Display or give out copies of David’s family tree from HERE
You will also need a means of displaying lists and also arrange to display or have available copies of the poem for later.
David was running from Absalom his son, who wanted to kill him in order to become king.
Read 2 Samuel 15:16-18
16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at a place some distance away. (But less than a mile)
18 All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.
Who were these people? It is thought they were Philistine fighters who had attached themselves to David and had followed him as loyal supporters when he had moved to Hebron. We will come across Ittai the Gittite again in our next study
Read 2 Samuel 15:19-20
19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your countrymen. May kindness and faithfulness be with you.”
Read 2 Samuel 15:21-23
21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”
22 David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.
23 The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on towards the desert.
They still hadn’t gone very far. A mile at the most. They obviously waited until everyone had left the city.
Read 2 Samuel 15:24-29
24 Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favour in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling-place again. 26 But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”
27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan son of Abiathar. You and Abiathar take your two sons with you. 28 I will wait at the fords in the desert until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.
David trusted the priests and could use their sons as informers. He guessed that Absalom wouldn’t suspect priests – in theory they did not take sides.
We now have an interesting political dilemma. Who was going to support David’s eldest surviving son and heir Absalom, and who would still support David? It looks like Absalom would be the obvious choice to become king in the next few years anyway, so what would become of you then if you didn’t support him now? But David is the most powerful king anyone has ever seen – do you dare to go against him in his hour of need? So we have two lists:
(Display two lists)
The first candidate we encounter is Ahithophel, David’s counsellor. Look briefly at 1 Chronicles 27:33 and keep your finger in there. We are told that ‘the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who enquires of God’. But also remember he was Bathsheba's grandfather.
Read 2 Samuel 15:30-31
30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “O Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” The only sensible response.
We can therefore add Ahithophel:
Read 2 Samuel 15:32
32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head.
Who was he? 1 Chronicles 27:33 - the king’s friend.
Add him
Read 2 Samuel 15:33-37
33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”
37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.
Now read 2 Samuel 16:1-2
1 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.
2 The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”
Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the desert.”
Who was Ziba? He was Saul’s servant. He had been in charge of all Saul’s lands and livestock, and was responsible for farming them and bringing produce regularly to the palace. When Saul died he quietly continued that profitable role.
Who was Mephibosheth? He was Jonathan’s son. His nurse had dropped him when she heard that Saul and Jonathan had been killed and now he was lame in both feet. David had taken him into his court and gave him all the lands and livestock that had belonged to Saul. He told Ziba, who was one of Saul’s servants who had survived, to now farm Saul’s land on behalf of Mephibosheth. (2 Samuel 9)
Now read 2 Samuel 16:3-4
The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”
Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”
4 Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”
“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favour in your eyes, my lord the king.”
Add Ziba and Mephibosheth, but in brackets – they may be on the wrong sides.
Read 2 Samuel 16: 5
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.
Add Shimei
Read 2 Samuel 16:6-14
6 He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! 8 The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!”
9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”
10 But the king said, “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”
11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today.”
13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
Notice verse 5: Bahurim was a town on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, on the main route down to the fords of Jordan, and in the territory of Benjamin. It was base for the clan from which Saul was descended. Obviously the town was proud of their son Saul and were not happy that he had been replaced by David. David knew very well what he was walking into and where this man was coming from (v11). Actually further down the same road beyond Bahurim, was Gallim, the home town of the man who had been given Michal as wife (and from whom she had been taken by David). He also might not be too friendly. (1Samuel 25:44, 2Samuel 3:16)
Read 2 Samuel 16:15-19
15 Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s friend, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 Absalom asked Hushai, “Is this the love you show your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. 19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”
(Draw a line through Hushai and add on the right in brackets)
Actually a very reasonable statement from effectively a palace official and civil servant: ‘The king is dead, long live the king’
Read 2 Samuel 16:20
20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
I had a manager at work. On his wall he had a poem. It went like this:
Display or hand out copies:
I want to be the leader
I want to be the leader
Can I?
Can I?
I Can?!!!
Yippee!!
I am the leader
I am the leader
Right then, what shall we do?
Do we ever think we could run the country better? Or even the church?
So we have verse 20:
Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
Not an auspicious start for one who would be king.
So what did Ahithopel suggest? Take the army and chase after David while he was only a couple of miles away, exhausted, in Benjamite territory? That would have been the most obvious sensible advice.
But Ahithophel saw that at last he had the chance to get back at David for what he did to his granddaughter. (And also fulfil the prophecy spoken by Nathan 2 Samuel 12:11-12). So first:
Read 2 Samuel 16:21-22
21 Ahithophel answered, “Lie with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself an offence to your father’s nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Having got his revenge, he then advises Absalom to take a contingent of troops and launch an immediate attack on David before he can cross the Jordan.
Read 2 Samuel 17:4
4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
It was actually the best solution and would almost certainly lead to the death of David. But keep your finger in chapter 17 and turn back to 2 Samuel 15 and look at the second part of verse 31:
So David prayed, “O Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
Never leave God out of the equation.
Read 2 Samuel 17:5-14
5 But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so that we can hear what he has to say.” 6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”
7 Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 8 You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops. 9 Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.
11 “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba—as numerous as the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a piece of it can be found.”
14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
Look at that last phrase again:
The Lord had determined … to bring disaster on Absalom. Why? (See next Question)
Why had David consistently refused to lift his hand against Saul?
David recognised that in order to become king in Israel you had to be chosen by God. The penalty for blatantly going against the revealed will of God has to be severe and immediate.
David’s prayer was only partly for himself, he also recognised that Absalom was not acting in accordance with God’s will.
Hushai’s advice for Absalom to go into battle at the head of the entire Israelite army appealed to his vanity. Jonathan and Ahimaaz (the priests sons) were able to get a message to David, and by morning there was no-one left on this side of the Jordan.
Read 2 Samuel 17:23
23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his home town. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
A sad end for one who had been so great – perhaps also another casualty from the continuing ripples that spread out as a result of David’s sin.
Read 2 Samuel 17:24
24 David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
Look at v 24. Why is Mahanaim familiar?
After the death of Saul, (2 Samuel 2:8-9) Abner, The commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-Bosheth there and proclaimed him King.
So was this going to be a problem for David? What sort of reception might he expect?
Read 2 Samuel 17:27-29
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim 28 brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, 29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.”
If you have people interested, and you have the time, the rest of this study looks at the people involved in helping David. If you prefer to stop here, you can say:
David has arrived among friends, and Absalom is amassing the entire Israelite army, ready to cross the Jordan – not more than 20 miles away. And that is where we will have to leave this study.
Who were these people? Who is Shobi son of Nahash?
Read 2 Samuel 10:1-4
1 In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. 2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, 3 the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honouring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun seized David’s men, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away.
Remember what was the Ammonites’ capital city? Rabbah. And remember, after David’s incident with Bathsheba he was called to head the army as it finally took Rabbah.
Read 2 Samuel 12:29-30
29 So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. 30 He took the crown from the head of their king—its weight was a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones—and it was placed on David’s head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city.
Hanun son of Nahash was the King. It doesn’t say that he was killed; just that David took his crown. But a city that size still needs a leader and it seems that David appointed Hanun’s brother Shobi as king in his place. Also son of Nahash. What does it mean in verse 2: “just as his father showed kindness to me” ? What’s going on between David’s family and Nahash?
Really we need to quickly look at the verse I omitted:
Read 2 Samuel 17:25
25 Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether, an Israelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
This verse throws up all sorts of complications. If you look at David’s family tree it seems to suggest that somehow Nahash’s wife was at some point married to David’s father Jesse.
Joab, Abishai and Asahel are always referred to as sons of Zeruiah – a female name; their father is not mentioned. There is an oblique reference to him in 2 Samuel 2v32 where after Asahel had been killed in battle by Abner, Asahel was taken and buried in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem.
There are many possible understandings relating to the inter-family possibilities and my diagram suggests one. I’m not going to get diverted any further here!
Who was next? Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-Debar, and obviously friendly. We don’t know much about him other than the passage in 2 Samuel 9:1-5:
1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“Your servant,” he replied.
3 The king asked, “Is there no-one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
Finally we have Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. Again not much is known other than he was from the tribe of Gilead and was very wealthy.
Read 2 Samuel 19:32:
32 Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.
Traditionally it was the priests who had the money – they were the ones who received a tenth of all Israel’s income, and they were exempted from conscription into the army.
When we read in the Bible about the Jews returning from exile, we notice that it was vital to the priests that they could prove from their family trees that they were who they claimed to be. If they couldn’t claim direct descent from Aaron they were excluded for the time being. Look at Ezra 2 chapter 2 and the lists of people returning: v36 the Priests, v40 the Levites, v41 the Singers, v42 the Gatekeepers and so on. Now read v61-63:
61 And from among the priests: The descendants of
Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).
62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
This seems to suggest that a man had tried to attach himself to the privileges of priesthood by marrying into it and taking Barzillai’s name!
Really we can only guess about Barzillai, but whoever he was, he was obviously a keen supporter of David.
David had arrived among friends, and Absalom was amassing the entire Israelite army, ready to cross the Jordan – not more than 20 miles away. And that is where we will have to leave this study.
