Read 2 Samuel 17 and 18 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
2 Sam 17:1-4 {s} Ahithophel’s advice: pursue David tonight while he is weak
2 Sam 17:5-6 {s} Absalom calls for Hushai’s advice as well
2 Sam 17:7-13 {p} Hushai’s advice: gather all Israel first, for David + his men are mighty men
2 Sam 17:14a {s} Absalom: The advice of Hushai is better than that of Ahithophel
2 Sam 17:14b {s} The Lord defeated the good advice of Ahithophel that He might bring Absalom to naught
2 Sam 17:15-20 {s} Hushai sent to the sons of Zadok + Abiathar to warn David
2 Sam 17:21-23 {s} David warned/ Ahithophel went home, hanged himself when he saw his advice not taken
2 Sam 17:24-26 {s} David in Gilead/ Absalom crossed the Jordan + Amasa captain of Absalom’s army
2 Sam 17:27-29 {s} Food and refreshment brought to David and his people at Mahanaim
2 Sam 18:1-2a {s} David set his army in order in three divisions under his three captains
2 Sam 18:2b-3 {s} The people prevailed upon David to remain in the city
2 Sam 18:4-18 {s} The death of Absalom at Joab’s hand (countermanding the king’s order)
2 Sam 18:19-28a {s} The son of Zadok persists to bear the news of victory to the king
2 Sam 18:28b {s} Blessed be YHVH God, who has delivered up the king’s enemies
2 Sam 18:29-31 {s} The Cushite bears the news of victory to the king
2 Sam 18:32 {s} The Cushite bears the news of Absalom’s death to the king
2 Sam 18:33-19:4 {s} King David mourned for his son Absalom
The strong themes:
2 Sam 16:20-17:13 {sx3+p} Ahithophel’s counsel to secure Absalom in his kingship/ Hushai’s contrary counsel
The chiastic structure from yesterday does sit at the center of a larger structure encompassing the rebellion of Absalom:
2 Sam 14:28-18:18
1a) 2 Sam 14:28-33 {p+s} The king spared Absalom and did not execute him;
1a) 2 Sam 14:28, Absalom dwelt two years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king’s face;
1b) 2 Sam 14:29, Absalom sent for Joab 2x to send him to the king, but he would not come;
1c) 2 Sam 14:30 {p} Absalom bade his servants to set Joab’s field of barley on fire;
central axis) 2 Sam 14:31a, Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house;
2c) 2 Sam 14:31b, Joab: Why have your servants set my field on fire?
2b) 2 Sam 14:32a, Absalom: I sent to you, that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur?”
2a) 2 Sam 14:32b-33, Absalom’s plea to see the king’s face/ David’s forgiveness;
1a) 2 Sam 14:32b, Absalom: Let me see the king’s face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me;
1b) 2 Sam 14:33a, Joab went to the king + told him;
central axis) 2 Sam 14:33b, The king called for Absalom;
2b) 2 Sam 14:33c, Absalom came to the king + bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king;
2a) 2 Sam 14:33d {s} Then the king kissed Absalom (he forgave him, he did not execute him).
1b) 2 Sam 15:1-23 {p+p+s} Absalom stole Israel’s hearts/ David + his people fled Jerusalem;
1) 2 Sam 15:1-13 {p+p} Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel;
1a) 2 Sam 15:1-6 {p} Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel;
1b) 2 Sam 15:7-9 {p} After four years Absalom deceived the king into sending him to Hebron;
central axis) 2 Sam 15:10, Absalom sent spies throughout Israel to proclaim him king in Hebron;
2b) 2 Sam 15:11-12, In Hebron, the conspiracy against David grew strong as Absalom increased in number;
2a) 2 Sam 15:13, A messenger came to David: The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom;
2) 2 Sam 15:14-23 {s} All who were with David (including the Gittites)/ his servants submitted to his will;
1a) 2 Sam 15:14-17, David + his people fled Jerusalem/ his servants submited to his will;
1b) 2 Sam 15:18 {s} David’s servants passed before him including 600 men who had followed him from Gath;
1c) 2 Sam 15:19a, The king said to Ittai the Gittite: Why are you also going with us?
1d) 2 Sam 15:19b, David: Return and remain with the king;
1e) 2 Sam 15:19c, David: For you are a foreigner + an exile from your own place;
central axis) 2 Sam 15:20a, David: In fact, you came only yesterday;
2e) 2 Sam 15:20b, David: Should I make you wander in exile today with me;
2d) 2 Sam 15:20c, David: Return, and take your brethren back + Mercy and truth be with you;
2c) 2 Sam 15:21-22a, Ittai the Gittite’s answer: I am with you in death or life;
2b) 2 Sam 15:22b, Ittai the Gittite + all his men + all the little ones who were with him crossed over;
2a) 2 Sam 15:23, All the people crossed over the Kidron Brook with David;
1c) 2 Sam 15:23-30 {s+s} David sent Zadok + Abiathar + the ark of God back to the city, to send him word;
1a) 2 Sam 15:23a, All the country wept with a loud voice + all the people crossed over;
1b) 2 Sam 15:23b, The king crossed over the Brook Kidron toward the way of the wilderness;
1c) 2 Sam 15:24 {s} Zadok + Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God + Abiathar also;
1d) 2 Sam 15:25a, The king to Zadok: Carry the ark of God back into the city;
central axis) 2 Sam 15:25b-26 {s} “If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place. But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him;”
2d) 2 Sam 15:27-28, The king to Zadok: Return to the city with your sons + I will wait for word from you;
2c) 2 Sam 15:29, Zadok + Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and remained there;
2b) 2 Sam 15:30b, David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up;
2a) 2 Sam 15:30b, All the people who were with him covered their heads + weeping as they went up;
1d) 2 Sam 15:31, David’s prayer: Turn Ahithophel’s counsel to Absalom into foolishness;
1e) 2 Sam 15:32-37a, David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as his agent before Absalom;
1f) 2 Sam 15:37b {s} And Absalom came into Jerusalem;
1g) 2 Sam 16:1-4, Ziba returns kindness by bringing refreshment for David + his people;
1h) 2 Sam 16:5-8, Shimei of the house of Saul cursed King David as he went;
1i) 2 Sam 16:9 {s} Abishai asks permission of David to return Shimei’s evil to him;
1j) 2 Sam 16:10 {s} David: Let him curse; perhaps YHVH has said to him, ‘Curse David;’
central axis) 2 Sam 16:11a, David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite?”
2j) 2 Sam 16:11b, David: Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him;
2i) 2 Sam 16:12-13a {s} David: May YHVH repay me with good for his cursing this day;
2h) 2 Sam 16:13b {p} Shimei followed along with King David and cursed as he went;
2g) 2 Sam 16:14, The king + his people became weary; so they refreshed themselves there;
2f) 2 Sam 16:15, Absalom + the men of Israel + Ahithophel came to Jerusalem;
2e) 2 Sam 16:16-19 {p} Absalom receives Hushai’s service;
2d) 2 Sam 16:20-23 {s} Ahithophel’s advice to Absalom fulfills Nathan’s prophecy;
2c) 2 Sam 17:1-23 {s+s+p+sx4} Hushai sent word to David by the sons of Zadok + Abiathar;
1a) 2 Sam 17:1-14 {s+s+p+s+s} Ahithophel’s good advice defeated before Absalom;
1a) 2 Sam 17:1-4 {s} Ahithophel’s advice: pursue David tonight while he is weak;
1b) 2 Sam 17:5-6 {s} Absalom calls for Hushai’s advice as well;
central axis) 2 Sam 17:7-13 {p} Hushai’s advice: gather all Israel first, for David + his men are mighty men;
2b) 2 Sam 17:14a {s} Absalom: The advice of Hushai is better than that of Ahithophel;
2a) 2 Sam 17:14b {s} YHVH defeated the good advice of Ahithophel that He might bring Absalom to naught;
central axis) 2 Sam 17:15-20 {s} Hushai sent to the sons of Zadok + Abiathar to warn David;
2a) 2 Sam 17:21-23 {s} Ahithophel went home, hanged himself when he saw his advice not taken;
2b) 2 Sam 17:24-18:4 {sx4} The hearts of Israel with Absalom/ David + his people at Mahanaim;
1) 2 Sam 17:24-29 {s+s} The hearts of Israel were with Absalom + they followed him in pursuit of David;
1a) 2 Sam 17:24a, Then David went to Mahanaim;
1b) 2 Sam 17:24b, Absalom crossed over the Jordan, and all the men of Israel with him;
central axis) 2 Sam 17:25, Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab;
2b) 2 Sam 17:26 {s} Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead;
2a) 2 Sam 17:27-29 {s} When David had come to Mahanaim, he was provided for + refreshed;
2) 2 Sam 18:1-4 {s+s} All who were with David (Ittai the Gittite a commander)/ king submited to the people’s will;
1a) 2 Sam 18:1-2a {s} David set captians over the thousands + hundreds (Ittai the Gittite a commander);
1b) 2 Sam 18:2b, David: I also will surely go out with you myself;
1c) 2 Sam 18:3a, But the people answered: You shall not go out!
central axis) 2 Sam 18:3b, If we flee or die, they will not care about us;
2c) 2 Sam 18:3c {s} You are worth ten thousand of us, therefore you shall succor us from the city;
2b) 2 Sam 18:4a, David: Whatever seems best to you I will do;
2a) 2 Sam 18:4b, The king remained at the gate + the people went out by hundreds + thousands;
2a) 2 Sam 18:5-18 {s} The king commanded Absalom be spared, but Joab executed him;
1a) 2 Sam 18:5, The king had commanded his servants to deal gently with his son Absalom;
1b) 2 Sam 18:6, The people went out into the field of battle, in the woods of Ephraim, against Israel;
central axis) 2 Sam 18:7, Israel was overthrown before the servants of David/ 20,000 killed that day;
2b) 2 Sam 18:8, The battle was scattered over the countryside + the woods devoured more than the sword;
2a) 2 Sam 18:9-18 {s} When Absalom met Joab, Joab did not deal gently with him but killed him;
1a) 2 Sam 18:9a, Then Absalom met the servants of David;
1b) 2 Sam 18:9b, Absalom rode on a mule;
central axis) 2 Sam 18:9c, He was caught by his hair in thick boughs + left hanging between heaven/ earth;
2b) 2 Sam 18:9d, The mule which was under him went on;
2a) 2 Sam 18:10-18 {s} Joab + his armor bearers did not deal gently with Absalom but killed + buried him.
The life of David has so much to teach us about parenting, family relationships, proper use and abuse of authority, the root of rebellion, and many other things. I will just say today that God has helped parents to train up their children, in that when babies are born, their hearts are tied to the hearts of their parents naturally. Then it is the severing of the child’s heart from the parents’ hearts, that makes fertile soil for rebellion to grow. Rebellion is only the fruit; the root is losing the child’s heart. And the only one who has the power to keep or cast away their child’s heart, is the parent.
Absalom, whether consciously or no, employed this same principle. For the hearts of the men of Israel were with David their king, but Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel away from David to himself. The men of Israel rebelled against David when their hearts were no longer his.
Sandwiched in the midst of these tragic consequences, which began with David’s sin concerning Uriah the Hittite and his wife Bathsheba, is an interesting paragraph about Ittai, a man of Gath. Gath, remember, is the hometown of Goliath, the giant which David slew as a teen, and the town which David eventually fled to when Saul was hunting his life. David, apparently, became so beloved there, that when he left to serve as king in Israel, 600 men of Gath and their families followed him and became part of his mighty men. There is evidence in the text that these men left the pagan gods of the Philistines and served YHVH, because of David’s witness, for Ittai invokes the name of YHVH in his answer to David (2 Sam 15:21).
Now, David had won the hearts of the men of Gath. That much is obvious. I find it interesting that the central axis of this section is David’s observation, when he was urging them to return to Jerusalem and not to flee with him, “In fact, you only arrived yesterday.” It is most likely an idiom similar to the one we have in English, “I wasn’t born yesterday,” meaning, not literally yesterday, but of recent history. It immediately put me in mind of the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Mat 20:1-16), in which the servants who were most lately come receive the same wage as the ones who have borne the heat of the day. Ittai was a Gentile, and but lately come, but his heart was with David (who is a type of Messiah); while Absalom, who was of David’s own body and had been with him his whole life, was trying to kill him. Let him hear who has ears to hear!
My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways. Pro 23:26
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