Godly fathers-ungodly sons-29

David is fleeing for his life from his son Absalom. How could a son do this and how did David know he would do this?

2 Samuel 17:15  Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "This is what Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have counseled. 17:16  "Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, 'Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be destroyed.'" 17:17  Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, and a maidservant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not be seen entering the city. 17:18  But a lad did see them and told Absalom; so the two of them departed quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it. 17:19  And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well's mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known. 

David’s plan to leave Hushai behind to try and thwart Ahithophel’s council seems to have worked. But now they have to get word to David and his men. So the sons of the priests would be the go-betweens. But, even though they stayed outside of Jerusalem, they were spotted by someone who favored Absalom. He immediately sent out servants to stop them, ie kill them!

17:20  Then Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" And the woman said to them, "They have crossed the brook of water." And when they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 17:21  It came about after they had departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, "Arise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you." 

God’s sovereign control led them to a house favorable to David. A quick thinking woman covered them is a well and then scattered grain over it to conceal them. Then she sent Absalom’s servants in the wrong direction.

17:22  Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan. 17:23  Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father. 

He suddenly knew that he was tricked and exposed. He would rather hang himself than face either King’s wrath.

17:24  Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 

17:25  Absalom set Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 17:26  And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. 17:27  Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 17:28  brought beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched seeds, 

17:29  honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, "The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness." 

It seems that alot of people knew where to find David to help him. But Absalom’s now has his army in close pursuit. David seems to be seriously outnumbered.

18:1  Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 18:2  David sent the people out, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I myself will surely go out with you also." 18:3  But the people said, "You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city." 18:4  Then the king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 

The loyal people amassed an army for David in short time. After all David is from Judah and the battle is the Lord’s

18:5  The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom. 

This is a most bizarre request! Absalom has amassed an army to kill him! Yet, he wants Absalom to remain unharmed and alive! Has David’s emotional love for Absalom clouded his thinking?

18:6  Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 18:7  The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 18:8  For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 

Absalom’s patient planning to take over his father’s throne has cost 20,000 men their lives! Bodies must have been laying everywhere! What will Absalom now do? What will David do? How does this slaughter end?

More next Saturday!