I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

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Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Samuel 18-19.

This is probably relatively unique to me, but I always assumed that the battle between David’s and Absalom’s men took place in the vicinity of the city where David took refuge.  However, David had fled across the Jordan river and took refuge in a city east of the Jordan.  The battle, on the other hand, took place in the forests of Ephraim, which were west of the Jordan river.  We learn here what was suggested by Absalom’s rejection of Ahithophel’s advice, Absalom had a terrible understanding of strategy and tactics.  First, there was no strategic gain to be had for Absalom in fighting David’s army.  Absalom needed to kill David, his father, in order to secure the throne.  As long as David was alive Absalom’s hold on the throne was tenuous. David could always raise another army.  Second, Absalom had the larger army, so fighting in the difficult terrain of the forest favored David’s army, which was more experienced from top to bottom.

After Joab had killed Absalom Ahimaaz, the son of one of King David’s key allies, wanted to take the news to David. Joab, knowing what David had done to the men who brought him news of King Saul’s death and of Ishbosheth’s death, did not want to send him. Instead, Joab sent an Ethiopian. Joab chose a foreigner because he expected David to have the messenger who brought him word of Absalom’s death killed. Nevertheless, Ahimaaz persisted in wanting to take the nes to David, so that Joab finally let him go. Joab probably thought that the Ethiopian, having left first, would get there first. However, Ahimaaz knew the countryside better and took a less direct, but easier route and got there first. However, Ahimaaz understood that David would not take the news of Absalom’s death well, so only told David that victory had been won and feigned ignorance as to Absalom’s fate. And her is a point to be noted, David did not have the Ethiopian messenger killed because, unlike the previous bearers’ of unwelcome news, the Ethiopian did not claim responsibility for the death.

Now we come to the aftermath of the rebellion. First, we once again see the complex between King David and Joab (and his brother). David goes into mourning over the death of Absalom, depressing his followers who wanted to celebrate their victory. Joab has to confront David and warn him that he had better let his followers know that he appraciates what they have done for him. Then when King David crosses back over the Jordan he is met by Shimei, who begs forgiveness for cursing David. Joab’s brother once more wants to kill Sjimei. And once more King David forbids him from doing so. And once more, King David expresses anger at both Joab and his brother over this, even though Joab is not involved in this scene.

Related to this, Mephibosheth also met King David as he crossed the Jordan. Mephibosheth had essentially been in mourning since David fled Jerusalem, lending credence to his claim that he had tried to join David in his flight but was unable to do so because Ziba did not have someone saddle a donkey for him. Yet, despite Ziba lying to him about Mephibosheth, King David is willing to allow him to keep at least part of the property he gave him when they fled Jerusalem.