O Absalom, My Son

O Absalom, My Son!

An Exposition of 2 Samuel 18

There is nothing new about palace intrigues. Although there are only a few monarchies in the world, formally speaking, these intrigues have been adopted by governments everywhere. Those who rule have to deal with dishonest counselors, coups, treachery, and their own failings. Truly it has been said: “Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.” The same was true in the days of King David.

David was a man of many serious faults. But he was a man after God’s own heart. David was a textbook example of Luther’s doctrine of “simultaneously saint and sinner.” He was known as “The sweet psalmist of Israel.” He was man of great courage. He suffered ill treatment from his father-in-law, King Saul, and spent years on the run from him and his armies who were out to kill him. Yet on two occasions when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, he refused to slay the LORD’s anointed. He waited upon the LORD’s timing and means of bringing him to the kingship of Israel. The LORD had brought great victories to him. David was the means of reuniting all of Israel. This David showed remorse over Saul who had tried to kill him as much as Saul’s son whom was best friends with David. He even had the messenger who brought the news of his death executed. He showed remorse over the death of Abner and Saul’s son Ish-bosheth. He provided a table for another son, Mephibosheth as well. This was indeed gracious as these could be seen as rivals to his throne.

However, this same David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah the Hittite to cover it up. As a result, Nathan prophesied to David that the sword would never leave his own house. The intrigues would not come from the house of Saul but from his own children. Soon after, one son Ammon slept with his half-sister Tamar and dishonored her. Tamar’s full brother, Absalom, took revenge by inviting Ammon to a supper and having him killed. As a result, Absalom was exiled from David’s presence.

Absalom was a very handsome man with long hair. He could be quite charming as well. He also harbored great resentment against his father and plotted his revenge. This started when Absalom petitioned David for reinstatement, which David graciously accepted. Then Absalom began to charm the people. He perverted justice by cancelling the debts owed to the kingdom. Gradually, he won them over, and David had to flee for his life.

Absalom did not live up to his name which means “Father of Peace.” If we consider that he was also a prince, one could call him “Prince of Peace.” But instead of being a type of Christ, He became a type of Antichrist. He was a Judas who had eaten bread with his father who loved him and then turned traitor. The text made it clear that Absalom would have killed his father, David, if he could.

David got wind of the plot and fled with his loyal followers across the brook Kidron into the wilderness. He crossed this brook to escape the wrath of his son. His familiar counselor, Ahithophel, betrayed him and gave counsel to Absalom on how to kill David. But Hushai who remained loyal to David and gave other counsel. He said to wait and gather a large army. Absalom also slept on the rooftop with David’s concubines who had been left to keep the palace. Absalom thus proved himself to be the most dishonorable of men. He greatly displeased

The army of Absalom chased after David and met him in battle is a wooded wilderness area. The account of this battle is found in the 18th chapter of 2 Samuel. David was not allowed up to join the army, but he gave explicit instructions to deal gently with Absalom. David’s men, with the help of the LORD prevailed. Absalom in his escape got his hair caught in a large terebinth tree and was left hanging between heaven and earth. The Bible says that he who is hung from a tree is cursed. News of Absalom’s predicament came to Joab, the commander of David’s army. Joab was the ultimate realist, very much a man of the world. Contenders for the throne had to be dealt with harshly, so he disobeyed orders and ordered men to kill Absalom. The men refused, knowing what David had said. So Joab did the job himself by thrusting three darts into Absalom as he hung helplessly from the tree. Then others finished the job in executing Absalom. He then sent a messenger to bring the “good news” to David. But Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok (the priest?) also asked to bring news and outran Cushi.