2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:1

D. Absalom’s Revolt and David’s Flight (15:118)15:1-6 Up to this point Absalom had concealed his desire to be king. But now he traveled about with an impressive entourage. Also he went boldly up to the city gate (where legal matters were settled) and acted as if he were the only one in Israel who was genuinely interested in the welfare of the people. He practically accused his father of failure to provide adequate legal aid and said that if he were king, the people would receive the justice they deserved. He courted the favor of people from the various cities of Israel. 15:7-12 After four years (according to LXX mss., Syriac, Josephus, NKJV marg.) Absalom received permission to go to Hebron, ostensibly to fulfill a vow he had made while in exile. Hebron was probably disaffected because David had moved his capital from there to Jerusalem. Also, Hebron was the place of Absalom’s birth. The two hundred men who accompanied Absalom did not know that his real purpose was to announce the formation of a new government, with himself as king! Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors and Bathsheba’s grandfather (cf. 2Sa_11:3 with 2Sa_23:34), defected to Absalom, and many of the people joined Absalom in his conspiracy to usurp the throne. Perhaps Ahithophel wanted to get even with David for the latter’s sin with his granddaughter. 15:13-18 On hearing the news, David decided that the situation was serious and that he should abandon Jerusalem, so he gathered his household together immediately and fled to the outskirts of the city. But the king left ten . . . concubines behind to keep the house.

2 Samuel 15:19

E. David’s Friends and Foes (15:1916:14)15:19-22 Among those who went with David was a group of Philistines who had left Gath with him. One of these was Ittai the Gittite. When he started out to follow, the king urged him to return. After all, he was not a Jew; he was an exile; he had only recently joined the ranks; and David’s cause was at best uncertain. But Ittai would not be dissuaded.

He resolutely determined to accompany the king, no matter what the cost might be. David rewarded the loyalty of this Gentile by permitting him and his followers to accompany him into exile. Ittai . . . said: “. . . surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.” Believers should have the same devotion to the King of kings during His rejection as Ittai had to David in his. 15:23 They crossed over the Brook Kidron, east of Jerusalem, and headed for the Jordan Valley. Nearly a thousand years later David’s Greater Son would retrace his steps, Himself a rejected King (Joh_18:1). David crossed the Kidron and fled to save his life. Jesus crossed the valley and prayed in Gethsemane, en route to giving His life a ransom for many. 15:24-29 Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, came out of the city with the ark, intending to follow David into exile. But he sent them back with the hope that the LORD would allow him to return. Also, he told the priests that they could be more help to him right in Jerusalem (as a sort of fifth-column among Absalom’s men). He would go as far as the west bank of the Jordan and await word . . . from them as to the progress of Absalom’s rebellion. Rather than becoming bitter at his enforced exile, David submitted meekly to what God had allowed. According to its title, Psalms 3 was composed at this time. In this psalm we find that David’s trust in the Lord was unshaken as the storm broke over him. 15:30-37 David ascended the Mount of Olives with his faithful followers in deep mourning, praying that God would defeat whatever counsel that Ahithophel might give to Absalom. At the summit of the Mount of Olives, the king was met by Hushai the Archite. David asked him to return to Jerusalem and pretend loyalty to Absalom. In this way he might be able to counteract whatever advice Ahithophel might offer. He could relay any important news to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, who in turn would send their two sons with reports to David. Hushai reached Jerusalem just as Absalom was arriving to take over the government.