"If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: ‘God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled.’ When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage.”
In chapter 17, we saw the stage set for the battle between the forces of Absalom and the forces of David. Chapter 18 gives a very brief description of the battle and then shows us the aftermath.
This shows us that the focus of the writer is not the battle. The focus is on the fate of Absalom. Later the focus will be on David’s reaction to it.
David Organizes For Battle
18:1-4
Knowing the forces of Absalom were coming for him, David prepared for the battle by organizing the forces who were with him. First, he appointed commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. This tells us that he had an army of considerable size, many thousands.
Second, David divided the army into three parts under three different leaders. We might call them the generals. His cousin Abishai is listed first. He went with David as he fled from Jerusalem.
Next was Joab, the brother of Abishai and also a cousin of David. Joab was the leader of the army under David, but was replaced with Amasa by Absalom. He had always been loyal to David. He probably had a personal score to settle with Absalom after being removed from his position.
Third was Ittai the Gittite, a foreigner who had come to David the day before David fled and who accompanied David on the journey. He was an experienced military leader and had brought 600 of his own men with him.
These three men were great warriors in their own right as well as experienced leaders. All three were very loyal to David. Dividing the army into three parts allowed them to attack Absalom’s forces head on as well as from both flanks.
David wanted to go into battle with his men, but they convinced him to stay behind. Some men evidently stayed behind with him, so he could come to their aid if the army had to retreat. But, the primary reason seemed to be a desire to protect David as the high value target. He was worth ten thousand of them, they said.
David Seeks Protection For Absalom
18:5
Despite all that Absalom had done to David, David sought his protection. He ordered all of the commanders, and especially the top three leaders, to “deal gently” with his son. Again, David seemed unable to deal forcefully with his sons, no matter how wayward they were.
Absalom Defeated
18:6-8
The description of the battle is minimal. David’s forces defeated Absalom’s forces and they scattered. Absalom’s forces suffered great losses, 20,000 men, as the battle raged over the valley and the forest. This is such a monumental battle, yet only three verses are devoted to it.
The Death Of Absalom
18:9-15
Absalom fled the battle when he saw that he had lost. His mule ran him under a tree and his head stuck in the crook of some branches. The mule went on without him, so he was stuck hanging in a tree.
There may be some symbolism here. The mule is the royal mount and the mule has left him.
One of Joab’s men saw Absalom hanging there and told Joab. Joab was exasperated that the man did not kill Absalom, even stating that he would have paid the man for it.
The man was wise, however. He said he would not do it for any payment because he heard the king command Joab and the other commanders to protect Absalom. He also said (and this was bold) that he knew Joab would not say anything in his defense when the king found out what he had done.
Joab did not answer the man’s accusation, but said he didn’t have time for the discussion. He took three spears, gathered 10 young men who were his armor bearers, and went to find Absalom. He then stabbed Absalom with his three spears and had his 10 armor bearers hack Abslaom to death. It was a gruesome death.
The End Of The War
18:16-17
Absalom’s army was defeated and fled from David’s army. Once Absalom was killed, Joab called off the pursuit of the defeated army. This was a wise move. It created a greater opportunity for David to win back the support of those who had supported Absalom. Joab was a wise man, but a violent one.
Joab’s men buried Absalom in a pit and covered him with stones. The survivors of Absalom’s army fled to their own homes. It was a voluntary force as opposed to a full time professional force. They hoped they would not be found and killed if they went home.
The author ended this part of the story with a juxtaposition (comparison) to illustrate a point. Absalom, in his pride, had erected a pillar in honor of himself. It came to be called Absalom’s monument. In contrast, he was buried with no honor in an unmarked grave in the forest.
Takeaways
Notice the portrayal of the characters: Absalom is central, Joab is dominant, and David is passive.
Although Absalom is central, he is not in control. He does not speak.
He does not act; he is acted upon.He is killed, which was the punishment that should have been given when he killed his brother. He is emblematic of all who set themselves against God’s will: God will triumph over all his enemies.
If any human is in control, Joab is. He dominates this story and the following ones. He accomplishes God’s will in protecting David and punishing Absalom.
David is king, but David is not in control. He does not participate in the battle. His orders regarding Absalom are ignored.
God protects his chosen king, David, although David is mostly passive in these events.
God continues to work, keeping his covenant with David, and protecting the line of David from whom will come the Christ.
16:15-19
Hushai did as David requested. When Absalom made his grand entrance into Jerusalem, along with Ahithophel, Hushai came to him. He offered his allegiance to Absalom, saying “long live the king”. (16)
Absalom questioned Hushai about his loyalty to David. But Hushai said he would serve whoever is chosen to be king. As he served David, he would now serve Absalom. (19)
Hushai overcame Absalom’s skepticism by stating that Absalom was chosen by God and by Israel to be the king. He gave the appearance of accepting God’s will and, therefore, serving as God would have him serve. This, however, is a ruse.
Ahithophel Advises Absalom
16:20-23
Once on the throne, Absalom sought Ahithophel’ advice on what to do first as king. Ahithophel advised Absalom to have sex with the 10 concubines David left behind to take care of the royal house. This would make him a “stench” to David (an unpleasant smell). Ahithophel wanted to avoid any reconciliation between Absalom and David. It would also be a show of strength in that Absalom had taken David’s concubines from him.
So, they put up a tent of the roof of the royal house. That was a place that could be seen by the public. It was “before (in sight of) all Israel”. It was also the place where David first saw Bathsheba and desired her. Absalom had sex with all ten of David’s concubines.
Thus, another of God’s words through Nathan came to be fulfilled. Nathan had said “I will take your wives before your eyes and give them your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun” (12:11-12)
Verse 23 tells us how much Ahithophel’s counsel was valued. Both David and Absalom considered it to be as if one consulted the word of God. We do see, however, that it was a practical, secular wisdom, not always a spiritual wisdom.
Ahithophel Advises Absalom Again
17:1-4
Ahithophel next advised Absalom to attack David immediately. This was brilliant advice. David’s death would remove any further objection to Absalom’s claim to be king.
Ahithophel even volunteered to lead the attack. He asked for 12,000 men to attack David while he and his men were still exhausted from their journey. He believed David’s people would flee, leaving David exposed and easy to kill. Saving the rest of their fellow Israelites would be looked upon favorably by the rest of Israel. Absalom and the elders of Israel thought it to be good advice.
Hushai Advises Absalom Contrary to Ahithophel
17:5-14
Even though Absalom valued the advice of Ahithophel, he sought additional advice from Hushai. Absalom told Hushai what Ahithophel had advised.
Hushai contradicted Ahithophel. He told him his plan was risky because David and his might men were enraged. Plus, David was an expert in war. He would not stay with the people, but hide himself. Thus, Ahithophel’s plan would not work. In addition, word would get out that some of Absalom’s men had been killed. That would cause the people of Israel to fear David and his mighty men.
Rather, Hushai advised gathering warriors from all over Israel to have a great and overwhelming force with which to attack David. In addition, Hushai said Absalom himself should lead the attack. Thus they would defeat David and Absalom would get the credit. He appealed to the vanity of Absalom.
The delay necessary to raise fighters from all of Israel would give David and his men time to rest and prepare for the battle.
Absalom and the elders agreed that Hushai had better counsel that Ahithophel and agreed to follow his plan. The Lord answered David’s prayer in 15:31 to turn Ahithophel’s counsel to foolishness. The Lord used this prayer to work harm to Absalom and restore David to the throne.
Hushai Sends Word To David
17:15-22
As David had instructed, Hushai notified the two priests of his advice and of Ahithophel’s. He told them to tell David not to remain by the river, but to cross over with his people so they could not be ambushed. It seems that Hushai was not confident that Absalom would stick with his plan. He might go ahead and attack as Ahithophel advised.
The priests sent a woman to tell their sons the news. But, the sons were seen by a supporter of Absalom. They had to hide in a well. A woman had an ingenious idea to cover the well with cloth and grain to disguise it.
Absalom’s servants did not find them. When they asked the woman, she misdirected them. They returned to Jerusalem empty handed.
The two sons then made it to David and relayed the counsel to cross the river. David followed the advice of Hushai and took his people across the river.
Ahithophel Kills Himself
17:23
When Ahithophel discovered that his plan was rejected, he went home and committed suicide. He realized that the alternate plan would fail. If Absalom failed, David would come for him and execute him.
Setting The Stage For Battle
17:24-26
When Absalom gathered the men of Israel, they moved toward the area where David was camped to prepare for battle. They crossed the Jordan and camped at Gilead. That is the land immediately east of the Jordan River. This is where the tribes of Rueben, Gad, and Manasseh settled when the Israelites came to Canaan under Joshua.
David took his people to Mahanaim, the former capitol city of Ish-bosheth. While he was there, loyal friends brought supplies to him. Shobi, probably king of the Ammonites in Rabbah after David deposed his brother came. Machir, who had taken in Mephibosheth before David brought him to Jerusalem, also came. This indicates that David had the support of those east of the Jordan River and Absalom did not.
Then Barzillai, who lived in Gilead, brought a huge supply of goods: beds, basis, vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lettings, hone, curds, sheep, and cheese. This allowed David’s people to rest, eat, and regain their strength.
The stage is now set for the battle between father and son, the chosen\anointed king and the usurper.
Takeaways
God is always working to accomplish his will and purpose. We may not recognize his work at the time, but he is working. In John 5:17, Jesus said “my Father is always working…”
God’s purpose cannot be thwarted by men, even smart ones. “…he does according to his will among the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say to him ‘what have you done?’”
God often provides in unlikely ways. David received provisions from a pagan, a member of Saul’s family, and a senior citizen.
