (don't ask me how to say that one!) gave such good advice that people thought he was speaking from God. He told Absalom that he should humiliate his father and have sex with his concubines. On the roof where everyone could watch, that is just what he did. Making Nathan's prophecy in chapter 12 verses 11-12 true. All because David killed Uriah the Hittite so he could have Bathsheba for his wife.
Tomorrow read 2Samuel 14-16
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