Absalom Steals the Hearts of Israel
Study note
Absalom began a four-year campaign to turn the people against David. He got himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. Each morning he stood by the city gate where people came with legal disputes. He would tell them their cases were strong but that the king had no one to hear them. He would say, 'If only I were judge!' and treat everyone like a close friend. Through this charming deception, Absalom slowly stole the loyalty of the people of Israel away from David.
1 After this, Absalom got a chariot and horses. He hired fifty runners to go ahead of him. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 Every morning, Absalom positioned himself beside the road to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by with a legal dispute to bring before the king, Absalom would call out, "Which town are you from?" The person would name their tribe. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3 Absalom would always say, "Your case sounds completely valid to me. Too bad the king has not appointed anyone to hear it." And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 He would add, "If only someone made me the judge around here! Then anyone with a grievance could come to me, and I would make sure they got justice." Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5 Whenever someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would reach out, grab their hand, and pull them in for a kiss. And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 He did this with every Israelite who came seeking justice from the king. Step by step, Absalom won the loyalty and affection of the people of Israel. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Absalom's Rebellion Begins
Study note
After four years of this political maneuvering, Absalom asked David's permission to go to Hebron, claiming he had made a vow to worship the Lord there. David innocently told him to go in peace. But Absalom had sent secret messengers throughout Israel with instructions: when they heard the trumpet blast, they were to shout that Absalom was king in Hebron. He brought two hundred men from Jerusalem who had no idea about the plot, and he also recruited Ahithophel, David's trusted counselor. The conspiracy grew rapidly.
7 After four years of this, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go to Hebron to keep a vow I made to the Lord." And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
8 "Back when I was living in Geshur in Aram, I made a promise. I said, 'If the Lord ever brings me home to Jerusalem, I will go worship him in Hebron.'" For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
9 "Go in peace," the king told him. So Absalom headed for Hebron. And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 But Absalom had secretly placed messengers across every tribe in Israel. He told them, "The moment you hear the trumpet blast, shout out, 'Absalom has become king in Hebron!'" But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been asked as guests. They went in good faith. They knew nothing of the plot. And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 While offering sacrifices, Absalom also called for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's trusted advisor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. The plot was growing stronger. More and more people were joining Absalom. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
David Flees Jerusalem
Study note
When David received word that the hearts of the people had turned to Absalom, he immediately decided to flee rather than risk a bloody battle inside Jerusalem. His servants pledged their loyalty, and David left with his entire household, leaving only ten concubines to care for the palace. His loyal bodyguard of Cherethites, Pelethites, and six hundred Gittite warriors from Gath followed him. David tried to send Ittai the Gittite back, but Ittai pledged to follow David wherever he went, even to death. The whole countryside wept as the king crossed the Kidron Valley.
13 A runner rushed to David with the news. "The people of Israel now back Absalom." And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14 David told his officials in Jerusalem, "We need to leave immediately! If we do not, none of us will escape Absalom. He could be here any moment, and he will destroy the city and everyone in it." And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 His officials answered, "We will do whatever you decide, my lord the king." And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16 The king set out on foot with his whole household behind him. He left only ten concubines to look after the palace. And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17 The king and all his followers stopped at the last house on the city's outskirts. And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18 The entire military force filed past him: all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and the 600 Gittites who had come with him from Gath. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 David called out to Ittai the Gittite, "Why come with us? Go back and serve the new king. You are a foreigner, far from your homeland." Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
20 "You only joined us recently. Should I drag you around with me today when I do not even know my own destination? Go back and take your men. May the Lord show you his kindness and faithfulness." Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21 Ittai said, "I swear by the living Lord and by your life, my king. Where you go, I go. Whether it means life or death, I will be with you." And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22 David agreed, "Then come along." So Ittai and all his men and their families marched on with David. And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23 The entire countryside wept as the people passed by. The king crossed the Kidron Valley, and everyone headed toward the wilderness. And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
David Sends Back the Ark and Plants Spies
Study note
The priests Zadok and Abiathar brought the Ark of God, but David sent it back to Jerusalem, saying that if God favored him, he would see it again. David trusted God's will rather than clinging to religious objects. Weeping as he climbed the Mount of Olives barefoot with his head covered, David learned that Ahithophel had joined Absalom's conspiracy. He prayed that God would turn Ahithophel's advice into foolishness. When David's trusted friend Hushai came to him, David sent Hushai back to Jerusalem to pretend to serve Absalom and secretly counter Ahithophel's counsel. The priests' sons would serve as messengers.
24 Zadok and all the Levites were there too, carrying the Ark of God's Covenant. They set the Ark down while Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had filed out of the city. And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 The king told Zadok, "Carry the Ark back into the city. If the Lord looks on me with favor, he will bring me back to see it and its dwelling place again." 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:
26 "But if the Lord says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then here I am. Let him do whatever he sees fit." 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.
27 The king also told Zadok the priest, "Go back to the city in peace. Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan with you." The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 "I will camp at the river crossings in the wilderness and wait for a message from you." See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29 Zadok and Abiathar carried the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there. Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30 David climbed the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. He covered his head and walked barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads and cried as they climbed. 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.
31 Someone reported to David, "Ahithophel has joined Absalom's conspiracy." David prayed, "Lord, please make Ahithophel's advice useless." And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives, the place where people worshiped God, his friend Hushai the Arkite met him. Hushai's robe was torn and dirt was on his head. And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33 David told him, "If you come with me, you will slow us down." Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34 "But go back to the city. Tell Absalom, 'I will serve you, O king, just as I served your father.' Then you can wreck Ahithophel's plans from the inside." But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35 "The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be there. Pass along to them everything you hear in the palace." And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 "Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan are with them. Use those two to send me whatever information you gather." Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
37 David's friend Hushai slipped back into Jerusalem. Absalom was just coming into the city. So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.