II Samuel 16:15-17:29
Dear RTB’ers,
David’s flight from Absalom is different than when he was on the run from Saul. Earlier he was just a shepherd boy, now he is a king. Earlier he had only a small group with him (up to 600, I Samuel 27:2, 30:9), now he has the king’s entourage and probably thousands devoted to him. Earlier he and his men had to secure food and material wherever they could (recall the story of Abigail’s provision for him, I Samuel 25), but now he has wealthy benefactors bringing supplies from a number of sources. Still, my Study Bible suggests that Ahithopel’s advice was very good – that David and his company would have been wiped out in a weakened skirmish if Absalom had pursued right away. Thankfully, Hushai’s advice appealed to Absalom’s ego and the Lord was working for David: For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom. (v. 17:14b)
Absalom going in to his father’s concubines is (to me) his low point, even setting a tent on the roof … in the sight of all Israel (v. 16:22). As Ahithopel suggested, Absalom would make himself “a stench” to his father. Herein Absalom satisfies both his revenge and his ego. Again, what a sad personality is Absalom. I wonder if anyone throughout later history ever named a child “Absalom”…
Blessings!
Fred