14:1Why is so much attention given to Absalom in chapters 13-19? His revenge against Amnon and rebellion against David were beginning the final decline of David's kingdom that had been prophesied in 12:10-12. The cycle of lust and murder had begun with David’s adultery with Bathsheba. By killing his half brother Amnon, Absalom was getting revenge for the rape of his Sister Tamar, as well as getting rid of the firstborn son, the one Rext in line to be king. Clearly he had his sights set on being Israel’s king and he did everything in his power to obtain that Qoal—killing a half brother and rebelling against his father. Absafom was handsome and popular like his father, but lacked his father’s heart for God. _ What can we learn from this terrible story? (1) Even the highest-ranking and best-equipped people are sinners and rebels at heart. We must guard our own hearts against sin and rebellion. (2) David failed to teach his children God’s ways. Even if our children are raised in church, we must teach and exemplify character and obedience to God. (3) David was preoccupied with government, wives, and concubines; he failed to act decisively to correct the evil in his family. At times, his guilt over his own sin caused him to decline to discipline his sons caught in similar sins. That proved to be his family’s undoing. Whenever possible, we must break cycles of lust, hatred, and rebellion. To do so, we must stay involved in guiding our children’s lives while they are still under our care.
Life Application Study Bible2 SamuelChapter 14
2 Samuel 14
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 485, 486, 487
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Joab Arranges for Absalom’s Return
1Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom. 2So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions.* Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. > Then go to the king and tell him the story lam about to tell you.” Then Joab told her what to say. 4When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, “O king! Help me!” 5“What’s the trouble?” the king asked. “Alas, 1am a widow!” she replied. “My husband is dead. 6My two sons had a fight out in the field. And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed. 7Now the rest of the family is demanding, ‘Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn’t deserve to inherit his family’s property.’ They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband's name and family will disappear from the face of the earth.” 8“Leave it to me,” the king told her. “Go home, and I'll see to it that no one touches him.” 8“Oh, thank you, my lord the king,” the woman from Tekoa replied. “If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and on my father’s house, and let the king and his throne be innocent. 9I 10“Tf anyone objects,” the king said, “bring him to me. I can assure you he will never complain again!” I I 11Then she said, “Please swear to me by the LORD your God that you won't let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed.” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he replied, “not a hair on your son’s head will be disturbed!” 12“Please allow me to ask one more thing of my lord the king,” she said. “Go ahead and speak,” he responded. 13She replied, “Why don’t you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me? You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son. 14All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him. 15“I have come to plead with my lord the king because people have threatened me. I said to myself, ‘Perhaps the king will listen to me 16and rescue us from those who would cut us off from the inheritance* God has given us. 17Yes, my lord the king will give us peace of mind again.’ I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. May the LORD your God be with you.” 18“I must know one thing,” the king replied, “and tell me the truth.” “Yes, my lord the king,” she responded. 19Did Joab put you up to this?” And the woman replied, “My lord the king, how can I deny it? Nobody can hide anything from you. Yes, Joab sent me and told me what to say. 20He did it to place the matter before you ina different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!” 21So0 the king sent for Joab and told him, “All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom.” 7 22Joab bowed with his face to the ground in deep respect and said, “At last I know that I have gained your approval, my lord the king, for you have granted me this request!” 23Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 2*But the king gave this order: “Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence.” So Absalom did not see the king.
Absalom Reconciled to David
2525Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. 26He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!* 27He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful. 28Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but he never got to see the king. 29Then Absalom sent for Joab to ask him to intercede for him, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but again Joab refused to come. 30So Absalom said to his servants, “Go and set fire to Joab’s barley field, the field next to mine.” So they set his field on fire, as Absalom had commanded. 31Then Joab came to Absalom at his house and demanded, “ Why did your servants set my field on fire?” 32And Absalom replied, “Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king: if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me.” 33So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him. 3. National rebellion against David
Textual footnotes
- 14:2 Hebrew don't anoint yourself with oil.
- 14:16 Or the property; or the people.
- 14:26 Hebrew 200 shekels [2.3 kilograms] by the royal standard.
- 14:39 Or no longer felt a need to go out
Life Application Notes 6 notes
14:11The law provided for a way to avenge murder. Numbers
14:27By naming his daughter Tamar, Absalom was showing his love and respect for his sister Tamar. This was also a reminder to everyone of the Amnon/Tamar incident.
14:30Already we can see the seeds of rebellion in Absalom. As an independent and scheming young man, he took matters into his own hands and killed his brother (13:22-29). Without his father or anyone else to keep him in check, he probably did whatever he wanted, as evidenced by his setting Joab’s field on fire to get his attention (14:30). Undoubtedly his good looks also added to his self-centeredness (14:25). Children need discipline, especially those with natural abilities and beauty. Otherwise, like Absalom, they will grow up thinking they can do whatever they want whenever they want to.
14:33David only made halfhearted efforts to correct his children. He did not punish Amnon for his sin against Tamar, nor did he deal decisively with Absalom’s murder of Amnon. Such indecisiveness became David’s undoing. When we ignore sin, we expetience greater pain than if we deal with it immediately.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 486
ABSALOM’S REBELLION Absalom crowned himself king in Hebron. David and his men fled from Jerusalem, crossed the Jordan and went to Mahanaim. Absalom and his army foliowed, only to be defeated in the forest of Ephraim, where Absalom was killed.
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Personality profile · page 487
Profile: Absalom
A father’s mistakes are often reflected in the lives of his children. In Absalom, David saw a bitter replay and amplification of many of his own past sins. God had predicted that David’s family would suffer because of his sins against Bathsheba and Uriah. David’s heart was broken as he realized that God's predictions were coming true. God forgave David, but he did not cancel the consequences of his sin. David was horrified as he saw his son’s strengths tun wild without the controls God had built into his own life. By most casual evaluations, Absalom would have made an excellent king, and the people loved him. But he lacked the inner character and control needed in a good leader. His appearance, skill, and position did not make up for his lack of personal integrity. David's sins took him away from God, but repentance brought him back. In contrast, Absafom sinned and kept on sinning. Although he relied heavily on the advice of others, he was not wise enough to evaluate the counsel he received. Can you identify with Absalom? Do you find yourself on a fast track toward self-destruction? Absalom wasn't able to say, “I was wrong. I need forgiveness.” God offers forgiveness, but we will not experience that forgiveness until we genuinely admit our sins and confess them to God. Absalom rejected his father’s love and ultimately God’s love. How often do you miss entering back into God’s love through the door of forgiveness?
Strengths and accomplishments
• Was handsome and charismatic like his father, David
• Kindly comforted his sister, Tamar, after she had been raped and allowed her to tive with him
Weaknesses and mistakes
• Avenged the rape of his sister, Tamar, by killing his half brother Amnon
• Plotted against his father to take away the throne
• Consistently listened to the wrong advice
• The sins of parents are often repeated and amplified in their children
• A smart man gets a lot of advice; a wise man evaluates the advice he gets
• Actions against God’s plans will fail, sooner or later
Lessons from his life
Vital statistics
• Where: Hebron © Occupation: Prince
• Relatives: Father: David. Mother: Maacah. Half brothers: Amnon, Kileab, Solomon, and others. Sister: Tamar © Contemporaries: Nathan, Jonadab, Joab, Ahithophel, Hushai
Key verse
“But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. ‘As soon as you hear the ram’s horn,’ his message read, ‘you are to say, “Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron”’” (2 Samuel 15:10).
Absalom’s story is told in 2 Samuel 3:3; 13—19.
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