Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Do you remember Ziba, the servant of Saul that took charge of the land for Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son?  In 2 Samuel 16, he meets the fleeing king of Israel with food, wine, and transportation.  When asked where his master is, he tells that he is waiting in Jerusalem for the Kingdom of his grandfather to be returned to him.  David lets this ride.

Another man from the clan of Benjamin, Shimei, meets them along the road, but he does not have provisions.  He is cursing the King and his people as they pass.  Some of the men want to teach him a lesson, but David will not allow it.  He is running from a son who wants to kill him.  This man’s words are not a threat.

One of David’s own advisers is with Absalom and David has left another to help defeat the plans that Ahithophel comes up with.  Hushai must be careful at first to gain the confidence of the interloper.  Later, he will be of much more use to David than to his son.

Ahithophel has an idea in 2 Samuel 17 that they should go after King David and attack him while he is unprepared.  Hushai is called for and reminds Absalom of the kind of fighting that David perfected while running from Saul.  How he hid in caves and popped out where he was not expected.  He was used to running from other enemies and fighting for his life.

God blessed what Hushai said by having the young men around Absalom agree that it was good advice.  Two people who were loyal to David were dispatched to warn the fleeing Monarch.  They were forced to hide in a well to avoid the King’s son’s men.  Their friends were where Ahithophel had predicted, but moved immediately, in case the other advisor got his way.

Ahithophel was so upset because his advice was ignored that he apparently knew they were doomed and went home and took his own life.  Absalom sets out with the troops the next morning as advised and begins what turns out to be a fatal mistake.

In 2 Samuel 18, David is about to make one mistake and makes another one.  The first error was going with one of the three groups which he intended to do.  He was convinced not to be on the front lines with the soldiers.  He stayed behind in the walled city.  He then requests his men to not hurt Absalom.

As the battle ensues, the trees in the forest cause more casualties than the weapons.  The King’s son is one of them.  His long hair is caught in the branches of an oak tree.    Joab violates David’s request and kills the young man.  And now the King must be advised of his son’s death.

Two men run to tell the news to everyone in the city.  David is waiting and has a watchman on the wall.  They see the first one and then another messenger.  The first one tells that they have won.  When asked about Absalom he leads The King to believe that he does not know.  The second runner repeats the news of the first and adds that the King’s son is dead.  This leads to a huge mistake for David when he cries for his son and vocally wishes that he could have given his life for the boy.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger