The Bible Book of 2 Samuel

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Understand Context (1 Sam 22:1-2 Sam 1:27)

Today’s study fulfills a joint purpose: on one hand it serves as the close out for 1 Samuel, while on the other, it serves as the introduction to 2 Samuel. Recall that 1 Samuel served as the transitional book to move us from the period of the Judges in Israel, a theocratic leadership to a monarchy where Israel was led by a king rather than God through His chosen representatives. Samuel, the writer of 1 and 2 Samuel, was the last judge and the first prophet of Israel. Israel rebelled against God’s leadership through a judge after they had the combined terrible experiences with Eli and his two ungodly sons, followed immediately by Samuel and his two unruly sons. Israel chose Saul to be their first king because he “stood head and shoulders above all other men” and because he was attractive to look at. As we finish 1 Samuel, we find Saul and his son, Jonathan as well as Samuel dead. Samuel died in last week’s study and Saul and his three sons, but most notiblly Jonathan, will die in battle in todays study (1 Sam 31:6). 

In the first of our three points for today, we see David worn weary of being chased by Saul under the threat of death. David will take the 600 soldiers and their families with him away from Israel into the land of the Philistines. 

The second of the three points actually transition into the first half o0f the first chapter of 2 Samuel. It begins with David hearing the grim news that Saul and Jonathan had met their ends in battle. The man delivering the horrible news seemed to be a little ragged from what he saw and the fact that he was actually a part of Saul’s demise. David remined us what it meant to “kill the messenger” as he had him killed for choosing to harm God’s anointed one. This was an action David was faced with twice as he refused to kill Saul specifically because he was God’s anointed one.

And last, we read the burial sonnet David wrote for Saul’s and Johnathan’s deaths. The words are very touching and match some of the supernatural words David gave us in the Psalms. 

David Flees to the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:1-12)  

1 Samuel 27:1 presents David’s realization that the life of running from Saul was not only frustrating but would eventually end with his death at the hands of the out-of-control one Saul had become. He said simply, “Now, I will perish one day by the hands of Saul.” This was an unusual demonstration of lack of faith by David because he was already anointed as king by God, and there was no way He would allow him to die before He was finished with him. Nevertheless, David thought it best to get out of Saul’s line of fire. Verse 2 shows that David decided for himself and the 600 men who followed him, plus their families, that the very best thing he could do was to escape from Saul into the land of the Philistines until Saul tired of chasing him. 

David had not been given a patch of land to occupy before he arrived in Philistia, but Achish, the King of Gath, gave him Ziklag that day and that same land held the tribe of Judah until David’s day. But David had need of more after a year and 4 months, so he invaded all the neighboring lands and utterly destroyed the people who occupied that land (vss. 8-9). He must have read the sermons of Moses in Deuteronomy warning Israel as they began to occupy the Promised Land that the nations had sinned and had to be “utterly destroyed” by Israel. He did not destroy the animals and other plunder, but rather, took the plunder for Israel. 

When confronted by Achish concerning what he did, he responded only that if he had not killed them, they would have told Saul where he could be found not only that day but all the days to come as long as he continued in the land of the Philistines. Achish accepted the statement of David and said that David had successfully cause Israel and all the people of the countries he occupied to completely abhor him and therefore, that would David his servant forever.

According to Moses’ words in Deuteronomy anything short of totally destruction the current inhabitants would allow Israel to take them as slaves or servants and engage in discussions which could lead Israel to follow after false gods and lose the blessings God had reserved for them. And the entire Old Testament stands in evidence that God’s words were true. Israel chased false gods.

David Learns of Saul’s Death (2 Samuel 1:1-16)  

The Bible reference for the first point is 1 Samuel 27:1-12. The actual ending of 1 Samuel occurred in Chapter 31 with the deaths of Saul and his three sons, including Jonathan, David’s best friend (vs. 31:6). David had another major scare in Chapter 30 where the Amalekites captured thousands of Israeli women and children along with David’s two wives (vss. 30:3-5). The rest of Chapter 30 has David destroying the Amalekites and taking back all that was taken.

Meantime, Saul and Israel confronted the Philistines and were beaten severely. This is where Saul and his three sons were killed in battle. Recall that David and his army were in the land of the Philistines, but not with the Philistines, so he was not in this defeat. Second Samuel 1:2 tells of a man staggering into David’s camp with hardly any strength left. David had him fed and rehydrated so he could hear the report the man came to bring. In verse 10, the messenger confesses that he killed the wounded Saul at his request and took his crown and bracelet to return to David. David immediately stood to his feet and ripped his robes because of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. All of the men who were with David did the same (vs. 11).  

Now, because the messenger confessed to killing Saul, he would have to pay the capital price. Again, David’s issue was not that the man had pity on Saul, recognized that he had a terminal wound and granted his request to die.  Rather, it was because the messenger had killed the Lord’s anointed. Recall that David had two opportunities to kill Saul and was encouraged to do so by others, but David refused to take the life of (harm) God’s anointed. But here, standing in front of David was a man who not only did not refused to harm the Lord’s anointed.  This man killed the Lord’s anointed and was confessing the crime before David.

I cannot help but think this history may have been the source of the a messenger of bad news begging that the receiver of the news “does not kill the messenger delivering the news.” Here, the messenger not only delivered the news of the king’s death but confessed to taking the king’s life with his own hand. This is capital crime, and David spoke the appropriate punishment.

David’s Dirge (2 Samuel 1:17-27)  

By this time in David’s life, he had already written about half of the Psalms for which he received credit. He is blessed of God with the capability to express his pain and anguish in songs and hymns with great skill and inspiration. Here we have a psalm of David which is not repeated the Book of Psalms. It is unlike Psalms 51 as it documents David’s pain and sorrow over his sins with Bathsheba and the pain of God’s punishment of them by taking their son who was born of those sins. Instead, notice also the depth of God’s forgiveness in His allowance of their second son, Solomon, to be anointed king after David’s death (1 Kings 1). 

David writes of his pain in losing Saul and Jonathan in different segments of this dirge. In verse 19 he talks of their deaths as the taking of the beauty of the Nation of Israel being displayed on its highest places. But he warns Israel not to openly show the pain of these losses because the daughters of the Philistine might find cause to rejoice in their deaths and the heathen might exalt them (vss. 19-20). He says that the shield of Saul shall not be anointed or lifted up because it nor anyone else can state that the bow of Jonathan ever turned back (that is, he was not a coward).

David mentions his great love and appreciation for Saul and Jonathan in the same verse while we know that his true feelings for them were far from equal (vs. 23). He calls them beloved and pleasant in this life when we know that Saul caused him grief on a daily basis while he called Jonathan’s love better than that of any woman. Saul tried to take David’s life while Jonathan risked his own life to save David’s life often, even against the will of his father and king. 

A partial explanation might be that David had dual responsibilities here. Saul’s sin against God and his failure to become God’s king, resulted in God removing His Holy Spirit and replacing it with an evil spirit (1 Sam 16:14). David may have been trying to maintain the holiness of the lofty position of the King of Israel, especially since he would soon to occupy that position. Whatever David’s reasons were, he sets an outstanding example in thinking of the impact of his behavior on the institution of the office rather than calling out Saul for the murderer he wished to be.

David & Ishbosheth Are Kings (2 Sam 2:3) 

In our previous study, we saw David frustrated with his seemingly endless running from King Saul. He finally acknowledged that he would eventually get caught by Saul and lose his life as a result. He elected to leave Israel and take up residence among the enemies in the land of the Philistines. Meanwhile, Saul and his three sons went into war against the Philistines and were killed. In 2 Samuel 1, David received word that Saul and David’s best friend, Jonathan were dead. David was devastated and wrote of their greatness in prose and psalm as well. Now, we find the men of Judah coming to David and anointing him King of Judah (2 Sam 2:4). Israel would not divide into the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah until after King Solomon’s reign, so David must have become king of the tribal area of Judah here. Note that 2 Samuel 2:4 calls it “the house of Judah.” Nevertheless, David sent a kind word to the men of Jabesh-Gileab for taking the effort to give King Saul a proper burial (vs. 5).

But in the northern eleven provinces of Israel, Ishbosheth, one of Saul’s sons, assumed his father’s throne. He was forty years old when he became King of Israel. Verse 10 continues that he reigned for two years while Judah continued to follow David. As can be imagined, this led to a fairly significant civil war, but David’s side continued to strengthen while Isbosheth’s much larger kingdom became weaker and weaker. 

Chapter 3 documents a cultural norm of the time which was used to measure the power of various monarchs. Verses 2-5 list the six sons that were born to David while he was at Hebron. The number of international alliances David made through these sons enhanced the strength of his kingdom. Meanwhile in Israel, a man named Abner would take one of Saul concubines signifying that he was claiming the kingdom over Ishbosheth, and he made an offer to deliver Israel to David instead of Ishbosheth, and thereby, unite all Israel under David. David told Ishbosheth that he wanted his wife, Michal back, and Abner helped make that happen. But Abner was killed by Joab. 

Ishbosheth Killed; David King (2 Samuel 4-5)   

Chapter 4 sets up more of the uniting of the Judah and Israel under David. First, we are introduced to a pair of brothers, Rechab and Baanah. Who were commanders of bands of warriors under Ishbosheth, Saul’s son and King of Israel. The brothers went to his home and caught him in his mid-morning nap. They killed him and took his head (vss.6-7).  They brought the head to David, and he reacted to them the same way he reacted to the man who killed Saul. He killed them for killing the innocent king. 

Chapter 5 opens with all the tribal leaders of Israel coming to King David to reestablish Israel the way it should have been and at verse 3, David made a covenant with them and they anointed him King of all Israel. The Scriptures document that David was thirty years old when he became king and reigned for 40 years; 7 years over Judah from Hebron and 33 years over all Israel from Jerusalem. Now, before reigning from Jerusalem, David had to clean it and then build it up from the Citadel and inward (vs. 9). 

Verses 6 – 10 record David’s overtaking the Jebusites to take control of Jerusalem which he certainly did in short order, but those verses introduce the idea that David would be turned away because of “the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul” (vs. 8). One only need read 2 Samuel 9:6-13 regarding David’s personal treatment of Jonathan’s lame son to see that the reference in 2 Samuel 5:8 needs a better explanation. David restored much of Saul’s property to Mephibosheth and had him sit at the King’s Table in Jerusalem daily. Not like a hater of the lame.

Chapter 5 finishes with the challenges of war, and yes, it is the Philistines again. This time, David asked God directly if he should go up against them (vs. 19).  God said yes, and He promised to give David victory over them. David went against them at Baal-Perazim and defeated them there. The Philistines came again against David in the Valley of Rephaim. This time God told David to attack from behind them (vs. 23). David did what God instructed, and he was able to completely strike them down from Gibeon to Gezer, that is, from the mountains to the plains.

Peril in Ark Move (2 Samuel 6) 

King David put together 30,000 chosen men to go after the Ark of the Covenants, specifically, “The Ark of God” (vss. 1-2). He took the people to Baale-Judah (Kiriath-Jearim) where the Ark had been stored at the home of Abinadab for 20 years since its return to Israel from the Philistines. The Ark had a significant role in the unity of Israel in that it was the centerpiece of the annual Day of Atonement ceremony where God receives a special sacrifice, blood is sprinkled on the Mercy Seat of the Ark and God visits with the High Priest to share instructions for the year (Leviticus 16). Reuniting Israel could not be complete without reuniting Israel with the presence of their God. 

So, two sons of Abinadab accompanied the Ark from Baale-Judah to Jerusalem. As the Ark tilted during the trip, Uzziah reached out and touched the Ark to stabilize it. Verse 7 says God stuck him down for touching the Holy Thing. David was angry at God and fearful of the Ark. He decided to leave it at the home of Obed-Edom, the Gittite for three months and he was blessed along with his entire household. When David heard of the blessings, he decided to try moving it to Jerusalem again. David sacrificed before starting the journey and danced along the entire path of its return. Michal, his wife and Saul’s youngest daughter saw him and was angry with him (vs. 16). 

When David ushered the Ark into Jerusalem, the Script says he “set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings and blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts (vs. 18). When he returned to bless the household, however, Michal said he acted the fool and uncovered himself in front of his people. David said it was before the Lord he did those things. He said he will be humbled before the Lord also, but before his maids, he will be distinguished. 

Verse 23 states that Michal was never allowed to conceive a child after that discussion. So, David did all that was necessary to get her back with him, but he never really succeeded.

David’s Temple & War (2 Samuel 7-8) 

Chapter 7 begins with David observing that he found peace and tranquility in his house but the Lord lives in a tent (the Tabernacle of the Congregation). David told Nathan, the Prophet, that he lived in a house of cedar, but his God lives in curtains (vss. 1-2). Nathan responds that David should go and do all he desires for the Lord is with him. God responded with a question for Nathan, “Did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?” The Lord tells David that when your days are over, and you lie down with your fathers, “I will raise up a descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish a throne of his kingdom forever” (vs. 12).  David acquiesces to God’s command and asks only His blessing forever (vs. 29).

Now, the fact that David was not allowed to build the Temple was because he had blood on his hands from being the great warrior under God. And the immense collections of precious metals and stones and artworks were all going to be a part of the wealth required for Solomon to build the Temple for God.

Chapter 8 begins with a listing of all the victories David won under God’s leadership. God started with the Philistines and listed Moab, Zobah, Arameans, Berothai, Hamath and many others. David listed the many times God sent him home with large amounts of gold, silver and bronze. So, David was the warrior king who honored the Lord while his son, Solomon would build the Temple.

The Lord summarizes David’s greatness in all the feats God gave him to complete. He says, “15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder. 17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary. 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers” (vss. 15-18).

Understand the Context (2 Sam 9:1-13)  

This study goes to the heart of the kind of man King David was. As King, he now has all the power in the world. He could be anything or act in anyway he wished, but the content of Chapter 9 shows the character of the man who so impressed God that He called him “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14). 

Saul had not been King of Israel very long before he decided to offer sacrifice to the Lord for the soldiers rather than waiting for Samuel to offer properly. When Samuel arrived he told Saul he had done a very foolish thing and the Lord would not tolerate it. God told Samuel to tell Saul, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee” (2 Sam 13:14).  So ended the legitimate reign of King Saul. God then commissioned Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to replace Saul as king.

Here we see David finally becoming King of Israel and taking his rightful place. He has full authority to remove anything or anyone from King Saul’s reign. But the new king’s heart remembered the covenant he had made with the old king’s son, Jonathan. So, David begins to inquire if there is any person in Jonathan’s line that he might provide a blessings from God for the sake of Jonathan.

Chapter 9 starts out with David’s objective for finding, recognizing and ministering to any member of Saul’s family remaining. He finds a servant man named Ziba who starts his personal research to find whomever was left in Saul’s family (vs. 2). Ziba comes straight to the point and tells David there is a son who was born to Jonathan, the son of Saul and close friend of David. The man was dropped as a small child and broke both his feet. His name was Mephibosheth. 

So, the study centers on David’s search and his heart for forgiveness and support for whomever might be left of Saul’s family. It will start with Mephibosheth and Ziba.

Any Left of Saul’s Line (2 Samuel 9:1-3)  

The first three verses of Chapter 9 goes directly to the point of how King David began the search for answers to the question, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (vs. 1). He makes the goal clear and concise. The King wanted to show kindness to a person in Jonathan’s line because of the relationship he had with Jonathan. David knew that Saul and Jonathan had died in war, but he wanted to bless someone for the sake of the strong relationship he once had with Jonathan. It was to be a token of that relationship and in the name of it. David must have felt he needed a tangible reminder of that relationship and the great value it had for him. If he could find an heir to Jonathan, that would be a person he could bless by bringing him or her to the palace and allowing him to dine at the King’s Table as a representative of that sweet relationship he once had.

Verse 2 reports the success David has in finding a man who was a servant in the house of Saul and might have some information as to relatives or others in the House of Saul who might still be available. The servant’s name was Ziba and David’s men were able to call him to the palace where David could talk with him and hopefully get an answer for his search. Ziba was brought before the king and he asked him about the family. King David asks him, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” (vs. 3).

Ziba thinks back over the many years he served Saul and recalls there is one who fits the new King’s description. He must have hesitated at least a few seconds because the one who came to his mind was a cripple. The customs of Israel usually passed over people who were lame or diseased because religious leadership associated these imperfections with some sin the person must have committed that caused the damage.  Further, it might be contagious to some extent. But Ziba evidently reasoned that whatever the King thought about those circumstances, it was the King’s business and not his as a mere servant in the house. He tells David, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet” (vs. 3).

Mephibosheth at King’s Table (2 Samuel 9:4-8)  

Verse 4 eliminates Ziba’s concern as David responds favorably by asking where that son might be. Ziba responded with the information he had, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.” So, King David sent some of his men to the place Ziba described and had the person brought to him. David learned the man’s name was Mephibosheth and he was the son of Jonathan the son of Saul. This seemed to fit perfectly with David’s intentions to bless a descendant of Jonathan for the sake of that sweet relationship they once enjoyed.

Mephibosheth came before David and immediately fell on his face before him. The King called his name and Mephibosheth replied, “Here is your servant!” (vs. 6). David could see the man was scared beyond reason, so he responded to ease his mind very quickly. He said, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly” (vs. 7).

Mephibosheth responded in total disbelief saying, “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?” He was so used to abuse and rejection, he expected more of the same from David. After all, in the culture of those times, a cripple barely had permission to stay alive. Had Mephibosheth been born to a commoner family instead of the son of the king, he would have been relegated to holding out a cup, begging for enough money to buy food for another day. But, thanks to David’s kind heart and generous spirit, he now has all the land his grandfather Saul lost in wars against David. David had restored it all to Mephibosheth in addition to the promised seat at the King’s Table for the rest of his life.

David also informs Mephibosheth that he is assigning Ziba and all her relatives and servants under him. So, in addition to caring for Mephibosheth in elegance for the rest of his life, he was assigning Ziba and her whole crowd of people with him to serve Mephibosheth. David will certainly accomplish his objective of blessing these people and all of those under them with a full blessing from the Lord for life. It was David, the man after God’s own heart>

Ziba Works Mephibosheth’s Land (2 Samuel 9:9-13)  

David was not yet finished with his demonstration of the King’s generosity. He called Ziba the servant of Saul’s house to stand before him. Ziba presented himself to David as he requested saying, “Here is your servant!” David wanted to deliver the rest of the blessing he had for Ziba. He said, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson.  You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless, Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall eat at my table regularly.” 

Verse 10 informs us on how big of a crowd Ziba is bringing with him. It says, “Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.”  He assures David that everything he has said concerning him and all who are with him will be done (vs. 11). So, Ziba and all his were assigned the Mephibosheth, and Mephibosheth was assigned to eat at the King’s Table as one of the King’s sons. 

Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. No additional information is given for him, but this introduces a short summary of what we learned in Chapter 9. The Scripture continues, “And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.  So, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet.”

Chapter 9 is obviously different from all the chapters of war and struggles dealing with Israel’s choice to leave the theocratic government model for a monarchy, the failure of their first selected king (Saul) and the great successes of God’s chosen king, the man after God’s own heart (David). It is a time when the new King can show some of the reasons why God chose him and ended Saul’s reign. We will see in the next few chapters, however, that even God’s choses for leadership are subject to attack from the evil enemy. But for now, we get to see David rescue a physically broken man who was condemned because he was dropped by a caregiver, and a man who served a king who tried to kill his own servants. He cared for those who could not care for themselves.

Kindness for New King (2 Sam 10:1-5)

Chapter 10 begins with the death of the Ammonite king, and the ascension of his son, Hanun. Verse 2 shows that David intended to send ambassadors to visit the new king and show kindness to him just as his father showed to him. A problem of interpretation arose when David’s representatives arrived to console Hanun at his loss. Verse 3 says that Hanun’s princes told him that David’s servants did not come to console him, but rather, they came to spy out the area for future attack (vss. 2-3). There is no way to determine whether Hanun’s princes misunderstood David’s intentions or purposely wanted to start a war, but their advice to him was clear. They told Hanun that David’s men came “to spy it out and overthrow it” (vs. 3). Hanun decided to humiliate David’s men rather than killing them and began by shaving off half their beards, cutting off their garments in the middle down to their hips and sending them away (vs. 4)

Of course, Hanun’s response was geared to fully humiliate David’s servants who thought they were coming to the Ammonites on a mission of consolation for the passing of Hanun’s father, the previous king. The old saying goes that “no good deed will go unpunished,” and this situation certainly fits that description. David probably selected his very best dignitaries for this mission. They were likely very senior men fully intent on delivering the King’s message of sorrow for the passing of Hanun’s father and David’s very best wishes for the success of the new king. The caliber of these men would be such that they were highly esteemed gentlemen who were accustomed to being treated like statesmen representing their king. Instead, they were completely humiliated by the Ammonites. The message this treatment sent to David was one of total rejection of David’s intended message as well as those he chose to deliver it. Hanun was not impressed.

When King David heard about this foul treatment of his servants, he took care of making sure they were not even more humiliated by returning home in that condition. Instead, he told them to stay in Jericho until their beard grew out, and they could restore their dignity (vs. 5). 

Ammon Hires Syrians for War (2 Samuel 10:6-8)  

Verse 6 seems to imply that the sons of Ammon were somewhat surprised that their treatment of King David’s diplomats resulted in his completely loathsome attitude toward them. Somehow the Ammonite servants of the king did not understand the chessboard of battleground behavior. That is, each side of the war must completely analyze their proposed actions in light of the potential response it might cause. One must never take an action in battle for which they are not fully prepared to feel the enemy’s response. King David and the Israeli army were far to fierce to be under-estimated. 

When Ammon reconsidered what they had done, they finally understood they, like the team trying to catch Jaws, would “need a bigger boat!” They had to go outside their own country to find the size of armed force to battle against the likes of Israel. They went to Syria to hire 20,000 foot soldiers, the King of Maacah for 1,000 men and the men of Tob to get 12,000 more men (vs. 6). Now, this fighting force was a supplement for their own army. It looks like Ammon was finally thinking about the size of the enemy they had enraged. Recall Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor would reportedly write in his diary after the attack, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.”

King David heard the rumors of the forces Ammon was putting together and responded by notifying Joab to prepare the army, the mighty men, for battle. Ammon’s plan of attack was to come out in full battle dress. They would array against the city while the Syrians’ Zobah, Rehob, Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field (vs, 8). 

As a military man, I can see a terrible flaw in this deployment. The 33,000 soldiers who were not Ammonites were not accompanied by any of the leaders from the soldiers who were motivated to win this battle. Regardless of their training, armament and skill, the leadership from those who have the focus of the war in their hearts are not with them. They might be the most powerful army in the world but without the involvement of those motivated to win, they were only hired hands.

Joab Adjusts Army for Two Fronts (2 Samuel 10:9-14)  

When Joab approached the battlefield, he assessed the situation and saw there were two sets of divided soldiers before him. He decided he would take command of the best and largest group to do battle against the largest force of soldiers, the Syrians. He mustered together the best of Israel soldiers stood them against the Syrians. Joab knew the history of these men and knew they numbered beyond 33,000 troops. He would lead his soldiers against them. He assigned his son, Abishai against the Ammonites attacking from the rear (vs. 10). His instructions to Abishai were that whoever had the easiest fight can come to the aid of the other. 

After Joab lined up all the soldiers and told them of their assignments, he did that one thing that made the Israeli solder the mightiest in the world: he prayed to the Lord God of Israel. He said, “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight” (vs. 12). Joab knew that the best training and preparation were useless without the hand of the Lord upon your hearts and minds, and to have His hand on the righteousness of the battle. Look below and see if you do not fully agree.

Verse 13 says Joab and those assigned with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians. Joab was prepared, his soldiers knew him and what he was capable of. He was fully confident in the righteousness of this battle and the purposes of God to protect Israel and win this fight. He gave the order to attack, and they moved forward to destroy the enemies of Israel. But look how verse 13 ends, “and they fled before him.” There were no heroic individual pursuits of valor or mighty one-on-one victories. The Syrians saw Joab and his forces of mighty men of Israel and ran the other way!

The sons of Ammon rallied against Abishai and prepared for the battle for the city. But a messenger from Syria’s forces reached them and they heard that Joab was so fierce the 33,000 soldiers of Syria ran before the fight started. Ammon fled from the face of Abishai!  

Reinforced Syrians Try Again (2 Samuel 10:15-19)  

The Arameans (Syrians) had been purchased by the Ammonites to supplement their armies to fight this war against the armies of Israel as led by their King, David. But whether it was the Syrians or the Ammonites, they lost to Isreal under very embarrassing and humiliating circumstances. When the Ammonites saw Israel arrayed for war against the Syrians or against themselves, they saw the mighty men of Israel coming against them and simply fled. Now we are at the conclusion of this war. The Syrians saw they were soundly defeated.  They evidently brought together the defeated soldiers in Israel plus those held in reserve on the other side of Jordan to stop Israel’s exit after it was defeated and took them to Helam (vss. 15-16).

Of course, when David saw they were coming together, he amassed his armies as well. He marched them across the Jordan River to meet Shobach and Hadarezer at Helam (also known as Peniel, about 10 miles east of the Jordan River) (vs. 17). Verse 17 says the Syrians fought against David there.

But the fight finished just had in several of the other fights between the Syrians and Israel; the Syrians fled as David killed 700 charioteers and 40,000 horsemen. He also killed Shoback the supreme commander of the combined Ammonian and Syrian armies. When all the kings and the servants of Hadadezer saw the defeat by Israel, they made peace with Israel, that is, they surrendered and became their servants (vs. 19). Samuel also adds that the Syrians were afraid to help the sons of Ammon ever again.

King David was known as a mighty warrior as gifted by God. The Israelis recognized that very early on when they said in one of King Saul’s mighty victories, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Sam 18:7). Recall that was the statement that caused Saul to be enraged at David and led to his first attempted murder of him. Now David is the commander of all the forces of Israel, and his reputation is such that mighty armies like the Ammonites put together using Syrian soldiers would surrender rather than fight them. David was blessed of God!!

When Kings go to Battle (2 Sam 11:1-5)  

Recall how God anointed Saul when he was made king of Israel, but when he failed, God removed His Spirit (1 Sam 10:6 & 16:14). The power for him to lead Israel did not come from his own power but from the power of God’s Holy Spirit. David received that same Spirit and its power in 1 Sam 16:13. Saul lost the Spirit when he was disobedient. Now, David was gifted by God not only as a great leader but a great warrior. In 2 Samuel 11, we find David making the decision to stay in the palace at Jerusalem as Spring approached while he sent Joab and his servants to fight Ammon (vs. 1). As evening approached one day, David got up from his bed and walked around the roof of the king’s house (vs. 2). He looked down upon the neighboring houses and saw a very beautiful woman bathing herself. David inquired about who the woman might be and one of his servants said it was Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s generals (vs. 3). So, David was tempted by the view he saw for the roof of the king’s house and discovered this woman was married to one of his faithful generals who was on the battlefield where he should have been.  If what happened that night ended at this point, everyone’s honor would have been intact and sin would not have entered into the picture.

But it did not end there because verse 4 sees David sending messengers to the woman’s house and taking her, when she came to the king, he laid with her and when she purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her home. So now the king has committed adultery with the wife of one of his generals. This was a sin against God and a blemish on honor of David’s reign, but no one need find out. 

But all sin has consequences even if it is secret sin, and the Scripture say, “Surely your sin will find you out (Numb 32:23). So, in due time, Bathsheba finds out she is pregnant (vs. 5). She sends word to David and both of them know her husband is out on the battlefield and had been there for some time. Uriah could not be the father of the child, or could he?

What about Her Husband (2 Samuel 11:6-27)  

David decides it might be a good time for Uriah to visit home. He sends word to Joab and asks him to send Uriah to him (vs. 6). But Uriah was a man of honor, and he would not enjoy the comforts of his home while his fellow soldiers were in the field fighting. So, Uriah slept on the door mat of the king’s house (vs. 9). He told David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in temporary shelters, and my Lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife?  By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing” (vs. 11). It sounds like David may have met a man who had the kind of character a king should have had. So, David would not give up on his idea of having Uriah spend the night with his wife so he and Bathsheba could claim her child as Uriah’s. Verse 13 has David calling Uriah to the palace for a night of too much food and wine, while Uriah was quite drunk, he slept with David’s servants instead of sleeping with his wife. 

In frustration, David decides there is still another way to “honorably” solve the problem. If Uriah dies in battle, the king could play the hero and claim his widow to care for the rest of her life. Taking care of widows was a large part of Jewish Law. So, David wrote a letter to Joab to be delivered by Uriah’s hand. The letter would instruct Joab to place Uriah on the front lines against the enemy and have all the soldiers withdraw and leave Uriah to die at the enemy’s hands. 

Joab did as he was instructed by the king, but it was never as clean as David planned it. In the process of having Urial killed, the enemy killed several of David’s servants and the servants of Joab. There is no number listed, but many people died that day including Uriah. Nevertheless, Uriah died an honorable death as he gave his life for his country. David has successfully added murder to adultery in his relationship with the general’s wife. 

When Bathsheba heard that her husband was killed in battle, she immediately entered into mourning. When the customary mourning period had ended, David sent for her, and she became his wife and bore his child. But what David did displeased the Lord! (vs. 27).

Nathan Rebukes David (2 Samuel 12:1-14)  

So, the Lord sends Nathan to speak with David. He begins with a story about two men in a city, one was rich, and one was poor (vs. 1). The rich man had very large flocks and herds. The poor man, however, had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he bought and had her grow up together with his own children. The little lamb would eat at the poor man’s table and was like a daughter to the poor man and his family. Verse 4 says that a traveler came to town to visit the rich man, but he was not willing to take from his large herd a lamb for the visitor. Instead, he went next door and took the poor man’s little ewe lamb and dressed it for the guest.

David was absolutely enraged by the story and was angry at the rich man. He told Nathan the rich man will have to die for this decision and repay the poor man fourfold for that little ewe lamb for he had no compassion for the poor man nor his family. At this point, Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”

The Lord reminds David of all the things he gave to him (vss. 7-8). He assures David that if that would not have been enough, He would have given him much more. He specifies that He gave David’s his master’s wives, all the houses of Israel of Judah. 

The Lord asks David why he has despised Him in such a way. He recounted for David that he had cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, had taken his wife to be your wife and you have killed Uriah with the sword of the Ammonites. 

He says these shall be David’s punishments. The sword shall never depart from his house. He says He will take his wives from him and give them to his companion, and he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did what you did in secret, but I will do this publicly. 

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord” (vs. 13). But there was much more behind these words. David wrote Psalms 51 showing his complete acknowledgement and repentance of his sin. He prayed God would allow his son to live, but it was too late. Recall Solomon was next.

Next King is Born (2 Samuel 12:15-31)  

Samuel ties this bullet to the last by saying that Nathan went to his own house. The Lord keeps his promise to take David and Bathsheba’s first child that was conceived in the sins of adultery and murder. The child became very ill and David fasted and prostrated himself on the ground all night. This looks like another way of saying that David ripped his clothes, dressed in sackcloth, fasted and threw ashes on himself. This was the epidemy of demonstrating the utmost in personal pain and anguish for an event taking place. He maintained this ritual for several days: praying and crying to the Lord. But despite David’s efforts, the child died because of his sins. He got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, came into the house of the Lord and worshiped him. He left there and went to console Bathsheba. During the ministry to one another, they laid together, Bathsheba conceived her second son and gave birth to Solomon. 

The Lord loved Solomon and decided to give him another name: Jedidiah, meaning beloved of the Lord. This renaming of Solomon was a point of departure between God’s just punishments and God’s awesome love. He had just taken David’s son as born by David and Bathsheba, but the immediate departure from the just taking of David and Bathsheba’s first borne and the miraculous love He had and wanted to demonstrate for Solomon. God had just levied the most severe punishments He had given to most short of death. But the tender love He had for David had to be encouraged after the tremendously painful discouragement associated with the death of his son. 

Now God seems to be establishing a kind of new beginning and encouraging David to get out of where he was and turn to the new way of being. He does not remove the punishments He listed for David and Bathsheba nor does He reverse the warnings of trouble for David’s future. Warnings like “the sword will never depart from you house” and “your wives will be given to others publicly.” God’s strong love for Solomon and His belief that David is the man after God’s own heart, provide the evidence of God’s love transcending our failures.  

Amnon’s Feelings for Tamar (2 Sam 13:1-6)  

Recall in the previous Bible Blog, we saw David receive certain punishments from God that He placed on him regardless of the fact that God forgave his sins of adultery and murder, or at least he would not die for them. First, David and Bathsheba would lose their first borne child, and second, the sword would never withdraw from David’s house. In Chapter 13, we see the beginning of that promise of trouble and death in David’s house among the members of his personal household. To facilitate that, let us remember that David comes to the King’s house with at least 7 wives before he left Hebron: Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, Abigail the Carmelitess, Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah. and there he reigned seven and a half years: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years and added Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel, making 8 wives beside his concubines. Today, we will see serious conflict between three of these grown children.

Verse 1 introduces Absalom as the son of David having a beautiful sister named Tamar who was loved (lusted after) by Amnon, David’s firstborn. Verse 2 goes farther by saying that Amnon was so vexed in his desire for Tamar that he made himself ill. The reference to Tamar being a virgin emphasized her tight connection to her home rather than the status of her sexual activity. So, Amnon was frustrated because it seemed impossible for him to get her outside her tightness with her family. This kind of tightness in family segments might seem strange, but it certainly happens. I had two sets of twin boys, yet whenever one of them was talking of his brother, it specifically meant his twin, but neither of the brothers of the other set of twins.  Strange as that might seem, it is still true as the four of them are now in their mid-50s! 

But Amnon would not be denied and followed the suggestion of a crafty friend to fake an illness, and when King David came to check on him, he could request Tamar to come and fix a meal for him and serve it in his home. So, David heard Amnon’s request and set it up as he requested.

David Delivers Tamar (2 Samuel 13:7-23)  

Verse 7 shows the specifics of how the king set up the meal for Amnon. It seems a bit naïve of David to grant Amnon’s wish after his experience with accidentally seeing Bathsheba bathing next door. At any rate, Tamar does what her father requested and goes to Amnon’s house to cook and serve a meal for him. But when she takes the meal to him, the predictable happens. He grabs her to lie with him (vs. 11). Tamar rejects his advancements saying, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing! As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel” (2 Sam 13:12-13a). Her words deal with the lack of wisdom in his actions for her and for him. There is no information on how old she is, but her wisdom and mature thinking are far beyond those demonstrated by Amnon. She makes a strange suggestion for us to grasp in our culture; she suggests he ask the king for her, and she believes the king would not withhold her from him (vs. 13b). We cannot imagine giving a daughter to a half-brother to marry much less to simply have sex together. Yet, that seems to be what Tamar believes David would allow if Amnon asked. 

But it matters not because Amnon rapes his half-sister and tells her she must keep it a secret. By verse 15, it is clear Amnon has satisfied his lust for Tamar and has his servant throw her out of his house. Tamar tore her clothes and threw ashes on her head symbolizing the total shame she feels over her brother’s rape of her and his subsequent lack of respect and mistreatment of her. After all, this is the daughter of the king! 

But to make matters worse, her full brother, Absalom, hears her story and asks her to keep quiet about it (vs. 20). However, when David heard of these matters, he was very angry (vs. 21). Absalom spoke neither good nor bad to Amnon because he knew Amnon had violated his sister. Verse 23 closes the paragraph by providing a time element at “two full years” that Absalom endured his hate for his brother before acting. The set up here is that Absalom has sheepshearers in Baal-hazor near Ephraim and wants to invite all the king’s sons to the event.

Absalom Avenges Tamar (2 Samuel 13:24-33)  

So, Absalom invites the king, all the king’s sons and the associated servants to the sheepshearing event near Ephraim (vs. 24).  King David cautions they should not all go because it will be too difficult to manage. Absalom urged the king to let the invitation stand, but the king insisted, nevertheless, David blessed Absalom and his event. Absalom acquiesced to the king’s absence but asked that Amnon be allowed to attend instead. When the king asked, “Why should he go with you?”, Absalom simply urged him and he agreed (vss. 26-27).  David blessed the presence of Amnon and all the king’s sons at Absalom’s event. 

At verse 28, Absalom begins executing his real plan for having the event and inviting the king’s sons. He commanded that his servants watch Amnon as he drank, and when his heart was merry with wine, they were to put him the death. He instructed them not to fear because he was the one who was commanding this action (vs. 28). After the king’s sons saw what happened to Amnon, all the other sons of the king “mounted their mules and fled” (vs. 29). Absalom had successfully waited two full years before taking his action, but now, the time was right and people at the gathering were right. Amnon would pay for violating his sister, Tamar, with his life. 

In an environment where communication is far less than accurate, the report came to David that all his sons had been killed by Absalom. David arose from his seat, tore his clothes and laid on the ground while all his servants were standing by with torn clothes as well. However, Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother responded, “Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar.  Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, namely, ‘all the king’s sons are dead,’ for only Amnon is dead” (vss. 32-33). 

Even in today’s civilized world, many cultures have honor killings or the like whereby a family can try to make right a grievous wrong or abuse to a member. Here, Absalom revenged Tamar.

Absalom Lives; Amnon Dead (2 Samuel 13:34-39)  

Absalom thought it best to flee from the scene until the emotions could have time to see the righteousness of his revenge. The watchman charged with watching the road saw that many people were following him from the side of the mountain. Jonadab spoke to King David reaffirming the fact that only Amnon was killed; all his other sons were still alive. Verse 36 says that the words spoken by Jonadab were just barely out of his mouth when the other sons of the king began showing up. His relief in actually seeing them reassured him of their safety, and he wept for joy at seeing them. But the king was not alone in sharing a few tears. Verse 36 tells us that all the king’s servants wept at seeing the joy of their king and all the king’s sons wept as well. There was plenty of joy in the king’s domain on the return of his sons who were rumored to have been dead.

Now for Absalom, his vengeance on Amnon over the disgrace he caused for Tamar two years earlier was finally completed. He could tell Tamar that the perpetrator of that disgrace on her was avenged, and she could now restart her life and even leave Absalom’s home whenever she wished. 

Absalom remained in seclusion at the home of Talmai, the son of Ammilhud, the king of Geshur. Absalom stayed there for three years. Verse 39 closes the chapter, seeing David in great grief for his son, Absalom. But he was somewhat comforted that the family embarrassment over Amnon’s violation of Tamar’s body and reputation were finally settled. The king’s heart longed for Absalom while he was away. 

The application of what happened to David because of his  sin with Bathsheba continues on in the life of David. First, he lost the child he and Bathsheba bore together in adultery and murder. Next, Nathan told David the sword would never pass from his family. Amnon was dead because of his deeds, but the pain of it would hurt David during Amnon’s permanent absence and the three-year absence of his son Absalom. Each week we study will be another Chapter in the consequences of David’s sin. Recall that God forgave his sin, but the consequences of sin must still be lived. It is the same for us. God certainly forgives us when we repent, but the results of sin continue on.

The Woman of Tekoa (2 Sam 14:1-11)  

Joab was King David’s commanding General.  Recall he was the general who followed David’s instructions to move Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to the front lines and then abandon him there resulting in certain death. So, Joab was one faithful and dedicated man. In that role, he felt that the king highly favored his son, Absalom, but Absalom had been in self-imposed exile ever since he avenged Tamar’s rape by killing Amnon (2 Sam 13). So, Joab contacted a woman in Tekoa to act out an unreasonable mourning situation to the king. Joab told her to appear before the king as a suffering mourner having two sons, but one had killed the other leaving her in mourning.  But now she is in danger of losing danger of seeing the second son arrested and executed for murdering her other son. This would leave her with neither son in her old age (vss. 6-7). Recall that, in those days, the younger members of the families took care of the elders, and there were no nursing homes or elderly care facilities. The whole family of this lady had turned their backs on her because of the death of her son (not quite sure how that worked out, but it was a part of Joab’s story for the king). They seemed angery that the lady would not turn her living son over to the authorities to face the punishments for killing the first son. 

So, her case (via Joab) for the king was that she would be left with no heir to care for her needs nor to ease the grief she was suffering for the other son. This would leave her helpless for the remainder of her days but also remove her husband’s name and inheritance from Israel forever. 

Therefore, King David told the woman to go to her home while he considered the matter, and he would give orders to protect her until then (vs. 9). Further, the king says that establish an edict no one will touch her because of this matter. 

So, Joab’s plan has been successful this far. The lady from Tekoa pretending to mourn for the possible arrest and execution of her second son and only heir of her husband’s name and legacy, had convinced the king to consider her case.  Now Joab can relax and await the king’s judgement.

David Agrees to Protect the Heir (2 Samuel 14:12-20)  

Now the lady from Tekoa is on her face before the king and requests the privilege of speaking to him again (vs. 12). He gives permission and the woman reveals that the king’s words has brought judgement on himself for he is the one who has refused to bring back the banished son of his mourning (vs. 13). She was saying that it is the king who is withholding the return of his son, Absalom, from exile. It has been two years, and the king has taken no action to show forgiveness or desire to have Absalom stand before him. The woman continues that God has set the example of forgiving and restoring those who have errored, why would the king not do the same?

Now King David has opportunity to display his knowledge and wisdom as he asked the woman not to reveal any of the words that he is about to speak or ask. The woman bids him to speak on (vs. 18). In verse 19 David asks the woman directly, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?”  David saw right through the efforts the woman of Tekoa was making as work that Joab might have suggested to her. The woman responds, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. Indeed, it was your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.” So, the woman is saying that she is impressed that David knows who is really responsible for this effort, but wants to hear her admit it, and she does. Not only that, she continues, but the very words of her speech were set up by Joab, just as David suspected. She says that Joab changed the appearance of things just to make the point.

Joab appeared very wise in this approach but recall that Joab had a good example of his own. He knew of how Nathan used the same kind of example with David when he approached the king on his sins of adultery and murder with Bathsheba. Nathan had used a story created to show a simple example of what the king was doing and now, Joab was doing the same thing. Nathan used two men who were neighbors and the rich fully sinned against his poorer neighbor by killing the ewe lamb loved by his whole family instead of killing one of his thousands of lambs.  It worked again!

Joab Retrieves Absalom (2 Samuel 14:21-27)

 Verse 21 begins as if there were no previous words between Joab and the King over Joab’s tasking the woman of Tekoa to pretend she was in morning because of her two sons. We have read, and the woman has confessed, to King David, that Joab concocted the whole thing and told her how to act and what to say. David saw right through the effort as being the work of Joab as the woman began to tell the whole story. Now David is speaking directly to Joab. In verse 21, David directs Joab to bring back the young man Absalom. Joab falls on his face before the King and says, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, O my lord, the king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant” (vs. 22b). So, Joab goes to Geshur and brings Absalom bac to Jerusalem as the King directed, but verse 24 shows that while the king has Absalom brought to Jerusalem, he has no intention of receiving a visit from him. 

Verse 25 picks up with a description of Absalom which seems to have no place at this time in the telling of the story, but thinking into Israel law and habit, the greatness and perfection of Absalom is told to prove he had no physical defect that would indicate he had any sin in his life whatsoever. Further, he was highly praised of all those around him from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. Therefore, there was no fault in Absalom nor was there any reason for him to be shunned by the king like this. Verse 26 mentions specifically that his hair was so perfect that he only cut it once a year because its weight was too great for him. It weighed all of 200 shekels (more than 45 pounds). Further, God had blessed Absalom with four perfect children: three sons and a daughter named Tamar. Verse 27 tells us, as in earlier verses, that she was beautiful in every way. Again, in Hebrew thought, the physical appearance of Absalom and his children speaks highly of how richly God has blessed the, and therefore, there was no reason for the King of Israel to deny audience with this man. 

It is hard to see that after all that was said about David’s love for Absalom and longed for his presence, that he would deny that meeting for so long. We will soon learn it has been two years! 

Absalom Serves Two Years (2 Samuel 14:28-33)  

As mentioned, verse 28 says it has been two years since Absalom was back in Jerusalem, yet the king has refused to receive him, face-to-face. Absalom contacted Joab to go to the king and resolve this impasse. Joab, however, refused to answer. Absalom sent a second request, but Joab ignored that one as well. So, in desperation, Absalom called his servants to a meeting and told them to set Joab’s field of barley on fire to get his attention. Verse 31 shows that Joab responded to this action immediately. Absalom shared his issue this way: he wanted to know why he had come from Geshur to Jerusalem two years ago without seeing the king’s face. He wanted Joab to go to the king and ask if there was any iniquity in him. If there is, Absalom is saying that he is willing to face the death penalty. If there is no iniquity, Absalom wishes to see the King.

When Joab spoke to the king on Absalom’s behalf, the king agreed to meet with Absalom in the King’s Palace (vs. 33). Even though Absalom was the son of the king, he was well aware of the proper protocols for appearing in front the king. So, Absalom came into the room and immediately prostrated himself, face down on the floor before the king. This was a high-risk move because the king had life and death authority over all subjects, but this was exactly what Absalom wanted to get per verse 32. What would the king do? 

David knew the protocols as well. He knew that this point in time could either reestablish the relationship he wanted with a son he loved, or he could have him executed because he found no favor in him. There would be no appeal to the king’s decision, but as we look back over the feelings demonstrated between David and Absalom earlier, we see great relief on David’s part that Absalom avenged the despicable behavior of Amnon, the king’s first born son, toward his half sister, Tamar. It was worthy of death and Absalom waited a full two years before he executed Amnon. It was not an action of great anger or unrestrained passion, but unemotional avenging of Absalom’s full sister’s disgrace and humiliation. Tamar herself warned Amnon that this thing was not done in Israel. So, how did the king respond? He went to Absalom and kissed him!

Absalom’s Conspiracy – David Fees (2 Sam 15:1-37)  

It is certainly not everyday that you find a person so dedicated to fraud or deception that they can act it out daily for forty years, but here we have one. After the lovely ending we had in our last study, this time we see the same character involved in a conspiracy to take over his father’s throne. Yes, it is Absalom. He amasses a collection of chariots and a few hundred foot soldiers and gets up early in the morning to position himself at the gates of Jerusalem as people come in to register complaints about the government to the office of the king. The government then was not a lot different that the government now in that one must get up very early in order to get to the office and wait for hours for a response. That response may well be that you are at the wrong office, but the right one is just down hall, but unfortunately, the person responsible for that office has been ill for serveral weeks and they do not know when he will be back. However, there is a sign up sheet at the counter for him to call you when he returns. 

Absalom takes his position at the gates of the city and approaches the citizens as they come to the gates. He asks a couple questions to make himself seem important and tells the people he can save the a trip to the office inside the gate if them come to him instead. He works many of the problems, and in doing so, he develops quite a following over the forty years. But with this great following of people he had help solve their problems, he tell King David he must go to Hebron to resolve some issue. While there, Absalom declares himself King of Hebron and plans to dethrone David (his own father) in Jerusalem to take the entire contry.

David starts to check what is going on and his advisors say Absalom has thousands of loyal followers and that he might consider letting Absalom have the throne. Further, some of his priestly good friends decide the fetch the Ark of the Covenants to take to David. David decides that God must be on his side because he has been an exceptional king and the Ark should stay where it is because God is on his side. Nevertheless, David decides the best thing to do is to flee the country.

David Cursed – Absalom in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:1-23)  

As the people got more of the rumor of what is happening to King David, even the servants came out to help him. Recall a couple studies ago that David wanted to provide a gift from God to one of Jonathan’s relatives and he found Mephibosheth, a crippled son of Jonathan with the very capable help of one of Saul’s servants, Ziba. She sees David in trouble here, so she goes to him with a food offering that would be a blessing even for a king. Just look at the list of delicacies! That aside, Ziba also came to give an update on Mephibosheth.  He was staying in Jerusalem hoping that “Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me” (vs. 3). So, David said to Ziba that everything that belonged to Mephibosheth was now hers (vs. 4). 

But King David was headed to Bahurim to see if he could find a stronghold of supporters for his kingdom. Verse 5 tells us he did not find the support he sought. Rather, a man came out screaming insults and throwing stones at him. Abishai asked David, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head” (vs. 9). David told him that having a son who had come out of him seeking to take his life was far more hurtful than this man’s actions (vs. 11).

Absalom, all the people, the men of Israel, a friend of David’s named Hushai and Ahithophel had come to Jerusalem together (vs. 15). The last two mentioned were advisors to Absalom on how he should proceed. Hushai won Absalom over by shouting “Long live the King” several times when he first arrived.  What Absalom did not know was that Hushai was also feeding back information to David on Absalom’s position and plans.

Thinking that Absalom needed to prove separation between himself and David, Ahithophel advised him to use David’s concubines showing his total lack of respect for his father. Victorious warriors collecting all the plunder of war in those days considered the women belonging to that king or enemy warrior was part of the plunder of war and use of them was part of the demonstrated victory. Ahithophel’s advice was treasured as if spoken from God in those days (vs. 23).

Ahithopel’s War – Hushai’s Warning (2 Samuel 17:1-29)  

The title of this point might better be called “The battle of advice to Absalom.” Ahithophel starts by suggesting that Absalom give him 12,000 men to overtake David’s forces and when David was exhausted and weary, so he could kill him. Initially, Absalom liked this plan but he asked for a second opinion from Hushai, David’s friend. Hushai was very careful with his words but said, “This time the advice that Ahithophel has given is not good.”  Moreover, Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field.  And your father is an expert in warfare and will not spend the night with the people.  Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 

Hushai passed this proposal to Zadok and Abiathar knowing they would send it to David, and his life would be saved because of it. And there was a network of other people who were loyal to David but caught in Jerusalem. They passed information to David and thereby kept him alive. But when Ahithophel gets word that Absalom is not following his advice, he committed suicide by strangling himself. (vs. 23). 

Verse 24 has David coming to Mahanaim and Absalom crossing the Jordan at about the same time. Absalom decided to promote Amasa over his armies and terminate Joab. That tremendous loss of experience may have contributed greatly to what happens to Absalom in just a few hours. 

At the beginning of this slide, we saw Ziba delivering rare foods to David who remained her king regardless of the controversies and politics. Now, as we approach the end of this slide we have a combination of Ammonites, La dibariums and Rogelims bringing even more great foods to David and all those who were with him in the desert. This shows the great love I always thought people had for King David. They are trying to feed David and his soldiers as their representatives against the rebellious son, Absalom.

David Divides Armies (2 Samuel 18:1-33)  

Now we come to the battle. David, as the highly experienced and regularly victorious warrior, divides his forces commensurate with the size and skills of the enemy he will face. With Absalom replacing Joab with Amasa, he has less knowledge of the strategies he will face, but it will not deter him from planning the annihilate all of them. He divides his forces into thirds to be commanded by Joab, Abishai (Joab’s brother) and Ittai the Gittite. David recalls how much sin and trouble he experienced the last time he did not go to war with his warriors, so he makes plans to go with the soldiers. But this time, the people told David he was worth ten thousand of them, so if they are defeated and fee, he might be left on the ground. They suggested David stand ready to help from the city after the victory has been won. As the generals were departing for their war assignments, David charges each of them to be gentle with his son, Absalom.  Verse 5 documents that the people heard David’s command.

Nevertheless, David’s forces sternly defeated Absalom to the tune of killing over 20,000 of his soldiers on that first day on the battlefields of the forests of Ephraim. Samuel writes that the battle was spread across the whole countryside, but the forest killed more of the people than the sword (vs. 8). But the most serious defeat was Absalom’s accident while riding his mule during the battle. Verse 9 says that he passed under a thick oak tree and caught that tremendously heavy head of hair in its branches as the mule continued. Absalom was left hanging between the heavens and the earth with no hope of getting released. Joab’s men told him they could have easily killed Absalom, but even a thousand pieces of silver would not have been enough to have them kill the King’s son. Joab took three spears and thrust them through Absalom’s heart. Verse 15 adds that ten of Joab’s men gathered around the corpse and struck Absalom to “kill him.” This was obviously a step to cover the guilt of their general, Joab. Verse 18 reveals that Absalom had no sons to carry his name, so they buried him under a monument he constructed and named “Absalom’s Monument.” David wept at the news saying, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!  Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Joab Reproves David (2 Sam 19:1-7)  

In the previous study, we saw Joab preparing a lady from Tekoa to go before King David pretending to be grieved because her two sons strove with one another and one was killed. Then she was supposed to tell David that the authorities were saying the remaining son had to die for killing the other. The woman was sorely grieved and asked David to intervene because the remaining son represented the legacy of her inheritance and her husband’s name in the history. As he agreed to help her, she said that he was the one who was guilty because he justly lost a son who abused his daughter and now he was refusing to see the other son who justly avenged her. David thought there was more to the story and asked her if Joab was somehow involved. She admitted that Joab had instructed her what to do and say from the beginning. 

Now we see Joab involved again. This time he sees the sadness of David’s victorious soldiers and learns that David is so busy weeping for Absalom that his soldiers were feeling like they were unsuccessful in the battle. Joab told David he had covered his servant’s faces with shame even though they had won the victory for him, saved his life, the lives of his sons and daughters, the lives of his wives and his concubines. He told David he was loving those whom hated him and hating those who loved him.  Instead of rejoicing and ce;lebrating the victory with his loyal soldiers, he showed only the sorrow of losing a part of his family. 

Further, Joab told him he was acting as if the lives of his princes and servants meant nothing to him.  He was acting as though he would have been more pleased if Absalom were alive and all them were dead.  Joab told David to get up and go out to his princes and servants and speak very kindly to them before they all abandoned him (vs. 7). Joab’s words were, “for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” David decided to hold his personal grief until a later time but for now, to win his men back to him. 

David Restored as King (2 Samuel 19:8-15)  

The way King David started with the reconciliation with his soldiers was to take a position at the gate to the city. The word spread that the king was sitting at the gate, and the people made their ways to be with him.  Earlier, Israel had fled to their tents saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom (vs. 9).  But, they began to consider, “Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle.  So, why are you silent about bringing the king back?” (vs. 10).

Now, King David is ready to talk to the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to get him back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? (vs. 11). He scolds them that while they are his flesh and bone, they are going to be last in taking him back to his possessions. Next, he says to them that they should speak to Amasa saying, “Are you not my bone and my flesh?  May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab” (vs. 13).

So, David won the hearts of all his men back as if they were one man, and they screamed out for him to return to his house with all his servants. David responded by heading toward the Jordan where all of Judah came to meet him in preparation for crossing the river. 

There is a lot to learn here about the military leader’s responsibilities to his command ahead of his own needs and desires. David had led his people to great victories against Absalom and his soldiers. While this was the king’s son, he had taken up arms against his father which was forbidden in all but the most unusual circumstances.  The king’s victory had come at the hands of the soldiers who were ready to hear their leader congratulate them and offer special rewards for those who had the greatist parts of those victories. If these soldiers anything like American soldiers, they were not well rewarded by their routine pay scales, so the praises for the victories they won for their leaders were the most important recognitions they would receive. David was acting like he had too much personal sorrow to offer those rewards to the men.  

Shimei, Ziba & Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 19:16-30)  

But the masses of those wanting to be a part of the king’s return to his home were not completed. Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim was not yet in place. He hurried his progress and brought the men of the nation of Judah with him (vs. 16).  While this included thousands of men to meet with the king, it also included the infamous Ziba the servant of the house of Saul from a few studies back. All of them were rushing to the Jordan in order to be a part of the king’s return to his home. Ziba brought his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with them rushing hard to the Jordan to be a part of his crossing over. 

While many of the participants were completing many crossings across the river to get the king’s belongings over the Jordan, Shimei had an issue he needed to clean up with the king. So, he fell to the ground before the king saying, “Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart.  For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king” (vss. 19-20). 

Abishai spoke up and said, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” (vs. 21). But King David wanted this day to be special in history and said, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?” (vs. 22). Simply put, David was not into punishing or getting revenge over anyone on this day. So, the king looked at Shimei and swore to him saying he shall surely not die. 

But there was still one more person that David held special and that was Mephibosheth, the son of Saul. He came down to meet the king, but he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king had departed until he came home in peace (vs. 24). David asked him why he did not go with him? Mephibosheth said his servant had lied to him. David said that Mephibosheth and Ziba could share all. Mephibosheth said give all to Ziba.

David Returns as King (2 Samuel 19:31-40)  

Verse 31 introduces Barzillai of Gilead who left from Rogelim in the northern regions of Gilead to escort David as he went across the Jordan into Jerusalem. The text introduces him as a “very old man” not concerned at all about my next birthday being my eightieth, as well! This is the man who sustained David while he lived at Mahanaim “for he was a very great man” (vs. 32). When David saw him, he offered to sustain him in Jerusalem if he crossed with him, but Barzillai asked David if, at his age, he might not be able distinguish right from wrong, or taste what he drinks or eats or even hear the voices of the singing men and women (vss. 35-36)? (Wow, how very discouraging!!) Barzillai instead offers Chimham to accompany David after crossing the Jordan. He suggests David does for him whatever is right in his heart.  With this, David and his company of tens of thousands crossed over the Jordan River. He Kissed Barzillai and blessed him as he returned to his place leaving Chimham behind for the king (vs. 39).

Verse 40 finishes David’s celebratory crossing over the Jordan as he enters Gilgal as the first city inside Israel after crossing the river. It was the city where Joshua set up the monument of 12 stones marking the miraculous stopping of the river for Joshua to lead Israel across the river to begin occupation the Promised Land (Joshua 4:19-20). Chimham accompanied David as did half the nation of Israel and all of Judah. As stated earlier, this was a massive movement of people to show David reassuming his throne and his rule over Israel with the support of all the armies and lower-level leaders of the nation. 

What it does not do is remove the curse of God on David’s life because of his sin with Bathsheba and murder of her husband Uriah. Notice again that David sincerely repented of those sins and confessed to the Lord (Psa 51). This is in complete keeping with God’s mighty forgiveness of sin and restoral of the people caught in it, but the real-life consequences of sin working their way through the damage or changes caused by that sin. More trouble for David’s reign as king will begin as early as verse 41 with parts of the nation threatening rebellion against him again. 

Who Owns More of David? (2 Sam 19:41-43)  

After the tremendous international victories, the joy in Isael must have been at its maximum. Who would have thought the end-of-day discusions would center around how much of King David belonged to which set of the twelve tribes? Nevertheless, this argument is where the victory discussions go. Israel and Judah are talking as if the division between the 12 tribes after King Solomon’s reign in 930 BC had already taken place. That situation would develop after Solomon’s death in 1 Kings 11:26-40 & Chapter 12. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son and heir-apparent to the throne, had very harsh policies which caused the 10 Tribes of Northern Israel to reject his leadership in favor of that of Jeroboam who would become the King of Israel while Rehoboam was left with only the 2 tribes of the South, Judah and Benjamin. This division continued until the two kingdoms went into captivity: Israel by Assyria in 722 BC and Judah by Babylon in 586 BC. David’s reign ended in 971 BC, some 40 years before the division took place. 

In the context under discussion, half of Israel and all of Judah came across the Jordan River with King David. Now, all Israel is complaining that Judah stole Israel away while they owned 10 parts of King David while Judah only owned 2 parts (referring to the number tribes contained in each segment). Israel was stating that the division gives Israel five times as much of King David than Judah had. It seems to be such a trivial argument so soon after risking life and limb for the country. 

The bottom line at this part of the study is that both Israel and Judah fully accepted King David as their king. The revolt of Absalom failed completely, but the prophesy of the sword never leaving David’s house persisted. David won his throne back and was recognized as king on this day, yet the strength of his reign is fading rapidly. Israel is expressing feelings of contempt here and Judah seems to be harshly rejectiong those feelings. Judah is saying that they have the strength of near kinship to David on their side. Recall that Jesus is to be called the Lion of Judah. He was born to the family of Jesse and his son, David. Scripture was being fulfilled but the Israeli division looms.

Sheba’s Revolt (2 Samuel 20:1-9)  

Sheba starts out in this part of the Scripture being called “a worthless fellow” (2 Sam 20:1). He is a son of Bichri, a Benjamite (part of southern Israel or Judah). Nevertheless, Sheba sounded the war trumpet stating that “we have no portion in David, nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse.” Then he calls all Israel to it tents, meaning that they were leaving their homes and cities to occupy tents for war. I know, it sounds somewhat spooky that a man recognized as worthless in Judah is somehow successfully calling Israel to war. Go figure.

Verse 2 tells us that Israel withdrew from following David and turned to follow Sheba while the men of Judah stood steadfast behind King David from the Jordan to Jerusalem. Verse 3 provides a quick aside concerning how David dealt with his 10 concubines who were molested by Absalom during the earlier war. It has no impact on this story. 

David told his Priest, Abishai, he felt Sheba was even more dangerous to the kingdom than Absalom (vs. 6). He assigns Joab to pursue him and prevent him from reaching a fortified (or sanctuary) city where he might escape his sight. So, Joab received the assignment and went after Sheba. When they were at Gibeon, Amasa came out to meet Joab, his older brother. (Amasa’s mother was actually the sister of Joab’s and Abishai’s mother.)  The Scripture draws attention to Joab being in his military clothing at this meeting (vs. 8). But he is wearing a sword and sheath which appears to be non-uniform (vs. 8). Worse, when Joab and Amasa embraced, the sword fell to the ground. No further comment is made about the loose sword in this section. 

At this point we see a pure demonstration of brotherly love as Joab asks Amasa,, “Is it well with you, my brother?” The United States Civil War comes to mind as this kind of family tenderness is shown. It was frequently brother against brother during that war. Demonstrations like this one happened, but one wonders how often the duty of victory takes precedence over family loyalty. Only the members of such meetings can describe the hard conflict between family love and military training. What will happen here? 

Amasa Murdered (2 Samuel 20:10-12)  

Now as the brothers (actually cousins) embraced, Amasa was unaware of the sword that was in Joab’s hand. Joab stabbed Amasa, mortally wounding him in the belly with the one motion. Joab’s assignment as a warrior for David took precedence over his family relationship with Amasa. His assigned duty under his king, David, was to defeat Sheba and he had the leader of Sheba’s military in his grasp. Joab executed his assignment at the complete shock of those nearby. Now Joab and his brother Abishai were united to pursue the rest of their assignment to eliminate Sheba. One of Joab’s soldiers decided this would be the right time to issue an invitation to all who would hear. He said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab” (vs. 11). But the bloody body of Amasa dominated the emotions of those remaining at the scene, literally freezing them from any response.

Recognizing the crippling presence of Amasa’s body on the highway, the soldier making the invitation moved it off the highway and covered it with a garment. He clearly hoped that his action would prevent any of the more recent visitors on the scene to be caught in the same paralyzing impact of Amasa’s freshly killed body.

Reading the account of this gruesome event might make it easier to understand the concept of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). During the experiences of hand-to-hand combat or the sights of more massive results of war, soldiers having even the best training and preparation can be totally overtaken by such scenes. PTSD is the replaying of these scenes in the depths of the witness’ mind and realistically reexperiencing the events. Sometimes noises or flashes which are similar to those of the environment in which these events occurred can trigger the experience to be repeated along with the resulting shock, anger or paralysis. While some people can effectively divorce themselves from these experiences and events, others are so traumatized by them that the events become a dominant force in their daily life experiences. In this biblical account, the realistic description could become a trigger for those who saw a similar event. That is PTSD.

Revolt Put Down (2 Samuel 20:13-26)  

Joab’s forces directly pressed on Sheba in the loss of his commanding general. While the fighting forces of Sheba’s army was still there, the absence of Amasa’s leadership would certainly be felt. Joab’s relentless pursuit has Isael backed up to Israel’s Northern Galilean area at the border between Israel, Phoenicia and Aram. First, verses 13 and 14 set up the relentless pursuit of Sheba. Once Amasa’s body was removed, all the men joined Joab in going after Sheba. Second, they were in the most northern settings of Israel when the pursuit began far further south. Verse 14 also adds that the number of soldiers increased as the went through the areas of the northern tribes. As Sheba and his army set up to stand at Abel Beth-Maacah, Joab and his forces built a siege ramp to bridge the walls of the city and defeat any who would stand within the city. Joab’s forces were wreaking havoc against the city as they prepared to destroy it.

But then, the Scripture reveals a wise woman yelling over the wall that she wants to talk with Joab (vs. 16). There is no indication of why Joab would even consider talking with her, but he did. Verse 17 shows that the wise woman verified his identity and had him agree to at least hear her. She reminds Joab that in former times, it was said that they would ask advice at Abel and thereby end disputes (vs. 18). She continued that she represented those who were peaceable and faithful in Israel while she sees Joab as an aggressor bent on destroying her city; a city which is a “mother of cities in Israel.” 

Joab assures the lady he has no drive to destroy the city, but rather, simply wants the seditionist who committed treason against his king. He tells her that if she turns Sheba over, he and his armies would certainly go away. He said he had no intent to swallow up or destroy (vss. 19-20). He suggests she simply throw the head of Sheba over the wall and he will go away. The woman assures Joab that she will have his head thrown over the wall forthwith (vs. 21). She spoke with the people of the city, they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it over the wall. Joab sounded the trumpet, dispersed his forces and returned Sheba’s head to Jerusalem. The war was over. 

Saul’s Famine (2 Sam 21:1-7)  

As the famine in Israel continued year after year for three years, David understood it was a famine from the Lord (vs. 1). The Lord responded to David’s question saying the famine was due to the bloody treatment King Saul had inflicted on the Gibeonites. So, David contacted the Gibeonites to discuss how Israel might reconcile the harm done to them by Saul. Samuel is quick to point out that the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel, but rather, they were a leftover part of the Amorite race.  Samuel’s information was likely designed to show David was trying to remedy a harm done to an enemy of Israel by a king of the past and not because of contemporary issues. Nevertheless, David wants to make it right and bring an end to the famine that was hurting his country. 

When David asks the question of what could repay the Gibeonites for these disasters, they were quick to tell him it was not an issue to be overcome by silver or gold (vs. 4). Initially, they seem to say they have no wish for execution of any Israelis of Saul’s house, but David assures them, he will do whatever they ask. Verse 5 shows the Gibeonites had somewhat of a reversal in attitude and suggest that the man who consumed them and who planned to exterminate from any Israeli border was Saul. So, they continued, “let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will hang them before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord” (vs. 6).

So, the Gibeonites, who initially said they had no desire for silver, gold or execution of any man in Israel, now want to take seven of the “sons of Saul” for them to execute openly, in the sight of the Lord who chose Saul, in Gibeah.” So, the Gibeonite leadership wants to take full advantage of David’s drive to end this three-year famine by taking seven of Saul’s son’s (male descendants) for open humiliation through public punishment of death. 

David was clearly stretching to appease God and end the three-year famine inflicting terrible punishment of his people.  The sacrifice requested by the Gibeonites was far from anything David wanted, but getting the curse of that famine off his people had to take first priority He said yes..

David’s Inaction (2 Samuel 21:7-9)  

King David knew that no matter how one counted the selection of “seven sons of Saul,” that number would have to include Mephibosheth, and he would have to be one of those condemned to death. But David had taken an oath before the Lord concerning Mephibosheth, so he had to save his life (vs. 7). Therefore, David had to get the total of seven excluding the man he promised a seat at the King’s Table and the inheritance of all that Saul owned. He started by selecting two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah (one of Saul’s concubines), and fathered by Armoni and Mephibosheth who she had birthed to Saul (vs.8). He added five sons of Merab, the daughter of Saul and fathered by Barzillai the Meholathite. So, these are the seven sons of Saul, again, male descendants of Saul, not literally sons born to him.

Verse 9 documents the conclusion of the contract made between David and the Gibeonites to end the famine in Israel. When David asked God why He had placed the famine on Israel, God responded because of the blood deeds Saul had done to the Gibeonites. David knew the only way to nullify God’s famine was to make things right between Israel and the Gibeonites with an agreed upon contract. David selected the men as noted above and now delivers them into the hands of the Gibeonites. They took the men to the mountains in the plain sight of the Lord and killed them. They executed them together and as near to the same time as possible. They were all hung. 

Their lives were taken on the first days of the barley harvest at the very beginning. This was the selected time because the peoples of Israel and the Gibeon would know immediately whether the curse of the famine had been lifted because of the size of the barley harvest. 

It was not unusual for God’s people to believe that God dealt directly with them through the natural forces of rain, drought and food. The Bible documents how rains were stopped, the sun backed up by a day and crops were withheld. There are also many biblical entries on those who prayed to the Lord and received answers from God in unmistakable language to show direct communication between man and God.  

Saul & Jonathan Buried (2 Samuel 21:10-14)  

Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, dressed herself in sackcloth and made a place for herself on a rock. She stayed there night and day until the rain came from the skies to move the harvest and give sign that God had accepted the deaths of the seven sons of Saul (vs. 10). Recall that she had lost two of the sons of Saul (grandsons through Armoni and Mephibosheth) so, she felt she had a large part of knowing whether God released Israel from the curse of the three-year famine. She arrived at the fields at the beginning of the harvest and would not allow birds of the sky to rest there during the day nor the beasts of the field during the nights. She wanted nothing to disturb the quality of harvest or her sight of God’s acceptance of her very personal sacrifice.

Meantime, when David was told of what Rizpah (the concubine of Saul) was doing, he went to Jabesh-Gilead and collected the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan from the men who had stolen them from the open square of Beth-Shan.  The Philistines had struck down Saul and Jonathan in Gilboa and held their bones until they were stolen. David brought the bones of Saul and Jonathan and gathered the bones of those seven sons of Saul who had been hanged to end Israel’s famine. His effort was the assure the legacy of a past King of Israel and his son who David loved more than any brother. While the atrocious acts of Saul were totally in excusable, the fact of his service as Israel’s first king must be honored. David’s love for Jonathan had to be memorialized as well.

So, David brought the bones to the countryside of Benjamin in Zela to be buried in the grave of Kish, Saul’s Father (vs. 14). This whole activity and the clear importance David placed on it once again revealed the quality of David’s soul and the reason why he was “a man after God’s own heart.” While the Gibeonites and others were bent on destroying or at least desecrating the memory of Saul, David was concerned that he be honorably remembered as the first past king of Israel. His concern was also to remember the seven sons of Saul as those who died to save Israel from famine. And certainly not least, David was driven to have Jonathan remembered in honor.

Philistines Renew War (2 Samuel 21:15-22)  

Verses 15-22 fast-forwards to the almost constant state of war between Israel and the Philistines during the time of David’s reign. It is worth making two notes associated with that war. First, the war did not begin during David’s time; it was a constant source of fighting during Saul’s time as well. Second, this country was located along the western coast of Israel from the south of Gaza to the north of Joppa and about 18 miles toward the east. Yes, that is the same Gaza that continues to be a source of war for Israel even through today. But because it was (and is) located as described, it is only Israel’s disobedience to the commands that God gave Moses to write in Deuteronomy just before He had Joshua lead the capture of the entire Promised Land of Canaan.  Moses wrote, “and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them” (Deut 7:2). The Lord wanted nothing left of those nations that Satan could use to mislead or misguide His people in their new land. He directed Moses to tell them to destroy everything associated with current inhabitants of that land. Moses explains simply that “they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods” which will result in your son’s destruction (Deut 7:3-4). God promised Israel in the Abrahamic Covenant the land from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. Had Israel obeyed God, there would not have been a Philistia, Gaza, Syria nor Assyria to be the sources of war today. It was all to have been the property of Israel. 

But here is a listing of all the wars from the Philistines because Israel did not “utterly destroy them” (Deut 7:2). In verse 15, Israel fought the Philistines until David was weary with war. The Philistines started another war through Ishbi-benob, the giant’s descendent targeted David for death. Abashai worked with David to kill that one (vs. 17).  Saph, another offspring of the giant was terminated at Gob by Sibbecai (vs. 18). Goliath the Gittite was killed by Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite (vs. 19). In a war at Gath, a six-fingered, six-toed giant was killed by Jonathan of Shinei, David’s brother. Verse 22 closes the chapter summarizing the four born to the giant in Gath that David and his servants took out. So, these wars were nearly non-stop during these years.