2 Samuel 15 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 2 Sam 15:1-12

1 In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2 He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, ‘What town are you from?’ He would answer, ‘Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.’ 3 Then Absalom would say to him, ‘Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.’ 4 And Absalom would add, ‘If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.’

5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom behaved in this way towards all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

7 At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, ‘Let me go to Hebron and fulfil a vow I made to the Lord. 8 While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: “If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.”’

9 The king said to him, ‘Go in peace.’ So he went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, ‘As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, “Absalom is king in Hebron.”’ 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, to come from Giloh, his home town. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.

A. Find Out:

1. What did Absalom first get for himself? v.1
2. What would he do? v.2-4
3. How did he treat people and with what result? v.5,6
4. What did he eventually ask of David? v.7-9
5. What message did he send out? v.10
6. Who did he take with him? v.11,12

B. Think:

1. What was Absalom’s clear aim?
2. How did he gradually work for that?
3. Why do you think he took the various people with him?

C. Comment:

     God has warned David that division will come to his household, but David does nothing to avoid it. Sin blinds and so perhaps David was blinded to it. Over a period of time Absalom works to win the hearts of the nation in preparation to steal the throne.

     Previously Absalom has killed his stepbrother Ammon for raping his sister Tamar and had fled from the land (see 2 Sam 13) but had eventually been brought back into favor (2 Sam 14). He was a very good-looking young man (2 Sam 14:25) and now he adds fine deeds to fine appearance to win the hearts of the people.

     First of all he put on the appearance of a young prince with runners before his chariot. Then he would put himself in the place where he would encounter those coming needing help. Next he treated each person as someone special and won their hearts. What is sad is that David could have done each of these things and the people would have remained loyal to him, but instead their hearts started going over to Absalom.

     Finally Absalom stage managed a big party at which all the important people – except David – would be, and then arranged for himself to be proclaimed king throughout the land. The nation would thus all turn to him. The clock is ticking for David!

D. Application:

1. Evil men succeed because good men remain silent.
2. A conspiracy takes time. The righteous could rebut it.

Passage: 2 Sam 15:13-37

13 A messenger came and told David, ‘The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.’

14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, ‘Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.’

15 The king’s officials answered him, ‘Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.’

16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 18 All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, ‘Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.’

21 But Ittai replied to the king, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.’

22 David said to Ittai, ‘Go ahead, march on.’ So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

23 The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on towards the wilderness.

24 Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, ‘Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favour in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling-place again. 26 But if he says, “I am not pleased with you,” then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.’

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, ‘Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28 I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.’ 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, ‘Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.’ So David prayed, ‘Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.’

32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, ‘If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, “Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,” then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.’ 37 So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.

A. Find Out:

1. How did David respond to the news & who went with him? v.13-19
2. How did he try to turn Ittai back? v.19,20
3. Yet how did Ittai respond? v.21,22
4. What did David do with Zadok? v.24-29
5. What disturbing news did David hear? v.30,31
6. What did David do with Hushai? v.32-37

B. Think:

1. How is much loyalty to David shown?
2. Why do you think David sent Zadok back?
3. Why did he send Hushai back?

C. Comment:

     David is wise enough to know when the public opinion is with Absalom, and that he is outnumbered and would do well to escape to a secure place. Thus David is forced to leave Jerusalem. In his leaving we see the loyalty he has created in so many around him and the wisdom and concern he expresses in respect of those people.

     First there was Ittai, a Gittite, a native of Gath, a Philistine who had gone over to David. David gives him the chance to return home and not get involved in this civil war, but Ittai will not have it.

     Then there was Zadok and Abiathar with the ark of God. David recognizes that the ark’s place is in Jerusalem and should not be carted around in the midst of a civil war. Not only that, it will be good to have these two loyal men still in Jerusalem where they can report to him.

     Finally, there is Hushai of the clan of Ataroth of the tribe of Ephraim, a faithful old retainer. It’s better that he doesn’t have to run around the countryside, and perhaps his wisdom can be used in Jerusalem to thwart the wisdom of Ahithophel, a wise counsellor who has gone over to Absalom.

  David’s dealings with these men is a mixture of pastoral care and wise war strategy. Even in retreat, the characteristics that made him great come to the fore.

D. Application:

1. Even in adversity do we show care and compassion for others?
2. In warfare, do we exercise wisdom?