Absalom’s Conspiracy

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 15:1-18. Soon after Absalom was pardoned by David, Absalom prepared chariots with horses and got fifty men to run with him.Absalom was about to make his moves.

Absalom got up early every day and stood outside the gates at the king’s palace. When someone came with a problem, he would greet them and tell them that the king didn’t have anyone to hear their problems. Then he told them if he was appointed judge then they would have someone to go to that would hear their problems and make judgment on them.

When the men tried to bow to Absalom, he’d take them by the hand and kiss them instead of allowing them to bow to him. By doing this Absalom stole the hearts of all the men of Israel. He was a great politician.

After forty years Absalom asked for the king’s permission to go to Hebron to pay his vows to the LORD. Absalom told the king that he had made a vow to the LORD while he was in Geshur that if the LORD let him return to Jerusalem he would serve Him. The king told Absalom to go in peace.

Absalom went to Hebron. He sent spies throughout Israel and told them as soon as they heard the trumpet sound they would know that he reigned in Hebron.

Absalom took two hundred men with him from Jerusalem, but they didn’t have any clue what he was up to.

Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city of Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. The conspiracy grew stronger and Abasalom’s following increased as well.

A messenger came to David and told him what was going on. So David told all his servants to get ready to go. They needed to leave before Absalom and his followers attacked them.

King David, his family and his servants left and went far away. The only ones who stayed behind were ten concubines who were left to take care of the house.

All of David’s servants and the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites, passed on before the king. There was a total of six hundred men which went with from Gath.

Have you ever had anybody in your life that you couldn’t trust? How did it make you feel to know that someone you cared about turned their back on you? How would you feel if you were David and your son had become your enemy? Do you find it hard sometimes to know who you can trust?

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 15:1-18

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

Things to think about:

How did Absalom win the trust of the people?
Why didn’t David have any clue what Absalom was up to?
What happened when David found out what Absalom was doing?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that Absalom conspired against David to try to win over the people of Israel. Help us to be alert and have discernment concerning those who are close to us. Help us to know when something isn’t going right. Help us to know who we can trust. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Trust in Jesus” – Third Day

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The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions is a Daily Bible Reading study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of Zechariah from the Old Testament of the Bible. Zechariah was a prophet during Old Testament times. He tells of eight dreams or visions he has where the LORD communicates with him.

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