2 Samuel 15
McGeeCHAPTERS 15 AND 16THEME: Absalom rebels against David
2 Samuel 15:1
ABSALOM REBELS AGAINST DAVIDDavid, after committing his terrible sin, found that trouble came to him thick and fast. The same way that he had sinned, members of his family sinned, and David is not through with the effect of it yet. God really took David to the woodshed. In this chapter Absalom leads a rebellion against David. In a very subtle way Absalom begins to steal the hearts of the children of Israel. He is an attractive young fellowprobably like David in many ways. He is the heir apparent to the throne; that is, David would like for him to succeed him. We find now that Absalom is back in Jerusalem, beginning to move secretly to plot David’s overthrow. This is a dastardly deed, but the chickens are coming home to roost for David. Actually, a formidable revolution will break out which will cause David to flee from Jerusalem. Absalom stationed himself at the busiest gate of the city. When men with complaints came to the gate requiring justice, he listened to them with a great show of sympathy.
2 Samuel 15:3
Absalom was a bad boy but a good politician; he was clever and crooked, subtle and sly.
2 Samuel 15:5
Absalom is a true politician, isn’t he? This is the way many men get elected to office today. They have no qualifications other than the fact that they are good at handshaking and backslapping. There are many preachers who use this method today. They cannot preach, and they cannot teach, but they sure can slap backs. Unfortunately that is exactly what appeals to us.
As far as I can tell from the Word of God, that is the way that the Antichrist will come to power. He is going to be the greatest little backslapper that the world has ever seen. Now Absalom was a good backslapper. He stood at the gate and said, “Oh, if I were only a judge. Then you would get justice!” You can understand the appeal that that kind of statement would make. Absalom was saying, “If you vote me into office, I can solve all of your problems.
I will be able to take care of all the foreign and domestic affairs.” That is what the politicians tell us today. Unfortunately, we listen to them, believe them, and vote for them. Then when they get into office, they do not produce. Absalom, of course, is preparing for a rebellion against David, his father. This rebellion within the house of David is a terrible thing.
2 Samuel 15:7
His request seems a little unusualhe says he wants to go south to Hebron to pay a vow he made in exile, yet he was in Syria in the north while he was in exile. However, David does not question it.
2 Samuel 15:9
You will recall that Hebron is where David began his reign. He was king over Judah for seven years in Hebron. Absalom, obviously, did not go to Hebron to pay a vow. He went there to begin his rebellion.
2 Samuel 15:11
In other words, these men went along with Absalom, but they did not know that the rebellion was prepared against David.
2 Samuel 15:12
This is a rebellion that gains momentum. It begins to snowball as it goes along, and soon there is a great company standing with Absalom. Even Ahithophel, David’s counselor, is a partner to all of this. Before David actually realizes what is happening, the rebellion surfaces.
2 Samuel 15:13
DAVID FLEESDavid is going to flee from Jerusalem. The question arises, “Why did he flee?” David loved the city of Jerusalem. Why didn’t he make a stand in this city? I am confident that David knew God was punishing him for his sin. I know this is true on the basis of 2Sa_15:25-26 where we are told, “And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.” David knew what was happening to him. He knew that judgment was coming from God. You recall in 2 Samuel 13 that Amnon committed a crime against Tamar. David was disgraced by the awful thing that happened. This scandal had taken place in Jerusalem. You will also recall that David’s great sin involving Uriah and Bathshebawhen David should have been out fighting with his armytook place in Jerusalem. David is leaving Jerusalem this time because he knows that God is punishing him, and he does not want to see the city he built and loved become the scene of battle. In 2Sa_15:30 we are told, “And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.” David loved Jerusalem. He did not want it to be a place of battle; yet this city was to be destroyed more than any other city because of its rebellion and sin. Also David fled from Jerusalem because he was not ready to press the issue with Absalom. We will see in the next chapters that it was in David’s heart to spare the life of his son. He did not want harm to come to him. I think David loved Absalom above every person on earth. Leaving Jerusalem puts David’s life in grave danger, but that is nothing new for him. He had been in great danger many times. He has more concern about his relationship with God and with his son than he has about his life. With this background, let us look at the rebellion that is taking place.
2 Samuel 15:19
Ittai is a native of Gath in Philistia, probably a general in his own country since David later makes him a joint commander with Joab and Abishai. He feels such loyalty to David that he and his entire family insist upon going into exile with him.
2 Samuel 15:21
David had many loyal followers. There were many men willing to lay down their lives for him.
2 Samuel 15:24
THE ARK IS RETURNED TO JERUSALEMDavid sent the ark of the covenant of God back to Jerusalem where it belonged. He recognized that what was happening to him was the judgment of God. As he left the city, he went over the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went.
2 Samuel 15:31
Ahithophel had been a highly esteemed counselor of David. When he defected to Absalom’s side, David prayed that his counsel to Absalom would be foolish, and God answered this prayer, by the way. Notice that David didn’t ask for judgment upon Absalom.
2 Samuel 15:32
HUSHAI IS SENT BACKHe may have been elderly and would require more care.
2 Samuel 15:34
When David heard of Ahithophel’s defection to Absalom, he induced Hushai to go over to Absalom to defeat the counsels of this now dangerous enemy. Hushai was David’s friend and would risk being a spy for him.