The Book of second Samuel

Chapter 18

[1] And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.

1) Directions Given (1-5)

David having been warned of Absaloms pursuit, readies his troops for impending battle

The army is numbered, captains assigned and split into 3 divisions

The Command of the 3 divisions is given to Joab, Abishai & Ittai

David wants to go himself (not to repeat the blunder of II Sam 11:1) but the people will not allow him to

A. David’s life is valuable (worth 10,000 of us)

B. David could bring reserves if necessary

C. David would have a hard time fighting against his own son

David submitted to their advice and the army sets out to battle

A. As they are leaving, David commands that Absalom be dealt with gently, in front of all Israel

[6] So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
[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.
[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.

2) Defeat of Absalom’s Army (6-8)

Those loyal to David fought against Israel and Absalom

The hand of God w/ David & his experienced leadership attain a great victory

20,000 were slain---- many of which were swallowed up in the woods

The woods- “briers, trees, cliffs, caverns, pits, swamps, wild beasts etc.

[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.
[10] And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[15] And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
[16] And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
[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.
[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.

3) Death of Absalom (9-18)

Against the wise counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom rode into battle

It sure doesn’t look like a military general riding on a rebellious mule, but here comes Absalom

Absalom’s head was caught in an oak tree and the mule rode away leaving Absalom hanging

(II Sam 14:25,26) What was his glory was now his curse---- hell was beneath him as he hung

A certain man tells General Joab that he saw Absalom hanging in a tree

Joab asks this man why he did not kill Absalom, Joab said he would have rewarded him

The man says the king would know and there is no reward worth my life & you would turn me in

This man was obedient to the kings words

Quickly Joab, takes 3 darts and thrusts them into Absalom

Joab thought it best to show Absalom justice instead of the mercy the king desired

Afterall, Absalom was a muderer, rapist and traitor, but the kings word is the kings word

Joab may be correct but he is not right to disobey the kings command

10 young men that bore Joab’s armour, beat Absalom to death.(#10) it was 10 concubines he had raped

Absalom, a rebel, has his life taken by a rebellious act ..... Joab rebelled against the kings word

Absaloms body was thrown into a pit covered by stones-no marker. During life he had Absalom’s pillar

[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.
[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.
[21] Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
[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?
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[30] And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
[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.
[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.

4) Delivering the Message (19-32)

Ahimaaz, son of the priest, wants to run and tell king David what has happened

Joab forbids Ahimaaz to run as he did not want a good man to bear bad news

Joab sends Cushi with the news, yet Ahimaaz requests to run anyway and Joab says go & run

Ahimaaz runs faster than Cushi and gets ahead of him

Watchmen are scouring the horizon for news and find a runner and then spy another runner

The watchmen advise David and David, upon seeing Ahimaaz, is sure good news awaits

Ahimaaz falls to the ground and says that Israel has won victory

David only asks “Is the young man Absalom safe?” (Ahimaaz does not know)

Cushi arrives and tells of victory. Again David asks “is the young man Absalom safe?”

Cushi, wisely says “let all my lords enemies be as that young man”..w/o directly saying death

* Ahimaaz was a better runner but a bad messenger, Cushi delivers sure news

[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!

5) Demonstration of Love (33)

David, trembling because of the news, goes into chambers..........weeping as he goes and saying........

“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom would God that I had died for thee O Absalom my son, my son”.

David knew his own sin had produced the soil for the fruit of Absalom to be brone

David knew his own rebellious sins were exaggerated in Absalom & David wanted to die in his place

What David, couldn’t do, God did in that He died in place of rebellious sinners.

God sent His Son to die and to forgive and restore his lost children

In the cry of David we hear the cry of God for the lost..... & the cry “Is my child safe?”