II Samuel 15

1
(No Transcript)
2

• II Samuel 15
• The Rise of Absalom

3
The Beginning of Trouble

• (2 Sam 151 NKJV) After this it happened that
  Absalom provided himself with chariots and
  horses, and fifty men to run before him.

4
Another Chapter More of the same

• (2 Sam 129-10 NKJV) 'Why have you despised the
  commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?
  You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword
  you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have
  killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
  10 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart
  from your house, because you have despised Me,
  and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to
  be your wife.'

5
Absalom begins his campaign

• (2 Sam 152 NKJV) Now Absalom would rise early
  and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was,
  whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the
  king for a decision, that Absalom would call to
  him and say, "What city are you from?" And he
  would say, "Your servant is from such and such a
  tribe of Israel."

6
Absalom, the Politician

• (2 Sam 153 NKJV) Then Absalom would say to him,
  "Look, your case is good and right but there is
  no deputy of the king to hear you."

7
Makes his desire obvious

• (2 Sam 154 NKJV) Moreover Absalom would say,
  "Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and
  everyone who has any suit or cause would come to
  me then I would give him justice."

8
Absalom, the Politician

• (2 Sam 155 NKJV) And so it was, whenever anyone
  came near to bow down to him, that he would put
  out his hand and take him and kiss him.

9
A winning plan

• (2 Sam 156 NKJV) In this manner Absalom acted
  toward all Israel who came to the king for
  judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men
  of Israel.

10
The Move to Hebron

• (2 Sam 157 NKJV) Now it came to pass after
  forty years that Absalom said to the king,
  "Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow
  which I made to the LORD.

11
Hebron, just south of Jerusalem
12
Four or Forty Years?

• (2 Sam 157 NKJV) Now it came to pass after
  forty years that Absalom said to the king,
  "Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow
  which I made to the LORD.

• (2 Sam 157 NIV) At the end of four years,
  Absalom said to the king, "Let me go to Hebron
  and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

13
Is he to pay this back in Hebron?

• (2 Sam 158 NKJV) "For your servant took a vow
  while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, 'If the
  LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I
  will serve the LORD.'"

14
He took the vow in GeshurNow we shift to Hebron
15
Why Hebron?

• This, as having been the old capital of Davids
  kingdom and Absaloms birthplace, was well
  chosen. It was a natural center, had probably
  many inhabitants discontented at the transfer of
  the government to Jerusalem, and contained many
  of the friends of Absaloms youth. (Cont.)
  (Albert Barnes)

16
Why Hebron?

• As the place of his birth (compare 1Sa_206), it
  afforded a plausible pretext for holding there
  the great sacrificial feast (the serving the
  Lord, 2Sa_158), which Absalom pretended to have
  vowed to hold to the glory of God. (Albert
  Barnes)

17
Did David Suspect Nothing?

• (2 Sam 159 NKJV) And the king said to him, "Go
  in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron.

18
2Sa 159 Keil-Delitizsch

• The king consented, and Absalom went to Hebron.
  Absalom had selected this city, probably
  assigning as the reason that he was born there,
  but really because his father David had been made
  king there, and also possibly because there may
  have been many persons there who had been
  displeased by the removal of the court to
  Jerusalem.

19
Absalom Lays His Plans

• (2 Sam 1510 NKJV) Then Absalom sent spies
  throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As
  soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then
  you shall say, 'Absalom reigns in Hebron!'"

20
NKJV more accurateNIV may fit the situation
better

• (2 Sam 1510 NKJV) Then Absalom sent spies
  throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As
  soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then
  you shall say, 'Absalom reigns in Hebron!'"

• (2 Sam 1510 NIV) Then Absalom sent secret
  messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to
  say, "As soon as you hear the sound of the
  trumpets, then say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"

21
Amazing Story!

• (2 Sam 1511 NKJV) And with Absalom went two
  hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went
  along innocently and did not know anything.

22
Absalom is gaining power.

• (2 Sam 1512 NKJV) Then Absalom sent for
  Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from
  his city from Giloh while he offered
  sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for
  the people with Absalom continually increased in
  number.

23
Lets locate where this is happening. Giloh is
between Jerusalem Hebron
24
Now, whats going on?

• Absalom sent for Ahithophel who he knew was
  ready to join the revolt, through disgust and
  revenge, as Jewish writers assert, at Davids
  conduct towards Bath-sheba, who was his
  granddaughter. Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown
  (Their comments continue)

25
the conspiracy was strong

• The rapid accession of one place after another
  in all parts of the kingdom to the party of the
  insurgents, shows that deep and general
  dissatisfaction existed at this time against the
  person and government of David. The remnant of
  Sauls partisans, the unhappy affair of
  Bath-sheba, the overbearing insolence and crimes
  of Joab, negligence and obstruction in the
  administration of justice - these were some of
  the principal causes that contributed to the
  success of this widespread insurrection. -- JFB

26
David is in trouble.

• (2 Sam 1513 NKJV) Now a messenger came to
  David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel
  are with Absalom."

27
Its called, Run for your life!

• (2 Sam 1514 NKJV) So David said to all his
  servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise,
  and let us flee or we shall not escape from
  Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake
  us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and
  strike the city with the edge of the sword."

28
Did David know this was part of Gods Punishment?

• (2 Sam 1210 NKJV) 'Now therefore, the sword
  shall never depart from your house, because you
  have despised Me, and have taken the wife of
  Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'

29
David still has those loyal to him

• (2 Sam 1515 NKJV) And the king's servants said
  to the king, "We are your servants, ready to do
  whatever my lord the king commands."

30
What was David Thinking?

• (2 Sam 1516 NKJV) Then the king went out with
  all his household after him. But the king left
  ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

31
What was David Thinking?

• Ten women, that were concubines, he left behind,
  to keep the house, thinking that the weakness of
  their sex would secure them from murder, and
  their age and relation to him would secure them
  from rape but God overruled this for the
  fulfilling of his word.
• -- Matthew Henry

32
They leave the city

• (2 Sam 1517 NKJV) And the king went out with
  all the people after him, and stopped at the
  outskirts.

33
Which Version is Correct?

• (2 Sam 1517 NKJV) And the king went out with
  all the people after him, and stopped at the
  outskirts.

• (2 Sam 1517 KJV) And the king went forth, and
  all the people after him, and tarried in a place
  that was far off.

34
This Seems the most Accurate.

• (2 Sam 1517 NASB) And the king went out and all
  the people with him, and they stopped at the last
  house.

• Adam Clarke And tarried in a place - He
  probably waited till he saw all his friends
  safely out of the city.
• This makes a plausible explanation.

35
It makes this verse make sense also

• (2 Sam 1518 NKJV) Then all his servants passed
  before him and all the Cherethites, all the
  Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men
  who had followed him from Gath, passed before the
  king.

36
Ittai is a new comer.

• (2 Sam 1519 NKJV) Then the king said to Ittai
  the Gittite, "Why are you also going with us?
  Return and remain with the king. For you are a
  foreigner and also an exile from your own place.

37
I dont want you hurt or killed.

• (2 Sam 1520 NKJV) "In fact, you came only
  yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down
  with us today, since I go I know not where?
  Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and
  truth be with you."

38
Its okay if I get killed

• (2 Sam 1521 NKJV) And Ittai answered the king
  and said, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the
  king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the
  king shall be, whether in death or life, even
  there also your servant will be."

39
Faithful Ittai

• Ittai bravely resolved not to leave him, Where
  David is, whether in life or death, safe or in
  peril, there will this faithful friend of his be
  and he confirms this resolution with an oath,
  that he might not be tempted to break it. Such a
  value has he for David, not for the sake of his
  wealth and greatness . . .but for the sake of his
  wisdom and goodness, which were still the same,
  that, whatever comes of it, he will never leave
  him.. -- Matthew Henry

40
Okay, Join us!

• (2 Sam 1522 NKJV) So David said to Ittai, "Go,
  and cross over." Then Ittai the Gittite and all
  his men and all the little ones who were with him
  crossed over.

41
It is a very sad hour.

• (2 Sam 1523 NKJV) And all the country wept with
  a loud voice, and all the people crossed over.
  The king himself also crossed over the Brook
  Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward
  the way of the wilderness.

42
Where is God?

• (2 Sam 1524 NKJV) There was Zadok also, and all
  the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the
  covenant of God. And they set down the ark of
  God, and Abiathar went up until all the people
  had finished crossing over from the city.

43
God must be in Jerusalem

• (2 Sam 1525 NKJV) Then the king said to Zadok,
  "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I
  find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring
  me back and show me both it and His dwelling
  place.

44
Let God do what He will.

• (2 Sam 1526 NKJV) "But if He says thus 'I have
  no delight in you,' here I am, let Him do to me
  as seems good to Him."

45
What goes back to Jerusalem

• (2 Sam 1527 NKJV) The king also said to Zadok
  the priest, "Are you not a seer? Return to the
  city in peace, and your two sons with you,
  Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of
  Abiathar.

46
David in Exile

• (2 Sam 1528 NKJV) "See, I will wait in the
  plains of the wilderness until word comes from
  you to inform me."

47
The Ark is back to Jerusalem

• (2 Sam 1529 NKJV) Therefore Zadok and Abiathar
  carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And
  they remained there.

• I would say that this is to Davids credit. The
  Ark was not to be treated as a good luck charm as
  it was at times.

48
He went as an humble man

• (2 Sam 1530 NKJV) So David went up by the
  Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he
  went up and he had his head covered and went
  barefoot. And all the people who were with him
  covered their heads and went up, weeping as they
  went up.

49
Jamieson, Faussett, Brown

• had his head covered with a mourning wrapper.
  The humility and resignation of David marked
  strongly his sanctified spirit, induced by
  contrition for his transgressions. He had fallen,
  but it was the fall of the upright and he rose
  again, submitting himself meekly in the meantime
  to the will of God Chalmers.

50
A sobering Moment!

• (2 Sam 1531 NKJV) Then someone told David,
  saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators
  with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray,
  turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!"

51
Remember Ahithophel?

• (2 Sam 1512 NKJV) Then Absalom sent for
  Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from
  his city from Giloh while he offered
  sacrifices.
• David knew Ahithophel! He was concerned about
  his wisdom, and asks for Gods help.

52
A distressed Friend

• (2 Sam 1532 NKJV) Now it happened when David
  had come to the top of the mountain, where he
  worshiped God there was Hushai the Archite
  coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on
  his head.

53
He may be an old man, but loyal

• (2 Sam 1533 NKJV) David said to him, "If you go
  on with me, then you will become a burden to me.

54
Something you can do!

• (2 Sam 1534 NKJV) "But if you return to the
  city, and say to Absalom, 'I will be your
  servant, O king as I was your father's servant
  previously, so I will now also be your servant,'
  then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for
  me.

55
Here is who can help

• (2 Sam 1535 NKJV) "And do you not have Zadok
  and Abiathar the priests with you there?
  Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from
  the king's house, you shall tell to Zadok and
  Abiathar the priests.

56
These are with them

• (2 Sam 1536 NKJV) "Indeed they have there with
  them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and
  Jonathan, Abiathar's son and by them you shall
  send me everything you hear."

57
Things begin to come together

• (2 Sam 1537 NKJV) So Hushai, David's friend,
  went into the city. And Absalom came into
  Jerusalem.

58
A chapter ends

• But the story is not over.

59
Time to Pay for Davids sin.
60
Time to Pay for Davids sin.

• David knows his best choice is to accept the will
  of God even in punishment.

61
Time to Pay for Davids sin.

• David knows his best choice is to accept the will
  of God even in punishment.
• David knows that even when in trouble with God,
  that God is still his only help.

62
Time to Pay for Davids sin.

• David knows his best choice is to accept the will
  of God even in punishment.
• David knows that even when in trouble with God,
  that God is still his only help.
• But the chapter says more.

63
Time to Pay for Davids sin.

• David knows his best choice is to accept the will
  of God even in punishment.
• David knows that even when in trouble with God,
  that God is still his only help.
• But the chapter says more.
• An entire nation is affected by the sins of this
  one man.

64
Time to Pay for Davids sin.

• David knows his best choice is to accept the will
  of God even in punishment.
• David knows that even when in trouble with God,
  that God is still his only help.
• But the chapter says more.
• An entire nation is affected by the sins of this
  one man.
• But will God honor a rebel son?

65
(No Transcript)