We note that David has been in the habit of ruling on small matters. When Nathan brought his allegorical suit before David, it was indeed a trivial case, and could easily have been handled by any elder who knew the Law. Joab takes advantage of this in promoting his own favorite policy.
2 Samuel 14:1-7 -- We recall that Joab was not truly David's best friend. He believed that Absalom was the best choice for heir to the throne, despite Absalom having forfeited his place in the line of succession. It didn't matter to Joab that Absalom deserved execution as a murderer of the heir before him. Joab took advantage of David's passionate love for his one flesh and blood by maneuvering him into bringing Absalom back from exile.
Joab went back to his home town, not far from David's, and convinced a well-spoken elderly lady to play a role before the king. She was to bring a fake lawsuit that would play on the David's indulgence for family, and trap him into releasing Absalom from exile. The old woman told a story of two sons that had fought in private and one was killed. In ancient Israel, one of the male relatives of the victim would be appointed as an avenger to execute justice. By law, the survivor deserved execution, it would seem from the bare tale she told. However, the loss of all heirs and extinction of a family line was considered a supreme tragedy in Israel.
14:8-11 -- Apparently David's answer was to put her off, taking the case under advisement until he could discuss it with the elders who should have already handled this matter. So far, David is right. She has appealed to the highest court and he should not rule on so little information. Her response was to accept upon herself any guilt that would fall to David if he ruled improperly. This was a release of sorts, implying by the highest possible oath that her explanation was accurate. She was willing to stake her whole property, and life itself, on her verity. This left David with no excuse for withholding judgment. He hedged a bit further by promising to insure she wouldn't be harassed until he was ready to rule on the case. She made it clear none of that mattered if her son was turned over to the avenger's execution. With no where else to run legally, David ruled that the necessity of a surviving heir outweighed the strict rule of law.
14:12-17 -- She went on as if to present another case for David's judgment. If this principle held with one, why not with another? Why not allow the king's own son to have the same courtesy? Thus, she had actually been appealing on behalf of Absalom, that his sentence should be lifted, as he was the heir. David was enough overwhelmed by the moment that he forgot her story was not quite true. David most certainly did have other sons, and there was surely one of them already eligible for heir to the throne. Her explanation of the true reason for coming into the king's presence was filled with hyperbole about how the nation suffered because Absalom was under sentence.
14:18-24 -- It is here revealed that Joab had been pressing David on this matter for quite some time. Whatever Joab's reasons, it was certain to have been worldly. The king gently ordered the woman to reveal whether Joab had put her up to this. She answered courteously in confirming his suspicion. David responded directly to Joab, which made the general quite happy. David tried to limit the damage by demanding that Absalom be forbidden to enter his presence. He knew all too well his own weakness.
14:25-27 -- To these conditions Absalom returned, and lived in his own home within the palace grounds. It was essential for the reader to understand that Absalom was a very angelic man in appearance. To see him was to be taken with his good looks. His thick flowing mane grew each year approximately 3 pounds in weight, enough to need cutting for sure. Even his daughter was the envy of women in her beauty. According to tradition, this second Tamar married Solomon's son, Rehoboam.
14:28-33 -- Tiring of this game after two years, Absalom tried hard to contact Joab to plead on his behalf. Joab avoided him, having been warned by the firmness of David's command not to present Absalom for a full pardon. Living in isolation from the court was just too much, and Absalom provoked Joab by an act that would force him to come in person. Absalom ordered his servants to set fire to Joab's barley field. Ripe grain burns easily while standing in the field. As expected, Joab came to present a grievance and Absalom explained his desperation. He knew his father had no heart to execute him, and his message via Joab would surely bring the desired result. David indeed gave in and allowed Absalom a greater measure of pardon, though it's obvious David could not restore succession rights.
15:1-6 -- Absalom knew his father would not allow him to succeed to the throne. Still, he never let that stand in his way. He hired some fifty men to be his official entourage, wowing folks wherever he went with his importance. This was more ostentatious than most kings would have dared. Seeing that David was such a poor administrator, Absalom studied the situation for a way gain advantage. Having been forgiven so much, he was seized by an incredible arrogance that he truly deserved to rule in his father's place. Over the next four years, he set about his own judicial reforms. This might normally be seen as the acts of a faithful son serving his father, the king. In all this, his true aim was to steal the hearts of the national leadership.
Before litigants could come before the king, they would be filtered up through the court system common to all Semitic nations. Elderly men of learning and rank would sit in the gates of the city and hear cases. On simple matters of contract and property disputes, they were universally regarded as competent to judge. The assumption was that they had lived long enough to see it all, and knew what would and would not work to keep civil peace. More serious matters would be passed to a higher court. That this was the capital city of the nation, this gatehouse court in Jerusalem would offer preliminary hearing for matters worthy of the royal court. It was their job to sift out the petty local disputes from major cases.
In this setting could Absalom be found. Men of means not yet wizened by age might still serve well as judges, and Absalom's interest in justice would be laudable. Overhearing some major cases, he would take aside whomever he deemed best connected politically, and sympathize with them. He would draw them out by asking where they were from, and note that their city or tribe had no official advocate in the king's court. Then he would lament that he was not yet a judge so as to secure their rights. Further, anyone sufficiently impressed by all this show that he came to bow before the prince would be treated with high honor publicly. In other words, Absalom was the ultimate politician in an age when such was uncommon.
15:7-9 -- We note that those translations saying this lasted forty years are probably incorrect, a scribal error, because it hardly fits the timeline established anywhere else in Scripture. More likely it was four years. We note by this time David had long given far more attention to the more powerful northern tribes, neglecting his old power center in Hebron and the allies in the Negev. These were first to crown David as king, and had kept him safe from Saul. Absalom had lived more or less under house arrest for the past six years. David seemed oblivious to the revolt forming under his nose. Thus, Absalom sagely chose his final move, by convincing his father he owed a vow to God that required visiting Hebron. Let us not forget Hebron was Abraham's old home, the family burial plot, and first known center of worship for Jehovah.
15:10-12 -- Having already curried favor all over the nation, and especially in the south, Absalom made plans to announce his usurpation during this visit to Hebron. There were a couple hundred big shots with him who didn't know, yet it would appear they were in on it. Absalom had left no stone unturned in seeking those disaffected with his father. Recall that Bathsheba was daughter of Eliam, who had taken a powerful position in Lo-debar. Eliam's father, Ahitophel, still had his home in Giloh, just a few miles northwest of Hebron. While serving as one of David's counselors, he apparently had a grudge against David, too. A good guess is that Ahitophel had been angered by the family scandal between David and Bathsheba. Absalom sent for him while in the act of offering sacrifice on the old altar of Abraham in Hebron. Day by day, while Absalom tarried in the old mountain top city, his supporters grew into a massive throng.
15:13-23 -- Before Absalom had a chance to make his announcement, one of David's messengers warned him what he saw, that a revolt was surely brewing. David was instantly the military tactician, and ordered an immediate evacuation of Jerusalem of the entire royal household. Time was of the essence. Fleeing the city would buy time, and introduce an unexpected element in Absalom's plot. There would be no easy pickings here. Had David stayed, the mere act of setting siege to the city would have brought war fever to the nation most assuredly in Absalom's favor. Those sitting on the fence would more likely come down on the side of a clear victor. On the run, David was no easy target, as everyone would surely remember. This is the situation under which David rose to prominence. David left ten concubines to keep the house. They would have had authority over the slaves who were bound to the palace facility itself, as the status of concubine was somewhere between slave and wife, both yet neither. David led the way to the path across the Kidron Valley just east of the walled city, then stood near the city wall. There he took account of who were with him: the Royal Bodyguard, the Messengers, and his own personal troops -- Philistines from Gath who had given their loyalty to David personally. They had remained all this time with him, well known by the term Gittites ("those from Gath").
David argued that Ittai had come too recently to be seen as a threat to Absalom. Recall that foreign servants were viewed as non-partisan. David tried to convince Ittai there was no need to uproot his entire household, as there was no threat to him. Ittai made the point that his own safety was not the issue. He came to serve David, whether he was king or slave, alive or dead. Such loyalty ended any argument David might have raised.
15:24-31 -- Zadok and Abiathar brought the Ark of Covenant, along with the whole Levite service that had been staying in Jerusalem. David ordered them to take the Ark back. He regarded the city as more God's place than his own. If Jehovah allowed him to prevail, he would return to the Ark's resting place. If not, having the Ark along would not help him. Zadok's position as official seer and high priest should have been enough to protect him personally, along with the rest of the Levites. Besides, David had real need of loyal spies in the city. He told Zadok of his plans to camp in the plains of the Jordan Valley. As events warranted, Zadok could send either his son or Abiathar's with news to David there. This loyalty was not forgotten, as Solomon lifted the House of Zadok to primacy in his temple, over the old House of Eli.
This whole sad convoy brought great mourning to the folks living in and around the city. As they crested the far side of the Kidron, they took the road leading to Jericho. When David heard that Ahitophel had gone over to Absalom, he prayed God would make this very wise counselor look foolish before his son.
15:32-37 -- The final key to David's hope for return was Hushai the Archite. His official title was "King's Friend" and meant a particular position as close advisor. David asked Hushai to return and pretend that he was loyal to the throne, not so much the man on it. He was further asked to be the prime conduit of information passed to the sons of the priests, and thus to David. Hushai obeyed, and returned to the city. He didn't have long to wait. Absalom came to find the palace vacant. Rather than besieging the city, he simply marched in as the new king.
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Ed Hurst
28 August 2004
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