David Escapes From Jerusalem
June 29, 2022
Commentary
A messenger told David that everyone in Israel is following Absalom (v. 13). David was in Jerusalem when he heard this and he told all of his officials that they need to leave quickly or none of them will be able to escape from Absalom (vv. 14-15). David left ten of his wives behind to take care of the palace but the rest of his family, officials, and soldiers went with him and stopped at the last house at the edge of the city (vv. 16-17). David watched all 600 of his troops and their commander Ittai, march past (v. 18). David stops Ittai and asks him not to leave with them, but to go back and join the new king (vv. 19-20)!” Ittai says he will stay with him no matter if it costs him his life (v. 21).
David crosses over the Brook Kidron with Attai with all his men (v. 22). While the country was weeping all the people crossed over and went on their way toward the wilderness (v. 23). Zadok and all the Levites came carrying the Ark of the Covenant and set it down while Abiathar (the priest) came up (and officiated) until all the people finished passing the city (v. 24). Then the king told Zadok to take the Ark back to its rightful place in Jerusalem (v. 25). David says, “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 I have no delight in you let Him do to me as it seems good to Him” (v. 26). David asks Zadok if he plans to return to Jerusalem (as priest) with his two sons (v. 27). He says he will wait at the river crossing until he hears from them (v. 28). Zadok and Abiathar take the sacred chest back into Jerusalem and stay there (v. 29). David went up on the Mount of Olives barefoot and crying to show his sorrow (v. 30). Someone tells David that Ahithophel is helping Absalom plot against him (v. 31).
He meets Hushai, the Archite, on the top of Mount of Olives at a place of worship (v. 32). David tells him to go back and tell Absalom that you will serve him, just as you served your father in the past” (vv. 33-34). If you do that you can help me ruin Ahithophel’s plans. You can tell Zadok and Abiathar everything you hear and they can send their sons to tell me what you have heard” (vv. 35-36). Hushai sneaks back into Jerusalem just about the same time Absalom is coming in (v. 37).
Application
David took no revenge on any rebel faction. I want to let the Lord fight my battles!
2 Samuel 15:13– 37 (NET)
13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!” 14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come on! Let’s escape! Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring disaster on us and kill the city’s residents with the sword.” 15 The king’s servants replied to the king, “We will do whatever our lord the king decides.”
16 So the king and all the members of his royal court set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines to attend to the palace. 17 The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing at a spot some distance away. 18 All his servants were leaving with him, along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—some 600 men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with the king.
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country. 20 It seems as if you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men with you. May genuine loyal love protect you!”
21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means death or life, there I will be as well!” 22 So David said to Ittai, “Come along then.” So Ittai the Gittite went along, accompanied by all his men and all the dependents who were with him.
23 All the land was weeping loudly as all these people were leaving. As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving on the road that leads to the desert. 24 Zadok and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s sight he will bring me back and enable me to see both it and his dwelling place again. 26 However, if he should say, ‘I do not take pleasure in you,’ then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate.”
27 The king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar. 28 Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you reaches me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.
30 As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O Lord.”
32 When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you leave with me you will be a burden to me. 34 But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king! Previously I was your father’s servant, and now I will be your servant.’ 35 Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Everything you hear in the king’s palace you must tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear.”
37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.