I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Samuel 16-17.

The biblical accounts contain several stories which demonstrate the rift between David and his nephews, Joab and Abishai.  Yet, none of them seem to explain why David had such strong feelings against them.  This account is the first time we are told about Abishai earning David’s ire.  Joab, on the other hand, has done two things which might merit David’s ire.  The first is clear.  When David had attempted to end the civil war with Saul’s house by offering to make Abner commander of his army in place of Joab, Joab had killed Abner (Joab used the pretext that Abner had killed his brother).  The second is my supposition.  It appears that Joab had championed David making Absalom his successor, and now Absalom had openly rebelled trying to claim the throne.  David may have held Joab’s earlier championing of Absalom against him at this point.  Yet, Joab had not joined Absalom, but instead was leading the forces defending David as he fled.

Later in the passage we see David’s strategy of sending Hushai back to Jerusalem to give Absalom bad advice paid dividends.  However, if one reads closely one realizes that the strategy worked because of Absalom’s conceit and insecurity.  Ahithophel gave Absalom two pieces of advice when Absalom arrived in Jerusalem.  Absalom eagerly took the first piece of advice which was to humiliate his father by sleeping with those of David’s concubines who David had left in Jerusalem to maintain the palace.  However, instead of taking the second piece of advice, which was to send Ahithophel with a large troop of soldiers to pursue David immediately, Absalom chose to ask a second opinion of Hushai.  Hushai played on Absalom’s insecurity and arrogance.  First, Hushai played up David’s reputation as both a warrior and a general (a reputation which David had earned, but which he was probably no longer able to live up to) by suggesting that David would be able to defeat the force sent after him.  Second, Hushai played to Absalom’s arrogance by suggesting that if Absalom led an overwhelming army to defeat David, Absalom would gain the reputation of being the general who defeated David.

As a side note I want to point out that Ahithophel’s actions after his advice about pursuing David was not followed suggests that his involvement with Absalom’s rebellion was more complicated than anything mentioned in the biblical passages.  The following morning Ahithophel left Jerusalem, returned to his home, set his affairs in order, and killed himself.  Was this because, by not taking his advice, Absalom had shown that he would not be Ahithophel’s puppet?  We have no other evidence that Ahithophel expected otherwise.  Or, was it because Ahithophel knew that Absalom was such a poor general that he would lose the war with David’s men?  Or, some other reason?

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Samuel 14-15.

This passage contains elements which have always confused me.  In particular, Joab works to get David to bring Absalom back, but then does not join Absalom in Absalom’s attempt to seize the throne.  Yet some years later, Joab joined with the attempt by Absalom’s brother to do the same thing.  I have a theory that Joab recognized that David was getting older and wanted to ensure an orderly succession by bringing Absalom back as heir to the throne.  However, Joab did not support a violent overthrow of King David.  Later, when King David was no longer able to rule, but had refused to name an heir, Joab supported David’s oldest living son taking the throne.

That being said the rest of this passage shows us why David was a successful king.  First, we have the men from Gath who want to join David in going into exile.  David tries to convince them to stay out of this dynastic dispute, but they insist, out of loyalty to David, on joining him (it would be interesting to know why these Philistines became so loyal to David).  So, we have the loyalty which David inspired in others.  Second, we have the plans which David made to keep himself informed of Absalom’s actions and to sow disruption among his advisers.  David sent the priests who chose to join him back to spy on Absalom’s councils with instructions on how they could get word to him of Absalom’s plans without anyone noticing.  Then, when one of his civilian advisers came to join him, David sent him back to offer his services to Absalom in order to give Absalom bad advice.  So, we see that King David inspired loyalty in others and knew how to use the abilities of his supporters to undermine the success of his enemies.