After Amnon had raped his half-sister Tamar (II Samuel 13:10-14), David would not punish him (13:21), and so Absalom had put together a scheme and assassinated his brother Amnon (13:23-29). Then Absalom fled out of the country, and was gone for three years (13:37-38).

Joab, one of the chief commanders of David’s armies, saw that the king pined for his son Absalom; so he concocted a visual parable, recruiting a woman from Tekoa to play the part of a widow with two sons, one of whom had killed the other, as an indirect way of pleading for mercy for Absalom (II Samuel 14:2-4, 18-19). David quickly saw through this stratagem, yet he also found it persuasive and therefore had Absalom brought back to Jerusalem (14:21-24).

Yet even then, David was unwilling to have any communication with his son Absalom for two years (14:28). Absalom tried to get Joab to intercede for him again, but Joab would not respond (14:29). Absalom then had his retainers set fire to Joab’s barley field; and when Joab came to complain about it, Absalom explained that he did it just to get Joab’s attention, so that he would plead with David (14:31-32). And so Absalom eventually found forgiveness from his father (14:33).

Then Absalom devised his own scheme, taking four years to win the loyalty of many people in the kingdom, and then usurping his father’s throne (15:1-12). As David and his retainers were fleeing from Jerusalem, Ittai from Gath – a Philistine! – committed himself to service to David (15:19-22). This gives us a stark contrast: the newly-arrived foreigner expressing far more loyalty than the king’s own son.

* * * * *

How is it, O Lord, that the heirs of the kingdom so often find themselves in rebellion, marching toward the outer darkness, while foreigners come from east and west to sit at your table? Help us, O God! Teach us to be faithful to you in all things!

If you find these studies helpful, please Like, Subscribe, Comment, and Share. Thanks!