CHAPTER 15

(1024 B.C.)

ABSALOM REVOLTS AGAINST DAVID

¹And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. (This was the accompaniment of royalty. In other words, Absalom was preparing the way for his revolt.)

²And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate (most business dealings and judicial renderings were normally done at the gate of the city, with buildings constructed there for just such a purpose): and it was so, that when any man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the Tribes of Israel.

³And Absalom said unto him, See, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear you (in other words, the king may not decide in your favor, but I definitely would, if I had the power).

⁴Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made Judge in the land, that every man which has any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

⁵And it was so, that when any man came near to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

⁶And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel who came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. (Absalom easily deceived people by a profession of devotion to them, and as easily deceived his father by a profession of devotion to God. Because man has fallen from Gods moral image, therefore, he can readily deceive and be deceived [II Tim. 3:13]. He deceived the people of Israel by flattery, which was altogether insincere! All too often, the Absalom spirit still prevails in the modern Church. A deceitful heart projects such, and a deceitful mind accepts such.)

⁷And it came to pass after forty years (some have said that this is a copyist mistake, and it should have been rendered four years; however, others say that this was speaking of David, and not Absalom; David was about 16 years old when he was anointed king by Samuel [I Sam., Chpt. 16]; considering that he was now about 56 years old, this means that it was forty years since his anointing; either one could be true), that Absalom said unto the king, I pray you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron (the Lord was the furthest thing from the mind of Absalom).

⁸For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

⁹And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

¹⁰But Absalom sent spies throughout all the Tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron. (Absalom would now attempt to take the throne away from his father. But God had not called Absalom to the throne, but rather David.)

¹¹And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, who were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not anything (were not aware of Absaloms plot to take the throne).

¹²And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, Davids counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. (Ahithophel was Bath-shebas grandfather. He was one of the wisest men in Israel, but evidently showed little wisdom here. He should have known that if Absalom had truly been successful in becoming king, that Bath-sheba and all her sons would be killed; however, most probably, Absalom had guaranteed their safety.

Israel was, at the present time, the most prosperous Nation on the face of the Earth, and that prosperity was due to David; however, Israel evidently didnt see that, and would now seek to throw David over. How so much like the modern church! It seeks to destroy that which is its Salvation, and accepts that which is its ruin. Why?

The reason is the same now as then. Flesh responds to flesh, which means that most of the church is walking after the flesh, which refers to walking after their own wisdom, and not that of God [Rom. 8:1, 8].)

DAVID FLEES FROM JERUSALEM

¹³And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

¹⁴And David said unto all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

¹⁵And the kings servants said unto the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

¹⁶And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. (At this time, David wrote several Psalms [Ps. 3-4, 40-41, 63]. All of this, the writing of the Psalms as given to him by the Holy Spirit, despite his past problems, show just how close to God that David now was.)

¹⁷And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

¹⁸And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king (these were powerful warriors).

DAVIDS ADVICE TO ITTAI

¹⁹Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why do you go also with us? return to your place, and abide with the king: for you are a stranger, and also an exile (this man was evidently a Gentile, but now a proselyte to the Jewish Faith).

²⁰Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us? seeing I go where I may, return you, and take back your brethren: mercy and truth be with you.

²¹And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will your servant be (a consecration very similar to that of Ruth the Moabitess).

²²And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. (The presence of all his family with him shows that this man had broken entirely with the Philistines, and left his country for good, vowing to go with David, wherever David went. In other words, Davids fortunes would be his fortunes, whatever that may have meant. This converted Gentile showed more spiritual sense than most of Israel.)

²³And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

DAVIDS ADVICE TO ZADOK

²⁴And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the Ark of the Covenant of God: and they set down the Ark of God; and Abiathar went up (both men, Zadok and Abiathar, served as High Priests at that time), until all the people had done passing out of the city.

²⁵And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the Ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the Eyes of the LORD, He will bring me again, and show me both it, and His habitation:

²⁶But if He thus say, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let Him do to me as seems good unto Him (David places himself entirely now within the Hands of the Lord).

²⁷The king said also unto Zadok the Priest, Are you not a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar (and take the Ark of the Covenant with you).

²⁸See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

²⁹Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the Ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there (they obeyed David).

DAVID WEEPS AND PRAYS

³⁰And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up (the Grace of God is the basis of all blessing; David was conscious that he merited only wrath; and this he publicly confessed with bared foot, covered head, and tear-dimmed eye).

³¹And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray You, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness (David prayed, but his faith seemed to be weak).

DAVIDS ADVICE TO HUSHAI

³²And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the Mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head (signifying his grief at what was happening):

³³Unto whom David said, If you pass on with me, then you shall be a burden unto me (most likely because Hushai was old and infirm):

³⁴But if you return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your fathers servant hitherto, so will I now also be your servant: then may you for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. (David had prayed for the help of the Lord, but what he now proposes was not really such help. David was meeting treachery by treachery, which the Lord could not condone. Jehovah can never be a party to sin or wrongdoing of any nature! Hushai was evidently also one of the wise men of Israel.)

³⁵And have you not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the Priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever you shall hear out of the kings house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.

³⁶Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadoks son, and Jonathan Abiathars son; and by them you shall send unto me everything that you can hear.

³⁷So Hushai Davids friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem (came to take the Throne).