Daily Bible Reading “David Learns of Absalom’s Fate” (2 Samuel 18:16-33)

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David Learns of Absalom’s Fate

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 18:16-33. In this Scripture King David learns of his son, Absalom’s fate. Joab sounded the trumpet for the battle to end and the troops stopped pursuing Israel.

They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the woods and put a big pile of rocks on top of him. All the Israelites fled to their tents.

During his lifetime Absalom erected a pillar in the Kidron Valley as a monument to himself, since he didn’t have a son to carry on his name. He named the pillar after himself. It is still called Absalom’s Monument to this day.

Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, asked if he could run and take the news to the king that the LORD had vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies.

Joab told him that he wasn’t the one to take the news that day. Joab told him that he could take the news another time, but not that day, because the king’s son was dead.

Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab and ran off to do as he was instructed.

Ahimaaz again said to Joab, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.” But Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.”

He said, “Come what may, I want to run.” Joab told him to go ahead and go. Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and ran so fast he outran the Cushite.

David was sitting between the inner and outer gates. The watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. He saw a man running alone.

The watchman called out to King David and reported what he saw. The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” Then, the watchman saw another runner, and he called down to the gatekeeper telling him that there was another man who was also running by himself. The king said, “He must be bringing good news, too.”

The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first man runs like Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He’s a good man.” “He’s bringing good news.” King David was hoping that the men were bringing good news.

Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down before the king and said, “Praise the LORD your God! He has delivered up those who lifted their hands against the king.”

The king asked, “Is Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a great confusion as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was.”

The king replied, “Stand aside and wait here.” The man did as the king requested. When the Cushite arrived, he said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.”

The king asked the Cushite, “Is Absalom safe?” David’s main concern was the well-being of his son, Absalom. The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”

When the king realized that Absalom had been killed he was visibly shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway weeping. As he went up, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I could have died instead of you. O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Can you imagine the grief King David must have felt when he found out His son, Absalom, was dead? Do you remember how you felt when you found out about a loved ones death? What are some of the emotions the king must have felt? Where can we find comfort in times of trouble?

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 18:16-33

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.
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.
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!

Things to think about:

What did Joab and his men do with Absalom?
Why did Absalom build a monument to himself?
Where is Absalom’s monument located?
Who was sent to give the king the news of his son’s death?
What was King David’s response when he realized his son was dead?

Prayer of the Day:

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel and learn of Absalom’s fate we see that King David was distraught. Help us when we go through times of grief in our lives to turn to You for comfort. You are the great comforter. Help us to have compassion for others who have lost loved ones. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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Daily Bible Reading “Absalom Seeks Revenge” (2 Samuel 13:19-39)

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

Absalom Seeks Revenge

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 13:19-39. Tamar was so upset about what her brother Ammon did she put ashes on her head and tore her multicolored garment. She put her head in her hands and cried.

Her brother Absalom saw her distress and asked if her brother Ammon had been with her. He advised her to hold her peace because Ammon was her brother. So Tamar remained in desolation at her brother Absalom’s house.

When King David heard what happened he was angry. Absalom didn’t speak to his brother from that day forward. He was angry with Ammon for forcing himself on his sister.

Two years later, Absalom and his sheep shearers were in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim. Absalom went to the king and invited the king, his servants and all the king’s sons to join them.

The king didn’t think it necessary for him and all his servants to join Absalom, because they would be burdensome to him. But the king gave Absalom his blessings.

Absalom insisted that the king allow his sons to join him and his sheep shearers. The king finally gave in and allowed his sons to go with Absalom.

Absalom instructed his servants to wait until Ammon was drunk on wine and when he told them to they were to kill him. Absalom’s servants did as he requested and killed Ammon.

When the other brothers saw what happened they got on their donkeys and left. They may have feared for their life as well.

The king heard that Absalom had killed all of his sons. He was so upset he laid on the ground and he and his servants tore their clothes.

Jonadab came and told David not all of his sons were killed, only Ammon. He also told David that Absalom had it in his heart to do away with Ammon ever since he took advantage of his sister, Tamar.

Absolom fled and the man who kept watch saw many people coming behind him.

Jonadab told the king that his sons were coming home and as soon as he got done telling him they arrived. The king, his sons, and his servants were distraught over Ammon’s death. They all shed tears of grief.

Absalom fled. He went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, who was the king of Geshur. Absalom stayed in Geshur for three years.

His father, King David, mourned for his son every day. After three years David was comforted concerning his son Ammon, who was dead, but David longed to go to Absalom.

This is one of those tough family situations that went from bad to worse. David’s heart had to be grieved. His family was torn apart by all these incidents. His children turned on one another. Ammon violated his daughter, Tamar and Absalom killed his brother, Ammon. Can you imagine how broken David’s heart must have been?

I’m sure David never imagined that anything like this would take place in his family. Sometimes the people we love the most and are closest to hurt us the worse. Have you ever had tough situations in your family that broke your heart? Maybe you haven’t had anything to this extent or maybe you have. Either way when our heart is broken all we can do is turn to God for comfort.

As you’ve probably heard it said a million times “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” This is a perfect example of that statement. Absalom let his anger get the best of him. It is understandable that he would be angry and upset in this situation, but taking his brother’s life didn’t help the situation any. It only made the situation worse than it already was.

Romans 12:19 tells us, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 13:19-39

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

Things to think about:

What did Absalom tell Tamar to do about what Ammon did to her?
How did Absalom plan to get revenge on Ammon?
Did his plan work?
How did Absalom’s revenge affect his family?
Who should we turn to when life gets too hard to handle?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we study this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see the turmoil that took place in King David’s family. We can see that his heart was broken over these circumstances in his family. Thank God he had You to turn to in his time of trouble. David loved You and You loved him. Help us to turn to You for the comfort we need when life is tough. Help us to keep our emotions under control when life is out of our control. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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