David Gets The News
18:19-32
Since the army of Abaslom had been defeated by the army of David, Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the priest, wanted to run to Jerusalem and inform David. Zadok and his sons remained loyal to David after Absalom assumed the throne. They carried messages to David to warn him of the plan to attack. Now he wants to bring good news of victory.
Ahimaaz assumed the hand of the Lord in this victory, saying: “the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies”.
Joab did not let Ahimaaz do this. He understood what the death of Absalom would do to David and did not want to expose Ahimaaz to harm for the being the messenger of bad news. (20) Joab was ruthless toward enemies, but protective of friends.
Instead, Joab ordered a Cushite man to do it. Cush was an area roughly corresponding to Ethiopia. It was named after a grandson of Noah, the son of Ham. The Cushite took off running.
Ahimaaz persisted in asking to run, regardless of the consequences. He seemed to feel a duty to David. Joab relented and let him run. He took a different route than the Cushite and got to Jerusalem first.(23)
David was waiting for news, sitting between the inner and outer gates to the city. He saw a man running toward the city. He knew a lone runner must be the bearer of news. The watchman recognized him as Ahimaaz. David assumed he came with good news because he was a good man. The watchman then saw the Cushite running behind Ahimaaz.
Ahimaaz told David the news of victory. David immediately asked about the welfare of Absalom. Amazingly, he seemed more interested in the status of his rebel son than the victory of his army and the restoration of his kingship.
Ahimaaz avoided answering David’s question, stating that there was a commotion, but he did not know what it was about. The Cushite, however, relayed the full story, saying that Absalom had been slain.
David Mourns
18:33-19:4
David immediately began intense mourning for Absalom, going up into the chamber above the gate and repeatedly crying out and wishing he had died rather than Absalom.
The New Jerusalem Bible is more graphic. It says David shuddered and burst into tears.
David’s grief may have been so intense because he felt guilty. Nathan the prophet told him a consequence of his sins would be that the sword would not depart from his house. (12:10)
David did not greet the returning troups and did not address them. He was consumed by his grief. The troops basically entered the city quietly and went to their homes as if they were ashamed.
Joab Rebukes David
19:5-8a
Joab is ever the clear minded, decisive leader. He confronted David for wallowing in his misplaced grief. He accused David of shaming all those who loved and supported him and loving those who hate him (referring to Absalom).
Joab also told David that, if he did not act immediately, all of his troops and supporters would leave him, exposing him to great harm. The seemed to get through to David. He got up and took his seat in the gate, allowing the people to come to him.
Notice also that David did not give God thanks for the victory as he had previously done. He did not give God credit for the victory either.
David Restored To The Throne
19:8b-15
After losing the battle to David’s forces, the Israelites who had fought for Absalom went to their homes. The lack of a king to lead the country was troublesome to them. They recognized what David had done for them in the past. Since Absalom was dead, they began to say that someone needed to bring David back.
On his part, David began to engage in diplomacy. He sent messages to the elders of his tribe, Judah, encouraging them to bring him back since they were his relatives. He even agreed to make Amasa the commander of the army in place of Joab even though Amasa had been Absalom’s commander.
David needed the support of his own tribe as a starting place to retake the throne and unify Israel under his leadership. They had turned against him, but he offered reconciliation. The appointment of Amasa was a sign of his good will.
Since Joab had been David’s supporter and advisor, appointing Amasa as commander was a big deal. It might also have been a way for David to retaliate against Joab’s killing of Absalom. (Spoiler alert: Joab is not done yet.)
David’s diplomacy was successful. The tribe of Judah asked him to return to Jerusalem. They also came out to meet him and accompany him over the Jordan River as he headed toward Jerusalem.
Notice, though, that Judah did not invite the other tribes of Israel to join them despite the fact that people from all over Israel were agreeable to David’s return. It seems that the division between Judah and the other tribes is never fully obliterated.
Takeaways
David’s emotions hindered his ability to perform as king.
God used a flawed man (Joab) to get David back on track.
It is wise to listen to counsel - “in an abundance of counselors there is safety” - Proverbs 27:9
God continues to work even when his people stumble.
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