Day 150 – 2 Samuel 18:9-18
Scripture Review
2 Samuel 18:9-18
"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."
(2 Samuel 18:9)
Absalom meets the servants of David in the battle. He is riding on a mule. As he rides under the thick boughs, or heavy branches, of a great oak, his head gets caught in the tree. The Bible says he was taken up "between the heaven and the earth." That means he is hanging there helplessly, suspended in the air, with the mule gone from under him. Absalom is now caught and helpless, unable to move forward or escape.
"And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak."
(2 Samuel 18:10)
A certain sees Absalom hanging in the oak. He does not kill him. He goes and tells Joab what he saw. He was not dead yet. He was caught alive and helpless. This man knows David's command. He knows the king said to deal gently with Absalom. So he reports the matter instead of taking it into his own hands.
"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."
(2 Samuel 18:11)
The way the scripture is worded made me laugh. Joab rebukes the man for not killing Absalom. He asks why he did not "smite" him. Then Joab says he would have given him ten shekels of silver and a girdle.
"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."
(2 Samuel 18:12)
This man standing firm on David's word. He says that even if Joab offered him a thousand shekels of silver, he still would not put his hand against the king's son. He heard David's command, and he is not going to ignore it for money. He reminds Joab that the king charged Joab, Abishai, and Ittai in everyone's hearing.
"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."
(2 Samuel 18:13)
The man explain what would have happened if he did. To "wrought falsehood" means to act deceitfully or treacherously. He knows that if he had killed Absalom against the king's command, he would have put his own life in danger. He also understands Joab well enough to know that Joab might not defend him afterward. Joab might even turn against him.
"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."
(2 Samuel 18:14)
Joab says he cannot "tarry," meaning he will not delay or wait any longer. Then he takes three darts in his hand. Darts here are weapons like spears or javelins. Joab thrusts them through the heart of Absalom while Absalom is still alive in the oak. This is direct disobedience to David's command. Joab may believe he is ending the rebellion, but he is not dealing gently with Absalom. He is doing what the king told him not to do.
"And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him."
(2 Samuel 18:15)
Ten young men who carried Joab's armour gathered around, struck, and killed Absalom. Absalom does not die on a throne. He dies hanging helpless in a tree, struck down by Joab and his men. He was guilty, but he was still David's son. The battle is being won, but David's heart is about to be broken.
"And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people."
(2 Samuel 18:16)
The trumpet was used as a signal in battle. This sound tells the people to stop pursuing. Joab holds back the army because Absalom is dead. The head of the rebellion has fallen, and there is no need for more killing.
"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."
(2 Samuel 18:17)
Absalom's body is taken and thrown into a great pit in the wood. Then they lay a very great heap of stones over him. Under the law, a stubborn and rebellious son could be stoned. Absalom had been exactly that kind of son in spirit, proud, violent, unrepentant, and determined to overthrow his father. Then all Israel flees every man to his tent. The crowd disappears. That is another lesson. The same people who shouted for Absalom do not stay to honor him. Popularity can vanish quickly when judgment falls. This is not an honorable burial for a prince. This is a burial of shame. The man who tried to raise himself high is now cast low into a pit. The people who followed him now flee every man to his tent.
"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."
(2 Samuel 18:18)
Absalom had built a pillar, a monument, while he was alive. The king's dale means the king's valley. Absalom wanted his name remembered. That was the burden of his heart, his name, his place, his legacy, his image. He had no son to keep his name in remembrance, so he built a monument and called it after himself. But here is the sad thing about that. Absalom built a pillar to preserve his honor, but God preserved his story as a warning. The monument says, "Remember my name." The Scripture says, "Remember what pride did to him." That causes me to examine myself. Am I building something for God's glory, or am I just trying to keep my own name alive? David was not perfect, but David wanted the LORD's presence, the LORD's mercy, the LORD's will, and the LORD's house. Absalom wanted Absalom's place.