April 6, 2010 2Samuel 17-19

Absalom was listening to suggestions from his advisors about what to do next. He took the advice given by David's spy, Hushai. This was too much for Ahithophel to bear and he hanged himself. The Lord deliberately confused Absalom and his troops. All the men of Israel gathered to go to war against David and his men. People helped David's spies stay safe by hiding them in an empty well. When David arrived at a place called Mahanaim, people met his party with bedding, food and drink for everyone.

David organized his army into groups of 100 and 1000. The men marched out, leaving David at the gate of the town because they thought it best for him to stay alive. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. The army of Israel was defeated by David's men. David had asked his men to try and spare Absalom. As Absalom was riding his mule his head became stuck in the branches of an oak tree and he got stuck while the donkey kept going. So there he was dangling from the tree by the head. The soldiers had heard David's request to spare Absalom and didn't want to hurt him. When Joab found out where Absalom was he speared him with three javelins in the heart while he was dangling from the tree. Then 10 of Joab's armor bearers struck him and killed him. Joab sounded the trumpet halting the attack on the Israelites. They took Absalom's body and threw it into a big pit and threw stones in to cover him. Meanwhile all the Israelites beet feet to get back to their homes. The pillar Absalom had erected as a monument to himself was still there at the time this part of the bible was written.

A messenger was sent to tell David about the death of his son. Then another man wanted to run too. The second one got there first, but didn't tell him about his son. Then the other one arrived and delivered the sad news to David. When David heard the news that Absalom was dead he was badly shaken and he went up to the room over the gate and wept and mourned.

When Joab heard that David was mourning Absalom he went to talk to him, because this overshadowed the victory won by all the soldiers, and it was a slap in the face to the men who had risked their lives to defend David and his family. He told David that he loved those who hated him (Absalom) and hated those who loved him (his army and the whole tribe of Judah.) So David stopped crying and sat at the gate.

Israel and Judah wanted David back as their king. So David started back to Jerusalem. As he went on his way, people began to join him. People helped him cross the Jordan River and bowed down to him. Ziba the chief servant of Saul's family joined them. Mephibosheth the crippled grandson of Saul also joined David. He had missed David so much that he hadn't bathed, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes. When David asked him why he didn't go with him, he told him that his servant had left him behind and lied about him. David told him he would split Ziba's property between him and Ziba. But he told David that he didn't care about the property and Ziba could have it all since he was so happy that David was all right.

Barzillai, a wealthy 80 year old from Mahanaim was responsible for the delivery of food, drink, and bedding sent to David. Even he came out to meet David who wanted him to come to Jerusalem and stay with him. But he said he was too old and he declined. He wished him well and returned home.

Israel and Judah argued about who loved David more. Oh boy!

Tomorrow read 2Samuel 20-22:34