Absalom's Fall

INTRO

Hushai and Ahithophel gave David different advice. When David didn’t take Ahithophel’s advice, Ahithophel hung himself. David’s son, Absalom, decided to chase after David across the Jordan. While on the run, David gained some support.

TEACHING

2 Samuel 18:1–3: In chapter 18, Joab becomes the dominant personality. Something had happened to David. After, the sin of Bathsheba, David became passive. It doesn’t appear that he was walking out what his strengths normally were. Yet, he was a man after God’s own heart. As David reviewed his troops, he broke them into thirds. One third was placed under the command of Joab, one third was placed under the command of Joab’s brother Abishai, and the last third was placed under the command of Ittai. David expressed his intention to march out with the army, but the people begged him to stay behind to protect the city (vv. 2-3).

2 Samuel 18:4–5: David did as the people requested and encouraged the army as they went out. But David instructed Joab to take it easy on Absalom even though Absalom was the one behind the whole problem. And the army heard him!

2 Samuel 18:6–8: We don’t know exactly where the forest of Ephraim was, but it was a dense forest where David’s army marched out to encounter Israel’s army that was under the command of Absalom. Absalom was out to kill his father, but his army was soundly defeated by David’s army. The forest was so treacherous it claimed more lives than the sword in this battle. That had to be the Lord’s hand!

2 Samuel 18:9: Absalom found himself dangling with his head caught in a tree. Nelson’s Commentary outlined six characteristics of Absalom:¹

1. Appearance—“No man in all Israel was as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. When he shaved his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy for him that he had to shave it off—he would weigh the hair from his head and it would be five pounds according to the royal standard” (2 Samuel 14:25-26). No one else in Scripture was ever described as flawless like Absalom was! Ironically, Absalom’s hair probably got him stuck in the tree because he had not shaved it yet.
2. Affluence—Absalom was the son of a king, so he most likely owned his own palace at Baal Hazor. At the same time, Absalom employed sheep shearers.
3. Advantage—Absalom was in line as David’s heir to the throne and had David’s heart. David truly loved him. Even after Absalom killed Amnon, David mourned that Absalom was absent for three years.
4. Anger—Absalom took revenge on Amnon when Amnon raped his sister, Tamar.
5. Ambition—After two years of exile, Absalom began building a base of power without David knowing about it. He built a rebellion to get rid of David.
6. Anguish—His army was defeated by David’s army, and he found himself stuck in a tree, hanging by his hair.

Absalom didn’t have to go this route. He was next in line for the throne! But when you don’t wait on the Lord’s timing, things don’t always turn out well for you.

2 Samuel 18:10–15: One of David’s men happened upon Absalom hanging in a tree and reported it to Joab. Joab wondered why the soldier didn’t strike him down, but the soldier remembered David’s exhortation that they were not to harm Absalom. Here, Joab stepped out of line. David wanted his commanders to be gentle to Absalom, but Joab took the first opportunity he had to kill him. Once Absalom was taken care of, the war would be ended, so Joab didn’t want to mess around. Absalom died while hanging in a tree, which meant he died under a curse (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). Absalom didn’t die on a tree because his enemies hung him there. It seems as though God orchestrated these events.

2 Samuel 18:16–17: Joab blew a horn to call off the attack. Since Absalom was dead, Joab knew the war was over. Even though he had been the king’s son, Absalom’s body was thrown into a pit. They piled stones on his body, which is a picture of stoning. In Old Testament law, rebellious sons were supposed to be executed by stoning. Absalom was the ultimate rebellious son.

2 Samuel 18:18-23: Two men wanted to run to tell the king the news about Absalom’s death: Ahimaaz and the Cushite, who was probably an Ethiopian. In their minds, they were running to deliver the good news to the king that Absalom was dead and no longer a threat to the king. The Cushite chose a direct route through rugged terrain to get to the king. He was probably an experienced herald and a trained runner. Ahimaaz had taken messages to David before in Jerusalem and may have known the terrain better because he took a less direct route, but arrived first.

2 Samuel 18:24–33: David expected good news based on the fact that each of the runners were running alone. Ahimaaz arrived first and reported victory for David’s army, but did not tell him about Absalom’s fate. Ahimaaz might have had good intentions, but he didn’t deliver the whole truth. He froze and didn’t deliver the good news about David’s rebellious son dying. David asked the Cushite about Absalom and the Cushite did not cushion the news about Absalom’s death. The Cushite wished the same fate on every one of David’s enemies. But David was still distraught at the news of Absalom’s death.

CLOSING

David seemed to hope to the very end that Absalom would turn around. David loved his son in a way that reminds us of how God the Father truly loves us. David was ready to do whatever it took to draw his son back to him just as God the Father sent Jesus to bring us back to Him. Because of the death of Christ, we can embrace the good news that the Son has died because the Son came back to life.

First John 4:10 says, “Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” God loves everyone in the world this way. John 3:16 says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” God’s plan always came back to His Son. Romans 8:3 says, “What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering.”

Jesus, He died for us. That is the greatest news you will ever hear. The best part is, He came back to life. Because He came back to life, we can have life as well