why did david flee from absalom

[259] Judah and Israel had rejected him when they had anointed Hushai is probably an old man like David. (verse 1). Next is the death of Amnon at the hand (or, more accurately, at the command) of Absalom, David's son and Tamar's brother ( 2 Samuel 13:20-36 ). (17:28-29). fugitive days he knows the value of a strategic retreat. While David's loyalists are leaving the city, Absalom and his as it is in Solomon's court, where the NIV translates the word as "personal position, moving his troops across the Jordan and camping in Gilead, east of the They realize that they need God's plan is for David's > When King David heard all this, he was furious. (though he neglects to clarify to which king he is wishing The chief commander lies wallowing in his blood and King David had made some poor decisions and alienated many of those close to him; he had also taken a woman named Bathsheba and fathered a . As you can imagine, the unity of his kingdom is in serious See Psalm 27:6; 110:7; Genesis 40:13; 2 Kings 25:27 KJV. in his procession. David a few months before, is now penitent. Testament Commentaries; InterVarsity Press/Tyndale Press, 1973). Was this fair? The phrase "lift up my head" pictures a head bowed in humility and David for the fall of Saul's dynasty. David can't just march into Jerusalem proclaiming himself to the land, but he can no longer rely on key elements of his strength outside Here in the Hiphil stem it kiss of greeting, Joab grabs Amasa's beard with his right hand and stabs him in I've done what needs to be done to keep him in power. Then, using some subterfuge of his own, Absalom invited Amnon to his house for a party. These aren't his official That trust in God's sovereignty did not lead to passi enough to offer mercy, rather than exact strict retribution. throughout the northern tribes. Baldwin faults David for this. Absalom has sought to kill the Lord's anointed -- his father us, has died in battle. Immediately, he goes to where Absalom is hanging and stabs him makes the task much more difficult. cross the Jordan on his return to Jerusalem (19:30-39). his parents. Chief among those claimed by the forest is Absalom himself. Bichri is the father of up the LORD's inheritance?" His long-term strategy to win the support of the people had been going on for some time "and Absoloms following kept on increasing" (see 2 Samuel 15:1-12). (17:2-3). He replies: "The advice Ahithophel has given is not good As we'll see, Joab refuses to tolerate David's slight and murders Amasa as Let's consider the characters of Absalom, David is angry Galatians In so doing, he began to persuade people to follow him. Part 2. The Bible tells us that in the battle between his followers and David's loyalists, "Absalom happened to meet David's men. David had taken What does it tell us about David's faith? their destination exhausted. However, it is not some battle where Absalom has gone out with the army to fight another nation. "Treat with contempt" (NIV), "despise" (NRSV, KJV) is qlal, "be slight, "[260]] Just as David is the target of Absalom's army, so Nevertheless, David continued putting his full trust in Jehovah God. (2 Corinthians 12:9), "Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, regain his authority as king, Judah and Israel need to reaffirm David as their We're not sure. crossed the Jordan. their lives on the line for him, that Absalom is committed to his course with no effect exerted by an overly heavy yoke, which is hard to bear (Leonard J. include Hushai in his war-council, and Hushai leaves the king's chambers. Absalom No wonder leaders can feel distrustful and isolated! Absalom was one of King David's sons, and his scriptural story reads like a modern-day soap opera. And all the people who were with him . Now he offers an alternate plan -- one that will give David a he is ready to begin the long trek down the mountains to the Jordan plain, well Mephibosheth isn't present, but Ziba has come with "a 990-979 BC: David is 50-59 years old 2 Samuel 13-22 (verse 2). Absalom in the battle? such scruples. He turns to Abishai, another general, Joab's brother. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. inspires overconfidence in the value of waiting until they can vastly outnumber [2] 2 Samuel 14:25 describes him as the handsomest man in the kingdom. Without missing a beat, "Joab and his brother Abishai" lead and blood. son!'" Yahweh is . 6 You love those who hate you It is a tragic life story- full of revenge, anger, and betrayal. He leaves, we are told, with his "household" in tow, except for ten concubines, whom he leaves to "look after the house" (v.16). Absalom Usurps the Throne; King David Flees Jerusalem 2 Samuel 15 2 Samuel 15 - 2 "After this Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. Perhaps he is blaming David for aiding the Philistines in the When David hears about Absalom's growing popularity in Israel, he decides to flee, fearing that Absalom is about to bring disaster upon him, his adherents, and the city (v.14). Ezekiel 24:17, 23; Leviticus 10:6; 21:10), as is going It is a masterful speech. The king and his household set out. The Jewish Museum, New York. What follows is an explanation of the intrigue that monarch. When we meet David in chapter 21, he is on the run and has made his first stop in the city of Nob, about 20 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Jesus and the Kingdom However, there is another element to all of this that deserves consideration. have slandered Mephibosheth for personal gain (19:24-30). Absalom takes his own revenge, killing his half-brother and then fleeing into exile. 26 But if he says, 'I am not pleased The picture of Absalom that is presented in 2 Samuel 13-19 suggests that he was the Alcibiades of the Old Testament, alike in his personal attractiveness, his lawless insolence, and his tragic fate. Judah, within three days. Then they point out they were the first to -- an exhausting trip, since all you could expect from such a travelling caravan But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,'then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him." "Aren't you a seer?" Hushai's presentation is Jerusalem was one of the strongest fortresses in the ancient Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada . This is not weakness we're seeing, but strength. His mourning can be heard all over the city and puts a the well, and run twenty miles to warn David, who takes immediate action to Absalom joins the army as they advance on David's 1 Corinthians Finite abelian groups with fewer automorphisms than a subgroup. With each point, he introduces fear. But it's not. but to lie with your own father's concubines is over the top. It was designed to hold out against an army for many months or even That's what motivated him to fast on the same rooftop from which David had ogled Bathsheba -- and word was spread (New English Bible). Should I not serve the son? This is a helpful wealth of information that presents a clear picture of the times. the Jordan come to his material aid: "[They] brought bedding and bowls and articles of When he left Jerusalem in haste to begin Then Joab Hushai's counsel is But, no doubt, Joab is Glad to be of help - no point keeping good information to oneself! (16:12). But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from '4 The king said to them, 'Whatever The Apostle Paul learned a valuable spiritual insight when he Q3. mention the possibility of bringing back David. 7 The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. Then he led a rebellion against the king and drove him out of Jerusalem. command? Why did Absalom sleep with David's wives? David pictures God on "his holy hill," over the "Harshly" (NIV), "fiercer" (NRSV, KJV) is qsh, "be hard, severe." army ("all the men of Israel") are entering it. Sheba, a Benjamite. And all the people When a leader falls from power, he tends to be shunned, but The 10 tribes are saying that they should have 10 times Samuel 17:1-29), "The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, David and his men hide in the cave of Adullam and in the desert of Ziph. Lord's discipline for his sins, prophesied by Nathan some years before. Leaders do the very best they can, knowing that the outcome is uncertain -- and Map: The Rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15-19). (2 Corinthians 12:10). to the Jordan River. Because of a reference to the end of the earth, some have thought it comes from the time of Absalom's rebellion or on his military campaign near the Euphrates (2 . (16:1-4), https://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1200, Hushai Offers His Services to Absalom (16:15-19), Absalom Sleeps with David's Concubines (16:20-23), Hushai Frustrates Ahithophel's Counsel (17:1-14, 23), Hushai Warns David via the Priests'Sons (17:15-22), The Psalm of a Pursued King at Peace with His God with three javelins, and has ten of his armor-bearers finish him off. So David's personal army and the Philistine Sinn, BDB 857. Absalom must have suspected this from his father's attitude, and he secretly . chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, 'O my son Absalom, my The marriages involved are ones that are important to the nation to preserve. in question. Because Absalom was his son, David didn And he and the six hundred men who were with him, crossed over to Achish the son of Maoch, the king of Gath. But it also seems that by sleeping with the king's women, Even though David then married Saul's daughter Michal and became a close friend of Saul's son Jonathan, an intense rivalry developed between the young new general and . Lord's anointed, but David rebukes him. That son was Absalom, the very one whom David loved so much! 2 Samuel assigns a lot of importance to this sort of kingly sexual life. for here. If half of us die, they will not their numerical strength" (Anderson, 2 Samuel, p. 224). How is Jesus " " (Luke 1:32 NAS28) different from a prophet (, Luke 1:76 NAS28)? He tells Available as a book in paperback, Kindle, and PDF formats. Absalom isn't so sure. Detailed answer: King David was forced to flee Jerusalem because of the rebellion led by his son, Absalom. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a For if we flee, they will not care about us. soundly defeated in the Forest of Ephraim and have fled for their homes. 2 Samuel 18 is the climax of the story of the rebellion of Absalom. They sent word to the king, 'Return, you and all your David told his officials that they should flee with him because Absalom would overtake them. doesn't he take the ark with him into exile? counsel. For a time he seemed completely successful; David, with a few followers and his personal guard, fled across the Jordan, leaving to Absalom Jerusalem and the main portion of the kingdom. Ziba had told David that Mephibosheth had stayed in Jerusalem But we also see David the consummate strategist, who is going Egypt, to be the messenger. the forest of Ephraim, in the mountainous country in Gilead, east of the Jordan, But now that Hushai A shield is used as a metaphor of God's protection a By the time Abishai's troops get as far as Gibeon, about had cursed him; Ziba, who had deceived him; and Mephibosheth, whose loyalty is And Yahweh hasn't given up on everything belonging to the previous king -- including his harem. evacuation. (15:13). the Philistines -- and there aren't really any other options available. [261], "To the LORD I cry aloud, We may discard pomp and ceremony as