Joab convinced King David to bring his son Absalom back from exile. David agreed he could come home to Jerusalem, but he couldn’t come to see the king. For two years Absalom waited to be acknowledged by his father, then he grew impatient.

Absalom asked Joab to come and talk with him about the situation and when Joab didn’t respond, Absalom set his barley field on fire. That brought Joab to Absalom’s door.

Absalom wanted to be invited to the palace.

“Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.” 2 Samuel 14:32

Joab carried the message to King David and “then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.” 2 Samuel 14:33

Absalom Steals the Hearts of the Israelites

“In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was not a blemish in him.” 2 Samuel 14:25

David gave Absalom his blessing and he was allowed to move freely in Jerusalem. He got a chariot and horses and a fifty-man entourage and every day he parked himself by the city gate. When people came to ask the king to settle their disputes, Absalom intercepted them.

“Absalom would say, ‘Look your claims are good and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.’ 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.’” 2 Samuel 15:3-4

Whenever anyone showed Absalom respect he took hold of them and kissed them, “and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.” 2 Samuel 15:6

Absalom is Crowned King of Hebron

A year after King David and Absalom were reunited, Absalom asked for permission to go to Hebron and fulfill a vow he made to the Lord.

“The king said to him, ‘Go in peace.’ So he went to Hebron.” 2 Samuel 15:9

David may have forgotten that he once was crowned king in Hebron.

Absalom sent messages throughout Israel to acclaim himself the King of Hebron when they heard trumpets blow. He brought two hundred witnesses to his coronation, men who didn’t know that was the reason they were invited to Hebron. He also included one of David’s most trusted counselors, Ahithophel.

By the time King David heard about Absalom’s conspiracy against him, it appeared that the whole nation had shifted their loyalties to Absalom.

David Leaves Jerusalem

“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.’” 2 Samuel 15:14

David was worried that Absalom would put Jerusalem to the sword so he made preparations to leave. His household went with him, except for ten concubines he left behind to take care of the palace. Hundreds of soldiers marched out ahead of David, and when he tried to persuade some to go back to their hometowns instead, they swore allegiance to him and continued on.

The priest Zadok, and the Levites who served with him, picked up the ark to go with David but he sent them back.

“Then the king said to Zadok, ‘Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.’” 2 Samuel 15:25-26

David suggested that the priests Zadok and Abiathar remain in Jerusalem with their two sons and send him messages regarding anything they overheard in the palace.

David was distraught as he went down the hill from his palace, across the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem. When he learned that his advisor Ahithophel had joined Absalom’s conspiracy, he prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” 2 Samuel 15:31

Friends and Enemies

As David went over the summit of the Mount of Olives, Mephibosheth’s property manager Ziba met him with saddled donkeys and abundant supplies of food. David wondered whether Mephibosheth sent them, but Ziba told him Mephibosheth was staying in Jerusalem to see if he might become king now that David was on the run.

David was disappointed in Mephibosheth so he turned all of King Saul’s estate over to Ziba. David restored the estate to Mephibosheth when he brought him to Jerusalem years earlier, but Mephibosheth repaid the favor with disloyalty.  Ziba was both loyal and grateful.

“’I humbly bow,’ Ziba said. ‘May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.’” 2 Samuel 16:4

Another person appeared on the scene who was loyal to King Saul, but hated David. Shimei blamed David for the death of Saul and his sons, but David had nothing to do with that. Shimei cursed King David when he heard he had left Jerusalem.

“Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!” 2 Samuel 16:7-8

David Gives God Control of the Situation

Joab’s brother Abishai wanted to kill Shimei for his scurrilous accusations, but David restrained him. He was thinking about what these events meant and what God was doing through them.

“David then said to Abishai and all his officials, ‘My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.’” 2 Samuel 16:11-12

As David and his men continued down the road, Shimei hiked the hillside next to them, throwing stones and showering David with dirt. The king and all the people were exhausted by the time they stopped for the night.

Submitting to the will of God doesn’t always bring instant relief from trying situations.

Bad Advice for Absalom

Absalom arrived in Jerusalem and was met by Hushai, one of David’s confidants. Hushai hailed Absalom as the new king, but Absalom was suspicious.

“Absalom said to Hushai, ‘So this is the love you show your friend [David]? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?’

Hushai said to Absalom, ‘No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people and by all the men of Israel – his I will be, and I will remain with him . . . Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.’” 2 Samuel 16:17-18

Absalom turned to Ahithophel (whose advice David had prayed would be faulty) and asked what he should do next. Ahithophel suggested that Absalom sleep with the concubines David had left in charge of the palace, taking possession of them in the sight of all Israel.

God told David through Nathan the prophet that this was going to happen in 2 Samuel 12:11-12. It was part of the calamity David introduced to his household through his adultery with Bathsheba.

Ahithophel also offered to take twelve thousand men and kill David that night. He meant to terrorize David’s people so they would flee and then Ahithophel would kill only David and bring the people back to Absalom.

Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

Absalom liked Ahithophel’s plan to kill David, but he decided to ask Hushai about it. Hushai was respectful to Ahitophel, but he suggested that “the advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.” 2 Samuel 17:7

Hushai knew David better than anyone present and he used his credibility to discourage Absalom from following Ahithophel’s advice. He testified to what fierce fighters David had with him, and what a wily warrior David was. David would not be accessible; he was probably already hidden in a cave somewhere. Besides that David might attack first and defeat Ahithophel’s men.

“Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.” 2 Samuel 17:10

Hushai suggested that Absalom bring all of the tribes to him in Jerusalem and form an army that would swarm and defeat David. Absalom and the men around him listened to Hushai and thought his plan was better than Ahitophel’s plan.

“For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.” 2 Samuel 17:14

David’s network of spies and moles was working in his favor.