Day 15

Today I started at 2 Samuel 15..

Absalom had a new post at the city gate and would meet people who had matters for the king. He was a charmer and the people of Israel found favor in him. Absalom went to Hebron and sent undercover agents to all the tribes of Israel. When the trumpet sounded, they were to shout "Absalom, king of Hebron!" Two hundred men went with him but didn't know they were going along with this plan. Someone reported to David that Absalom had followers. The king and his entire household fled the palace on foot. Ten concubines were left behind to tend to the palace. As king David crossed Brook Kidron, the army (Kerethites, Pelethites, and 600 Gittites) headed for the wilderness. Abiathar and Zadok (priests) took the Chest of God to Jerusalem. David went up to the Mount of Olives and wept. He told Hushai, his servant, to go back to the city and offer himself as a servant to Absalom, hoping this would confuse Ahithopel's counsel. Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, met David with pack animals, bread, raisin cakes, fresh fruit, and wine. He told the king the donkey was for him to ride and the food was for the servants. Mephibosheth was still in Jerusalem and told Ziba, "This is the day Israel is going to restore my grandfather's kingdom to me." As far as David was concerned, everything Mephibosheth had belonged to Ziba now.

David met a man at Bahrim who had connections to Saul's family. His name was Shimei and he hurled insults and rocks at David and his people. The man went on to say that God was paying David back for all his dirty work in Saul's family and for stealing his kingdom. Abishai wanted to behead him for behaving like this but David told him the bigger picture was that his own son was trying to kill him.

Hushai met up with Absalom at Jerusalem and suggested he be his servant. Ahithophel told Absalom to go sleep with his father's concubines that were at the palace. This way people would know he openly disgraced his father and it would boost his morale. Absalom slept with the 10 concubines on the roof of the palace. The counsel of Ahithopel was treated as though God himself had spoken to him. Ahithopel later advised Absalom to let him hand pick 12,000 men to attack David. He confidently said the whole army would run off but he would only kill David. The elders of Israel and Absalom though this was a great idea. Idiots! Hushai told Absalom it was a bad idea because his father and his men were very brave and angry. He went on to say king David was an experienced fighter and wouldn't be caught sleeping at a time like this. Hushai advised getting an army so big that it stretched from Dan to Beersheba. They'd smoke David and his men out and there wouldn't be a single survivor. God was determined to discredit Ahithophel and bring ruin to Absalom. Absalom and his men listened to Hushai. Zadok and Abiathar were told by Hushai what Absalom was planning but wanted to send a message to David not to spend the night on this side of the river. The priests sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, were sent to give this message. Unfortunately, a soldier saw the boys and told Absalom. Jonathan and Ahimaaz quickly left for Bahurim and climbed into a man's well. The wife of the man covered it with a rug and grain so no one would suspect anything when Absalom's servant came looking for them. David and his people crossed the Jordan. Ahithopel realized no one listened to his counsel, so he went to his hometown, made a will, and hung himself.

David organized his troops and deployed them. A third of them went under Joab's command, 1/3 went to Abishai, and the last 1/3 went to Joab's brother, Ittai. The leaders were told by David to be gentle with Absalom. David's soldiers took out 20,000 of Absalom's men. Some of David's men saw Absalom riding a donkey. The donkey ran under an oak tree branch, catching Absalom's head in the branches. He was left dangling as the donkey ran off. A soldier told Joab and when he did, Joab told him he'd get a reward for killing Absalom. The solider said he wouldn't dare lay a hand on the king's son. Joab wasted no time and stabbed Absalom in the heart. So much for being gentle. Ten of Joab's armor bearers surrounded Absalom, hacking away at him as he died. Joab officially called off the pursuit of Absalom. Absalom's corpse was dumped in a large pit in the forest and a mound of rocks was piled on top. Joab instructed a Cushite to tell the king what he saw. Ahimaaz (Zadok's son) kept begging to tell the king so Joab let him go. He told the king," Blessed be your God; he has handed over the men who rebelled against my mater, the king." David asked how Absalom was and Ahimaaz said he saw a huge ruckus just as Joab sent him off, but he didn't know what happened. The Cushite said,"Would that all of the enemies of my master the king and all who maliciously rose against you end up like that young man?" David was shocked and wept for he knew Absalom was dead.