We must bear in mind that not every tribe and clan in the nation went over to Absalom's side. While the partisans might not have engaged in battles amongst themselves, they were ready to fight if mobilized by their favorite.
2 Samuel 18:1-5 -- David mustered all those willing to remain loyal. This would have been by far the better trained, more seasoned of Israel's warriors. Absalom would have drawn a rather younger crowd. In the standard practice of the day, conscripts were grouped in companies of about a hundred each, and a cadre of professional warriors were placed over the companies, and the companies were grouped into battalions of a thousand each. Recall that most ancient battle formations would find a professional group in the lead, on each flank, and as a rear guard. The main body would have been conscripts. Battles were less about mass casualties and more about persuading the enemy forces to break and flee. Well-disciplined conscripts could win a battle simply by not breaking ranks.
David divided his forces into three battle groups, showing a growing distrust for Joab. One group was under the command of his very faithful friend, Ittai from Gath. He was careful to publicly order his son be spared, if at all possible. We get the feeling he viewed this whole thing as little more than a youthful indiscretion. Actually, it's just another example of David's favoring of kinship over justice. His commanders refused to let David go into battle over them. They knew all too well this was about killing David, not about winning battles.
18:6-8 -- Unlike most battles out in the open fields, this one took place in the forests that once stood in Ephraim's land. We are not told how the battle moved from Gad and the vicinity of Mahanaim. The veteran fighters were much better prepared to take advantage of the terrain, which itself killed more than died by the sword.
18:9-16 -- Absalom rode a mule, a symbol of royalty in a nation fighting afoot. Apparently he tried to flee a company of his father's soldiers, but his head got caught in a low-hanging branch, and his mule ran out from under him. (Josephus, the Jewish historian, is responsible for the false image of Absalom being caught by his long hair.) One of the battle messengers brought word while the troops simply surrounded the still-suspended young usurper. When Joab groused that Absalom was not killed, the soldier reminded him of the stern warning David gave. This time, Joab was right. Absalom could not be allowed to live, no matter what his doting father might say. Joab made sure to finish off the young man.
18:17-18 -- With Absalom dead, the rebellion was over. Joab announced this with a signal understood by all. The remaining rebels fled, as Joab called off the pursuit. Absalom received a criminal's burial. Even today, in the Middle East, people will toss stones on the grave of a major criminal figure. The bigger the heap of stones, the more grave the offense. Absalom's cairn was quite large. The final epitaph is to note that his three sons had apparently died, for Absalom had erected a monument to himself as childless, but the location is unknown today. The so-called Tomb of Absalom in the Kidron Valley was created during the latter Roman Empire, with no foundation beyond myth.
18:19-23 -- Joab knew that David would interpret the arrival of Ahimaaz as a signal of good news, and this was not exactly true. So Joab insisted the message be carried by a Cushite. Ahimaaz pestered Joab until he got permission to at least go back to the city, but Joab held him off long enough to give the Cushite a head start. No doubt Ahimaaz was quite the runner. While the messenger took the most direct route, Ahimaaz dropped down to the Jordan Valley, rather like a highway in those days, and managed to pass the Cushite.
18:24-32 -- The City of Mahanaim had inner and out gates. David took a seat in one of the alcoves that were usually found in such a structure, between the two gates. The chamber above the gate was higher than the wall running off to either side. From there, the watchman had the best view. These chambers would have had a portal of some sort through the floor that allowed communication with those in the guard posts between the gates. The watchman spotted each of the runners individually, and David decided the news was good, since they came alone on different paths. Ahimaaz was recognizable to the watchman, and arrived first. Having no official dispatch, he would have simply reported what he saw, that there was an awful lot of shouting between the David's warriors. His wording indicates it was quite an unusual scene, not typical of warriors after battle. The Cushite brought what he believed was good news. His answer was typical of victorious announcements, wishing that all the king's enemies could meet such an end.
18:33 -- David went into mourning immediately. We are assured it's a good thing to mourn the loss of family, but this very public demonstration was quite extravagant. His outcry indicated he wished he could join Absalom in death. We rightly condemn David for not seeing this also as the hand of God. While David might well suffer depression for a sad end to a tragedy of his own making, at least by neglect, he utterly fails as king and commander for not keeping his mourning private, especially over one who had caused his supporters so much grief.
19:1-8 -- When Joab found out about this travesty, he confronted his king with the harsh reality of politics. David's overly indulgent behavior got them into this mess. Now that many had taken tremendous risks on his behalf, and exerted themselves to the utmost, he repays them poorly, with nary a word of thanks for anything. If David didn't correct this situation immediately, he would never sit on the throne again. Joab hints that he would take the lead in deserting David over this. So David composed himself and went out and sat in the public speaking place in the gate of every city. His presence there was automatically a call to assemble. The enemy had all fled, everyone skulking home in shame, and his servants needed a good word.
19:9-10 -- For a time, David remained in Mahanaim, in a sort of internal exile. The nation of Israel was bitterly divided over whether to let him regain his throne. The better argument was made those supporting David's return, recalling how he had vanquished all the nation's enemies. Even though many had lined up behind Absalom, he was now dead, so to whom could they give their loyalty now if not David? Still, the political impasse led to no one taking action. The context indicates that the ten Northern Tribes were completely indecisive about it.
19:11-18a -- It was only natural then, that David appeal to his own tribe of Judah to get things rolling. He could rule the Southern Tribes, at least. He sent a message prompting Zadok and Abiathar to visit the elders of Judah and get them moving, as they were the most obvious choice. If he couldn't get the support of his own relatives, he couldn't be king anyway. He even went so far as extending an olive branch by offering to promote Amasa, his nephew and Absalom's commander, to Joab's place as military Chief of Staff over the nation's troops. This was also a public notice to punish Joab for defying orders to save Absalom. Thus, it should be clear David harbored no hard feelings, and no one need fear for his life over this rebellion.
This worked, for the eldership of Judah moved unanimously to call David back as King. In a grand ceremonial journey, they met him at the Jordan near Gilgal with a ferry to cross in comfort. Even David's erstwhile enemies met him there -- Shimei, along with a large delegation from Benjamin, and Ziba, who had swindled Saul's estate from David.
19:18b-23 -- Shimei made a fine speech begging forgiveness for his insult. Abishai still wanted to execute him, but David made clear this was a day of forgiveness and restoration. Unlike pagan potentates, who often killed a symbolic representation of those who rebelled upon returning to their throne, David was gracious. He took that day as sacred to the Lord. He gave Shimei a strong royal oath of pardon.
19:24-30 -- Meribaal had not been in Jerusalem on the day David fled. During Absalom's brief stay, there was all the more reason to stay away. Upon David's return, Meribaal came to meet him at the city gate. He bore the obvious signs of one who had been in mourning, by neglecting his appearance. When David asked what had happened, Meribaal explained that Ziba had said he would saddle a donkey for him to ride so as to accompany David into exile. Then Ziba simply took off with the load of food and lied to David about the situation. Meribaal hadn't left his home the whole time. Still, Meribaal was so grateful David was back, he really didn't care about the loss of his inheritance. David, having too much else to worry about, simply made a quick judgment to return half the property back to him. Meribaal didn't care either way, and wouldn't press the case against Ziba.
19:31-39 -- Back before boarding the ferry to cross the Jordan, David had said farewell to his good friend, Barzillai. David offered the old man a place in the Royal Court, but Barzillai declined. He was too old for such a move, and could hardly have enjoyed it at this point. He preferred to remain close the family grave, since he would surely need it soon. Rather, he asked the favor be offered to someone tradition identifies as his son, but may have been any favored young relative in his household. Thus, this Chimham joined the Royal Court on Barzillai's behalf.
19:40-43 -- As we have seen in the past, the elders of the Northern Tribes were a contentious bunch. While they dilly-dallied over renewing David's place on the throne, Judah took appropriate action. The leading lights of Judah were escorting the King back to Jerusalem, along with the loyal portions of the Northern Tribes. This most likely was not the most powerful leaders. Those with the greater power had gone over to Absalom, and were the ones who approached this royal entourage a little too late for the crossing.
Their complaint presumed a falsehood, that they were good loyal servants of David, too. They acted as if betrayed, rather than as traitors, by not having been invited to the party. The big shots were covering their shame with bluster, saying they had more right to lead the parade than Judah, and that it had been their idea in the first place. We don't know the substance of Judah's response, but it clearly made Ephraim look foolish.
It is clear at this point, more than ever, there is a firm division between the Northern Tribes led by Ephraim and the Southern Tribes led by Judah. More, we can see a glaring lack of honor in the former's actions. When the heat is on, their loyalty to David's throne, and to Jehovah, melts quickly.
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Ed Hurst
11 September 2004
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