Tag Archives: 2 Samuel 16-17

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April 13, 2024 Bible Study — The Worst Day of David’s Life

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

The first element of today’s passage is the account of Ziba, whom David had placed as manager over the property which had been Saul’s and which David had given to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son.  Ziba brought supplies for David and his men as they fled Jerusalem.  When David inquired after Mephibosheth, Ziba told him that Mephibosheth was staying in Jerusalem because he thought the Israelites would make him king.  From what we are told when Mephibosheth greeted David on David’s return to Jerusalem, we know that this was not true.  I am noting this in because I may go into more detail about that when we get to the passage about David’s return.  The next element is the account of Shimei cursing David as he left Jerusalem.  Joab’s brother, Abishai, requested David’s permission to kill Shimei for cursing David.  Abishai was probably, at least in part, seeking to take out his anger about being forced to flee from Absalom on Shimei.  David however told Abishai that, since his own son was seeking his life, perhaps God had told Shimei to curse him.  I have always wondered why David reacted so strongly to Abishai.  It occurred to me today that perhaps after needing to flee from his own son, and then the apparent betrayal by Mephibosheth, the son of his best friend, David felt like he deserved to be cursed.

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

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April 13, 2023 Bible Study — Absalom Seeks Vengeance On His Father And Those Who Followed Him

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

When Hushai presented himself to Absalom, Absalom was initially skeptical of Hushai.  However, when Ahithophel, who was generally considered to be a very wise advisor, advised Absalom to give him a small force to pursue David, Absalom sought Hushai’s advice before taking Ahithophel’s advice, and then chose Hushai’s advice over that of Ahithophel.  Let’s look at this a little closer.  Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice to sleep with David’s concubines without question or delay.  But when Ahithophel advised Absalom to send a force under someone else’s command after David, he balked.    One of the things which Ahithophel advised was to only kill David and to welcome those of his followers who turned to follow Absalom after David’s death. While Hushai advised killing all of those who had chosen to follow David as he fled from Absalom.  I believe that this played almost as much of a role in Absalom heeding Hushai’s advice as the glory he felt he would receive as leader of the army which defeated David.  It seems likely that Absalom wanted to see those who did not abandon his father to follow him pay a price for their loyalty to David.  Perhaps Absalom blamed his father, and those who remained loyal to him, for Amnon raping his sister.  Or, perhaps he just wanted vengeance on them because they had not immediately come over to his side.  In either case, Absalom provides a case study in making bad decisions.  He rejected good advice in favor of bad advice which stroked his ego.

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

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April 13, 2022 Bible Study — Factions In David’s Kingdom

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

Once again I start my comments by talking about something I never noticed before.  As David left Jerusalem fleeing from Absalom’s forces he was approached by two men of the tribe of Benjamin, Ziba and Shimei.  Ziba had been a servant of the House of Saul and David made him steward of Mephibosheth’s household (Saul’s grandson).  Shimei we are told was part of clan from which King Saul came.  So, today I noticed for the first time that these two represent two factions from the tribe of Benjamin.  One faction, represented by Ziba, strongly supported King David.  The other faction, represented by Shimei, resented David for taking the kingship away from the tribe of Benjamin.  I wonder if perhaps Ziba’s comment to David about Mephibosheth here resulted from Mephibosheth “courting” the faction which opposed David’s kingship.  I think that perhaps Mephibosheth thought that ,since he was crippled and could therefore never aspire to the throne, catering to the whims of his fellow Benjaminites who looked back to the days of King Saul with nostalgia was harmless and spent time entertaining, and being entertained by members of that faction.  Ziba concluded that Mephibosheth would welcome Absalom’s coup, perhaps even believed that Mephibosheth thought he might be made king in the turmoil which followed.  In a way, the differences between Ziba and Shimei illustrate why Absalom’s coup failed.  Ziba brought provisions for King David and his men as they fled Jerusalem.  Shimei merely offered insults.  Later in the passage several more prominent citizens who provided provisions to David’s forces are mentioned.  Absalom had sought to garner support from the common people but failed to undermine support for David among those who had the ability to get things done.

And once again I have to say that I really thought this was going somewhere very meaningful, but it never seemed to come together.

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

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April 13, 2021 Bible Study Insight Into The Politics of David’s Kingdom

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

King David’s reaction to Ziba has always made me wonder.  I may go into more detail when we get to David’s return to Jerusalem, but for now, his question about Mephibosheth comes just after he had told Hushai to not accompany him because he would be a burden.  Yet here David is wondering why Mephibosheth did not join him in his flight.  It seems to me that there is a connection here between King David’s reaction to Ziba and his interaction with Shimei.  Shimei, Ziba, and Mephibosheth are all from the tribe of Benjamin and connected with the clan of King Saul.  The Bible never really goes into it, but we can see a vague outline of the power politics of Ancient Israel which King David was balancing in these individuals.

Every time I read this I am impressed by how Hushai undermines Ahithophel’s good advice by appealing to Absalom’s ego and insecurity at the same time.  First Hushai plays up Absalom’s fear of his father’s military prowess, then he hints to Absalom the glory he would receive by being the field commander in charge when King David is defeated.

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

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April 13, 2020 Bible Study

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?

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April 13, 2019 Bible Study — What King David’s Flight From Jerusalem Reveals

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.

Also during David’s flight from Jerusalem he is met by Ziba, a servant of King Saul whom David had made manager of Mephibosheth’s estates.  Ziba brought supplies for David.  When David asks Ziba where Mephibosheth is Ziba replies that Mephibosheth thought he would gain his grandfather’s throne out of this rebellion.  This suggest ungratefulness on the part of Mephibosheth, but perhaps we should take what Ziba said with a grain of salt. 

Immediately following the scene with Ziba we have the incident where Shimei curses David as he flees.  Joab’s brother, Abishai, wanted to go and kill Shimei for doing so, but David forbade him.  In his response to Abishai, David lumped him with Joab.  So, here we get yet another view of the complex relationship between King David and Joab and discover that Joab’s brother was part of that complex relationship.  And perhaps this incident will shed a little more light on David’s conflict with Joab.  I am reaching a little bit here, but we do not have much to go on.  We learn later that Shimei is a man of some importance, such that even King Solomon, who needed to do less of a political balancing act than his father (as I will explain when we come to him), had to set a trap and wait for Shimei to fall into it before he could have him killed.  This suggests that perhaps David’s problem with Joab and his brother was that they were too direct in dealing with things, making King David’s political balancing act that much more difficult.

 

 

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April 13, 2018 Bible Study — Good Advice vs. Bad Advice

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.

    As David was fleeing Jerusalem ahead of Absalom’s forces, several men came to join him. In yesterday’s passage, he sent Hushai, one of his advisers, back because he would have been a burden on the flight. Yet in today’s passage David questions Ziba, the man he had appointed to be Mephibosheth’s servant, why Mephibosheth had not come along as well. Remember, Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet. Ziba claimed that Mephibosheth stayed behind in Jerusalem because he thought this civil war would result in him gaining the throne his grandfather Saul had held. On that basis, David gave Ziba everything he had previously given to Mephibosheth. We will revisit this exchange when David returns to Jerusalem.

    I find the contrasting advice of Ahithophel and Hushai interesting. Ahithophel gave Absalom the advice which he believed would give Absalom the best chance at victory. Hushai gave Absalom advice which he believed would give Absalom the least chance at victory. Hushai was constrained by needing to give advice which would appeal to Absalom more than Ahithophel’s. I want to look at Hushai’s advice first.
    Hushai’s advice contained two elements which should set off warning bells. First, it played on Absalom’s fears and sense of inadequacy. Hushai emphasized the reputation of David and the men around him. Hushai cleverly used their reputation to offset the argument that David and his men were well past their prime (which they were). Then before anyone had time to make an argument against that, Hushai appealed to Absalom’s vanity. He recommended that Absalom gather the entire army of Israel and lead it out against his father himself. Here he was playing up the benefits to Absalom of being seen as a military leader. If Absalom defeated the mighty warrior David in battle, his reputation would be established. Basically, Hushai’s advice encouraged Absalom’s fears and his desire for personal glory.
    Ahithophel, on the other hand, knew that Absalom needed a quick victory. David had only a small force and had been caught off-guard. Absalom needed to finish him before he and his men could establish a base and make a plan of action. David had risen to power because of his, and Joab’s, strategic and tactical brilliance, not because of his great fighting ability. So, Ahithophel’s first advice was for Absalom to make it clear that he could not reconcile with his father by having sex with his father’s concubines. This advice Absalom was happy to take, but the more important advice, Absalom chose against. Hushai had phrased his advice to Absalom in a way which made it seem like sending Ahithophel after David was both dangerous and would give glory to Ahithophel that Absalom could have for himself.

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April 13, 2017 Bible Study — A Humble Leader Vs. A Proud One

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.

    I want to note, but not actually comment on, what Ziba said to David about Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul. Ziba said that Mephibosheth thought he was going to get the kingdom which his grandfather had ruled back. In a few chapters, Mephibosheth tells David a different story. This is followed by the story of Shimei cursing David as he flees. This is another story to be revisited later. However, there is a lesson to be learned from David’s reaction here. While David was down in this situation, fleeing for his life from his own son, he still had sufficient power to hurt, even to kill, Shimei. As a matter of fact, Abishai, who was David’s nephew and one of his military leaders, wanted to go over and kill Shimei. David ordered Abishai to leave Shimei alone. Since his own son was trying to kill him, David did not feel that he could blame someone else, someone who had some status as a result of David rising to power, for reveling in his downfall. The lesson for us is that we should not lash out at others when we suffer setbacks, especially serious ones.

    When Absalom arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel advised him to sleep with David’s concubines, who had been left to maintain the palace while David fled. There are several places in the Bible where the symbolism involved in this action is referenced. Earlier, when Ishbosheth, Saul’s son and successor, accused Abner of plotting by sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines. The later, when Adonijah tried to marry the last of David’s concubines in order to develop a claim to the throne to challenge Solomon. Absalom was quite willing to follow this advice.
    However, Ahithophel also advised Absalom to send him out with a band of men to pursue King David before he could get organized. Absalom was not as willing to follow this advice and turned to Hushai to see if he agreed. Hushai had wanted to accompany David as he fled, but was told by David that he would be a burden on the fleeing men so he should return and give Absalom bad advice. Hushai openly played on the reputations of David and his men, but he also subtly played on Absalom’s desire to be seen as a great leader. Hushai’s advice was to wait and gather the full army to pursue David and for Absalom to lead that pursuit himself. God used Absalom’s selfish desire for glory to thwart the good advice which he received.
    In this passage we see the contrast between David’s successful leadership style and Absalom’s failed leadership style. David humbly accepted being taunted when he lost. As a result, he did not delay to take revenge and was able to make his escape. Absalom, on the other hand, wanted the glory of being the one to defeat his father and so allowed David to escape and regroup.

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April 13, 2016 Bible Study — Whose Advice Will You Follow?

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading. I had been using One Year Bible Online, but it was time for a change.

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

    I find it educational to look at the advice Absalom accepted and the advice he rejected. When Ahithophel advised Absalom to sleep with David’s concubines where everyone would know he had done so, Absalom did not hesitate or question the advice. He immediately followed it. On the other hand, when Ahithophel advised Absalom to put 12,00 men under his command and send him out after David, Absalom chose to consult Hushai. Hushai advised Absalom to wait, gather the full army, and lead them himself.

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    Paying attention to why Absalom followed the advice he chose can give us insights which will help us choose what advice we follow as well. When Ahithophel advised Absalom to sleep with David’s concubines it appealed to Absalom’s pride and lust. Then when Hushai advised him to wait and gather the entire army, leading it himself, in order to pursue David, Hushai played to both Absalom’s insecurities and to his ego. In addition, Hushai’s advice was to “play it safe”. Good advice may sometimes tell us to reduce risk, but it never claims there are no risks.