II Samuel Chapter 15
Please read: II Samuel 15 –
The embrace between David and his son Absalom (in the previous chapter), was not enough to heal the hatred and bitterness Absalom felt towards his father. When Tamar was raped Absalom resented David for not acting nor saying anything about it. It had been three years that Absalom waited before taking the life of his half-brother that committed this crime. And when Absalom left Jerusalem, he was never called back home until Joab stepped in. A lot of bitterness had built up in those years towards his father. Dissension in a family can be very difficult to heal.
We learned in the previous chapter that Absalom was very handsome. People were naturally drawn to him. He decided to use his power and his persuasive personality to turn people against David by standing on a chariot at the gate of the city and acting as a judge that would judge the people’s cases fairly when his father was not present to do so. As people would bow down to him, he prevented them from doing so by grabbing their hand and then embracing them, making them feel loved. Absalom was gaining the hearts of the people with his manipulative ways.
Let's Reflect
1. How many men did Absalom take to the gate with him to make his position of the acting judge more believable to the people?
2. Absalom asked his father if he could go and worship the LORD at Hebron. David would of course say yes to that request, but what was the real reason behind his act of worshipping God?
3. Absalom told his men that when the trumpet was sounded, they were to shout out what words?
4. Upon learning that Absalom had plotted to take over the throne of his father, what did David decide to do?
5. At a certain point David and his closest men stopped where they were and all the servants and various people who lived in Jerusalem passed by the King on their walk to leave the city. One particular man had just arrived the day before, Ittai who was a Gittite, was seen passing by David in the procession. David stopped him and questioned why he would want to go with the people of Jerusalem. He encouraged him to leave, but what did Ittai respond?
6. Then the priests and Levites walked by David carrying the ark of the covenant. What did David instruct them to do and why?
7. The people were understandably upset having to leave their homes in Jerusalem. And David learned that one of his own advisors had turned on him and sided with Absalom. His name was Ahithophel. What did David pray when learning that news?
8. One of David’s other advisors, Hushai, also had learned of Ahithophel betrayal to David and was very upset. But David sent him back to Jerusalem to do what?
9. David had been a great king to the people, but Absalom had spoken badly about his father, the king, and turned many against him. Absalom was planning to overtake the throne by force. Ironically what were the last words David said to his son before he left for Hebron? See verse 9.
