SCRIPTURE: 2 SAMUEL 18
ABSALOM’S DEATH (vs. 1-18)
David mustered the men and divided them into three groups. First group was under the command of Joab. The second group under Abishai, Joab’s brother and the third group under Ittai, the Gittite. David wanted to march out with them but they wanted him to stay and give them suggestions from the city. As they marched out, David told Joab, Abishai and Ittai to be gentle with Absalom.
The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. David’s men defeated twenty thousand Israel’s men. Absalom was riding his mule. As the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair while the mule he was riding kept on going. When one of the man saw this, he told Joab. Joab told him to strike Absalom to the ground but he refused. So Joab took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. And ten of Joab’s armor bearer surrounded Absalom and struck him dead.
Then Joab sounded the trumpet and the troops stopped pursuing Israel for Joab had halted them. They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile ,all the Israelites fled to their homes.
During his lifetime, Absalom erected in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself called Absalom’s Monument.
DAVID MOURNS (vs. 19-33)
Ahimaaz wanted to deliver the news of victory to the king. But Joab told him not to send the news today because the king’s son is dead. Instead, Joab told a Cushite to deliver the news. But Ahimaaz insisted to go. When the Cushite reached the king, the king asked: “Is the young man Absalom safe?” The Cushite replied: ”
May the enemies of my Lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man” (v., 32). The king was shaken and he went up sweeping saying: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!” (v. 33)
THOUGHTS:
David and Joab had opposite thinking. David wanted love without justice while Joab wanted justice without love. Only Jesus Christ was able to satisfy love and justice at the same time. God did not spare His only son to fulfil both love and justice.
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