2 SAMUEL LESSON 19


     We will begin this lesson in II Samuel 18:1 "And David numbered
the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and
captains of hundreds over them."

     Before the battle with Absalom began, David divided his men up
into groups of hundreds and thousands, and put leaders over them. Some
of the men who had been with him before, and were skilled in war, were
put over the men who were not trained. Now, there was order in David's
army.

     II Samuel 18:2 "And David sent forth a third part of the people
under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the
son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of
Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go
forth with you myself also."

     David knew that he could trust these three men to run their share
of the war, as if he were right there with them. In fact, David said
that he would go with them, and lead them into battle. These three,
Abishai, and Joab, who were David's nephews, led one group each, and
the Gittite, Ittai, who volunteered to be with David, led the third
group. This was a well organized army. David was a skilled commander-
in-chief.

     II Samuel 18:3 "But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth:
for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us
die, will they care for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of
us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the
city."

     This confidence in David, by his men, has to make David proud.
They, probably, took into consideration that David, as a father, would
find it hard to go against his own son. David had been told by the
priests, that the army of Absalom was really wanting to kill David, so
the war would stop. The three captains convince David to stay in the
background, where it would be relatively safe. If some of the soldiers
get killed, David can still lead the others, but if David is killed,
Absalom is king.

     II Samuel 18:4 "And the king said unto them, What seemeth you
best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the
people came out by hundreds and by thousands."

     David did not like waiting behind, but they had a legitimate
reason, why he should not go to battle.

     II Samuel 18:5 "And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and
Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even]
with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the
captains charge concerning Absalom."

     Even though this is war, Absalom is still David's son. David
still loves Absalom, as a father does a son. He is giving the leaders
instructions not to kill his son.

     II Samuel 18:6  "So the people went out into the field against
Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;" II Samuel 18:7
"Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David,
and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand
[men]."

     We see a terribly bloody battle. The LORD is with David, and
20,000 of those who opposed David died. The army that attacked David
was several times the size of David's army of 20,000, but God was with
David.

     II Samuel 18:8 "For the battle was there scattered over the face
of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than
the sword devoured."

     This was in some very rough country. It appears, it was so rough
that the terrain itself, in the heat of battle, killed some of the
men.

     II Samuel 18:9  "And Absalom met the servants of David. And
Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of
a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up
between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was] under him
went away."

     This seems to be saying, that Absalom was in the battle with the
men, and suddenly finds himself surrounded by David's men. He is on a
mule, which tells everyone who he is. It was the custom for the king's
sons to ride mules. This forest was very thick, and in his hurry to
get away, he rides into a very thick oak tree, with many limbs.
Perhaps, he is looking behind him, instead of in front, and the mule
rides him into a forked limb. His neck is caught between two limbs.
The mule rides on, and leaves him hanging in the tree.

     II Samuel 18:10 "And a certain man saw [it], and told Joab, and
said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak."

     This man who comes and tells Joab is afraid to have anything to
do with this matter, for fear of what David would do to him. He did
not help him, or kill him. He just left him hanging in the tree.

     II Samuel 18:11 "And Joab said unto the man that told him, And,
behold, thou sawest [him], and why didst thou not smite him there to
the ground? And I would have given thee ten [shekels] of silver, and a
girdle."

     Joab wanted Absalom dead, in spite of what David had ordered
about him. He would have paid the silver to this man to kill him. The
man was wise enough to know, that David would have killed him for
killing Absalom. David told them, at the beginning, not to kill
Absalom.  The girdle, he offered him, was an emblem of importance
among his fellows. The silver would have made his position better
financially.

     II Samuel 18:12 "And the man said unto Joab, Though I should
receive a thousand [shekels] of silver in mine hand, [yet] would I not
put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the
king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none
[touch] the young man Absalom."

     There was not enough money to cause this man to raise his hand
against Absalom, because David had given specific orders not to kill
him. The man was not afraid of Absalom. He was afraid of David. He
even reminds Joab of what king David had said.

     II Samuel 18:13 "Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood
against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and
thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against [me]."

     He knows that he would not have lived very long, if he had killed
Absalom. In fact, Joab, himself, might have killed him, on orders from
David.

     II Samuel 18:14 "Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee.
And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart
of Absalom, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak."

     Absalom was hopelessly hanging in the limbs of the tree. He was
unable to defend himself. He could have been easily captured. Joab had
some personal desire to kill Absalom, hoping it might improve his
position. It is Joab, himself, that shoots darts through the heart of
Absalom and kills him, while he helplessly hangs there.

     II Samuel 18:15 "And ten young men that bare Joab's armour
compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him."

     The type of darts that Joab shot through the heart of Absalom
would have killed him, but without more attacks on his body, it would
have been a prolonged death. It appears, these ten men, also, smote
Absalom to hurry up his death.

     II Samuel 18:16 "And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people
returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people."

     At the death of Absalom, there is no longer need to fight for
Absalom's right to the throne. The blowing of the trumpet stops the
battle. The men of David come back to where the trumpet is blown, to
see why they are to stop the fighting.

     II Samuel 18:17 "And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great
pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and
all Israel fled every one to his tent."

     It is the followers of Absalom, who are called "all Israel",
here. It appears, that all of Absalom's people quickly knew what had
happened, and they went home to their tents. The battle is over.
Absalom is buried in a deep pit, and rocks are piled high as a
memorial to where he lay.

     II Samuel 18:18  "Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and
reared up for himself a pillar, which [is] in the king's dale: for he
said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the
pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's
place."

     There was no son to carry on the name of Absalom. Now, two of
David's sons are dead. The punishment, that the LORD had spoken on
David through his children, has occurred, again. Absalom had three
sons who, we remember, died in infancy. This pillar, erected by
Absalom was truly the memorial that was left for Absalom. This grave
of stones was truly a sign of his defeat. The memorial, he had set up,
was in memory of his victories. The memorial even bore his name, to
help remember why it was erected.

     II Samuel 18:19  "Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now
run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of
his enemies." II Samuel 18:20 "And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not
bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but
this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead."

     Zadok was the acting high priest. It would be a very good idea
for him to be with the king, when he hears this terrible news of his
son's death. Zadok is convinced that the death of Absalom is the doing
of the LORD. In honor of the king's son, Absalom, Joab says Zadok
should not go the first day of his death.

     II Samuel 18:21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what
thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

     The real reason, that Joab delayed Zadok, was so he could get
credit for sending David the news. He immediately sends one of his men
to tell David.

     II Samuel 18:22 "Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to
Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And
Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no
tidings ready?"

     He has no more news, except the news sent by Joab's man, so why
would he want to go at all and repeat the same message? This was the
whole idea of not allowing Zadok to go.

     II Samuel 18:23 "But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he
said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and
overran Cushi."

     The LORD was with Ahimaaz, and he ran swiftly. The LORD
strengthened him so much, that he ran past Joab's messenger, Cushi.

     II Samuel 18:24 "And David sat between the two gates: and the
watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted
up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone."

     They had left David at the gate of the city. There was a
watchman, who looked in the direction of the war, to tell David of
anyone coming toward him. The watchman sees just one man running
toward David.

     II Samuel 18:25 "And the watchman cried, and told the king. And
the king said, If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth. And
he came apace, and drew near."  II Samuel 18:26 "And the watchman saw
another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and
said, Behold [another] man running alone. And the king said, He also
bringeth tidings."

     David knew, if they were coming to kill him, there would have
been a number of men. One man would not have been sent against this
very powerful lion of a king. The watchman sees the other man running
behind. David is immediately aware, that they are both messengers with
news of the war.

     II Samuel 18:27 "And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running
of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And
the king said, He [is] a good man, and cometh with good tidings."

     David is, saying that Ahimaz would have never fled from the
battle, so he is bringing good news about the war.

     II Samuel 18:28 "And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All
is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king,
and said, Blessed [be] the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the
men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king."

     Ahimaaz gives the good news that the battle is over first. He
shows respect for David by throwing himself upon the ground before
him. Ahimaaz is praising God for the victory.

     II Samuel 18:29 "And the king said, Is the young man Absalom
safe?  And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and
[me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was]."

     David's great concern was his son, Absalom. Poor David was
remembering the statement made by the LORD in judgement against
David's sin. The judgement was "the sword shall never depart from thy
house".  Ahimaaz refused to tell David the sad news of the death of
Absalom. He knew Absalom was dead, but he would not tell. He knew the
runner from Joab would be there soon, and he would let him tell the
bad news to David. Notice, the distinction between Joab's servant and
David's servant here.

     II Samuel 18:30 "And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and]
stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still." II Samuel 18:31
"And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king:
for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up
against thee."

     This servant is careful to say, that the judgement in the battle
was from the LORD. The one who had risen up against David was his own
son, Absalom.

     II Samuel 18:32 "And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man
Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and
all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man
[is]."

     This is an indirect way of telling David that his son Absalom is
dead. Notice, he speaks of the entire army of Absalom being either
killed, or disbanded. David's worst fears have come to be. Absalom is
dead.

     II Samuel 18:33  "And the king was much moved, and went up to the
chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my
son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O
Absalom, my son, my son!"

     The sorrow over the death of a son is always great, even if the
son has rebelled against his father. David went to the chamber over
the gate away from the eyes of the people to weep. I am sure he looked
in the direction of where his son had been, and cried out his name.
David would have willingly died in his son's place, as any parent
would. It appeared, that David's grief was so great, that he shook all
over.  Notice, also, my son is mentioned three times. David feels that
his own sin has caused this terrible thing. His grief is mixed with
terrible guilt. The joy over the victory is gone, in the sorrow of
losing his son.





















                        2 Samuel 19 Questions


1.  How did David prepare for the war in verse 1?
2.  Who led the three different groups of the army of David?
3.  What did David want to do, that his men were not in favor of?
4.  How valuable did they say, that David's life was?
5.  What would David find it very hard to do in this particular war?
6.  Where did David stay?
7.  What special instructions did David give Joab, Abishai, and Ittai
    about Absalom?
8.  Where was the battle fought?
9.  How many men were killed that day?
10. What killed more than the swords?
11. What was Absalom riding?
12. What happened to Absalom at the big, thick oak?
13. What happened to the mule?
14. How did Joab find out about Absalom?
15. Why did the man leave him hanging in the tree?
16. What question did Joab ask him?
17. What was the girdle an emblem of?
18. The man said to Joab, he would not have killed him for even a
    _____________ shekels.
19. Why had he been so afraid to kill him?
20. What did Joab do immediately?
21. Why did the ten men smite Absalom, after Joab had smitten him?
22. When Absalom died, what did Joab do to stop the war?
23. What happened to Absalom's body?
24. What happened to Absalom's army?
25. Why had Absalom made a memorial of stone to himself earlier?
26. Why was there no son of Absalom to carry on his name?
27. Who asked to carry the news to David?
28. Who stopped him from doing so?
29. Who did Joab send with the news?
30. Who, then, insisted on going, also?
31. Who got to David first with the news?
32. What did he tell David?
33. Who told David of the death of his sons?
34. On learning of Absalom's death, what did David do?
35. Where did David go to weep?