David's Men & Absalom Battle II Samuel 18

II Samuel 18:7-8 "When the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country, and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured."

Absalom led the battle against David's servants. David divided his warriors into three groups and would have gone with them but the people would not hear of it. The three leaders were: Joab, Abishai his brother and Ittai the Gittite.

We know of Joab and Abishai but Ittai was a stranger and exile from his own land. David had asked him to return to Jerusalem when they fled because he was not required to fight being a stranger and not yet in the country long. Ittai declined to go and stated he would live or die with the king.

v5 "And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai saying Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom."

Absalom rode upon a mule through the forest of Mount Ephraim and his hair was caught in the branches of a great oak tree.

v16 "And a certain man saw it and told Joab and said, Behold I saw Absalom hanged in an oak."

Joab went to the place and found Absalom still alive and hanging by his hair. He then wondered to the man why he had not killed Absalom. The man reminded Joab of David's orders and made this statement.

v12 "And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying Beware that one touch the young man Absalom."

Joab did not take the warning but killed Absalom.

v14 "Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. v15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. v16 And they took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent."

The balance of the chapter is a story in its self. It is the story of two runners. One had a message the other did not. David is waiting at the gate for word of the battle and particularly Absalom. The first runner was at first denied to run but insisted but Joab said to go ahead an run but he did not have the message to tell David. He told David that all was well but David was concerned about Absalom and found out only when the second runner came that he was dead.

v33 "And the king was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept and as he went thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! I would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

So ends the rebellion of Absalom.

********************************************
Cost of David's sin with Bathsheba or the effort to break the Davidic Covenant by the Enemy.
-the child dies that was conceived by David and Bathsheba
-Amnon -David's first born raped Tamar his half-sister
-Absalom-brother of Tamar- killed Amnon
-Absalom fled
-Absalom came home
-Absalom rebells
-David lost Israel to Absalom
-Absalom killed
-David back in charge
********************************************

Psalm 51:5 "Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Keywords: Old Old Story, Bible Study, Old Testament, Samuel, David, Absalom, Joab, Ittai, Abishai, Milton Southerland. Absalom is killed by Joab and his men.