David Flees Absalom II Samuel 16

II Samuel 16:13-14 "And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there."

v5 "And when king David came to Bahurim, behold thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

David is on the run from Absalom. I believe his first concern was to get his people to safety. No doubt, he is also praying and working out the why's of the situation. He may remember Absalom going to Geshur, the home of his mother, after he killed Amnon for raping his sister. Absalom must have built up a resentment for his father during this time and especially when David refused to see him after Joab went to get him from Geshur.

In this chapter, David and his people are on their journey to the wilderness. A man of Saul's family walks beside them on the opposite hill and cursed David. Some of David's men wanted to go take off his head but David told them to let him curse. It seems David may have thoughthe had it coming.

v9-10 "Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye son of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him. Curse David, Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?"

So, David appears to have lost the kingdom but it takes more to make a king than dwelling in the king's house. He is being cursed by one of Saul's family. He is also approached by one who is suppose to be looking after a crippled man. Ziba was the servant of Mephibosheth. Ziba lies that Mephibosheth has gone over to Absalom.

v3 "And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father."

David had already given Mephibosheth all the property back that was due him. Ziba had the story wrong for we will see soon that Mephibosheth is in bad shape when David got back to Jerusalem for he had not taken care of himself at all in David's absence. II Samuel 19:24.

Absalom now enters Jerusalem and sought advice from two advisers: Hushai and Ahithophel.

Absalom asked Hushai why he changed loyalty and he replied that he served whom the people chose. Ahithopel told him to have relations with David's concubines so that the people could see that David would not hate Absalom and thus win favor with the people.

v22 "So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel."

Needless to say, this was a shameful act and unnecessary. Absalom obviously had the favor of the people already for many followed him.

There is the situation: David is on the run with his people to the wilderness. Absalom is in the king's house and has already shamed it. This seems to be a very low point for David. The list of his problems after his sin with Bathsheba grows or is it as I suggested an attempt by Satan to break the Davidic Covenant.

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There baby conceived out of wedlock died

Amnon raped his sister

Absalom fled to Geshur

Absalom led a rebellion against David

David is hiding in the wilderness

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Psalm 51:1 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions."

Keywords: Old Old Story, Bible Study, Old Testament, Samuel, David, Absalom,Milton Southerland. David fled from Absalom.