Great Battles of the Bible

David, Absalom and God’s Judgment

By Michael K. Farrar

© God’s Breath Publications

 

We all know the famous story of David and Bathsheba, how David took another man’s wife and had her husband killed. We also know what God thought of this sinful action. In 2 Samuel 12:11-12 we hear what God’s Judgment would be on David. This scripture passage says, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

 

Part of this prophecy would be fulfilled later in 2 Samuel 16:22 where David’s son Absalom would sleep with ten of his concubines in full view of all of Israel. We also see this judgment come to fruition in a great battle between Absalom and his father, King David.

 

Absalom had a lifestyle and ambition that would not only bring discord to King David’s family but would also rock his kingdom. This was part of God’s judgment on David for his sin with Bathsheba. Rev. William S. Plumer tells us of some of Absalom’s techniques of manipulating people and because of his desire for power. He comments in an article about Absalom stating,

 

“His first aim was to secure popularity. He had some great advantages. There was not in all Israel a man to be so much praised for his beauty as Absalom. He had also a rising family, thus assuring the people of his permanent interest in Israel. He had also wealth and appeared in chariots with a splendid retinue. Thus many were dazzled. He also practiced the arts of demagogues; he fomented discontent; was loud in his professions of love to the people; complained of the absence or tardiness of justice; and courted the lowest of the people by kissing and flattering them. He pursued this course for a long time with untiring industry. He thus succeeded in stealing away the hearts of many of the people.”

 

Thus Absalom sought his father’s kingdom for himself and went about acquiring it in both a devious and contentious manner.

 

Finally after four years of manipulating the people of Israel and Judah Absalom made his move and David had to flee his kingdom. David took refuge from Absalom’s forces beyond the Jordan River. However, he took the precaution of instructing a servant, Hushai, to infiltrate Absalom’s court and subvert it. Hushai convinced Absalom to ignore Ahithophel’s advice to attack his David while he was on the run, and instead prepare his forces for a major attack. This gave David critical time to prepare his troops for the coming battle.

 

In 2 Samuel 18:1-5 we see David assigning commanders and laying out a battle plan for his vastly out-numbered forces. He grouped his army into thirds, each with a master commander. David planned to lead this army into battle but was convinced by his soldiers that he should remain with reinforcements and let the majority of the army battle Absalom’s forces. This would protect King David who was irreplaceable. King David gave specific instructions to his commanders to be merciful in the handling of Absalom in battle.

 

The army marched into the field to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. King David picked this battlefield for a reason. Absalom’s forces were superior in numbers and this battlefield would help David achieve victory.

 

The battle ensued and over 20,000 men lost their lives in the woods of Ephraim. We are told that while the battle was fierce, the forest and landscape took more lives of the enemy than King David’s army. This was because the thick woods hid crevasses, canyons and pits that men fell into and there were also wild animals that very likely attacked Absalom’s forces as well. Possibly God had a hand in the battle using the lay of the land and the creatures that inhabited it to assure a victory for King David.

 

During the battle Absalom was proudly riding his mule through the thick oak branches of the woods and became entangled. Whether his head was caught within the twisted tree limbs or his lovely locks of hair entangled themselves in the branches we don’t know for sure, but he was a prisoner of the trees. He was trapped as a lamb for the slaughter. Joab, one of David’s master commanders, violated David’s orders and grabbed three javelins and proceeded to pierce Absalom’s chest cavity with each one. Then ten of Joab’s armor-bearers finished the kill with their weapons. It is ironic that the number ten is mentioned here, for it is also the same number of King David’s concubines that Absalom violated in front of all of Israel. So Absalom’s body was removed from the tree and thrown into a disgraceful pit to rot.

 

King David’s victory over Absalom’s army re-established the foundation of his kingdom, but with it came the loss of his most treasured son. This was a deep blow to King David’s heart. David had paid the ultimate penalty for his sin as prophesied by God.

 

What can we learn from this battle that could be applied to our own lives?

 

First, we learn that we will reap what we sow. The battle between Absalom and David took place many years after God warned David of the discipline for his sin with Bathsheba. While David repented of his sin, he still had to suffer the consequences of disobedience. We know God is merciful and forgives us of our sins, but there are times that God allows us to face the payment for rebellious disobedient behavior. Galatians 6:7-10 verifies this fact when it says,

 

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

 

It could be said that in David’s sin with Bathsheba, he had grown weary and apathetic of doing good. He had become lazy and neglectful of his relationship with the Lord and let a temptation get the best of him. Let us never refrain from remaining steadfast in our commitment to the Lord and as Galatians states, seek to do good both in our behavior and to others.

 

The second thing we learn is that prideful selfish behavior will lead to our downfall. Absalom chose a lifestyle of selfishness seeking undeserved power and influence over others. He was prideful of his abilities and appearance and sought to gain for himself that which did not belong to him through devious and rebellious means. As Christians we are called to behavior better than this. Our role model is Christ Himself and this standard is stated in Philippians 2:5-8 where it says,

 

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!”

 

Finally, we also learn that God is intimately involved in our lives in numerous ways. He is not some old grandfather, rocking in His chair in Heaven, waiting for the universe to wind down. He sees all we do. He disciplines us when we disobey. He works in the lives of selfish men and women to bring just punishment if they fail to respond to His love and Word. He works in miraculous as well as natural means to accomplish His will for our life and for His Kingdom. He cares for us immensely but it is also important to Him that His holy will is respected and upheld. He will allow people to act selfishly if they choose to do so which may also lead to the downfall of others who might follow after them. His desire is for us to love Him and follow His direction. This assures our happiness and fulfillment as well as blessings that God wishes to bestow upon us.

 

Let us learn from the life of Absalom that egotistical selfish rebellion will have its just reward and we must steer clear of such actions of selfishness. Let us also learn from King David that God may allow us to suffer consequences for our disobedience. The best path by far is to stay close to the Lord and avoid sinful behavior that can lead to painful circumstances.

  

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands.”

2 John 6