2 Samuel 15:1. How long has Absalom had to get bitter enough to rebel against his father?
Two years passed between the rape and the murder of the rapist(13:23).
Three years he stayed an exile in Geshur (13:38).
Two years he lived in Jerusalem without being allowed to see the king (14:28)
14:27 tells us of his daughter Tamar, “a woman”. If she was born after the rape of his sister Tamar, then when 15:1 talks of “after this” , it could mean as many as 10-15 additional years.
15:7 even mentions “forty years”, though some manuscripts say “four.”
The point: Bitterness and rebellion are the product of many years, much twisted thinking, and an evil heart, such as we all have. We are warned to guard our hearts, and this is one area which needs daily work!
2 Samuel 18:19-23. How is it that Joab objected to Ahimaaz, son of the High Priest, bringing the news of Absalom’s death to David, but allowed a “Cushite”?
Speculation, since we are not given the reason. But commentators do seem to agree that the news was dangerous and had to be entrusted to one who was expendable. It is insensitive to speak so, but how else can we see it? The Cushite was, we are told, probably an Ethiopian slave. If David decided to react, as he often did, Joab, who is always careful and calculating, believes it best to let him react against a slave rather than the son of the high priest. We recall the other times David was informed of the death of someone he loved. Instant death was the payment for that announcement.
2 Samuel 19:13. Why does David here turn against Joab?
Finally David has had enough of Joab’s ways. Murder, insults. Time for a change. As commentator Benson says:
“He solemnly promises to prefer him to the highest command in the kingdom; for he now thought it a fit time to depress Joab, who was grown insufferably insolent and imperious, and who, through his credit with the army, had protected himself in the commission of the greatest crimes. He had slain Abner most perfidiously in cold blood, and killed Absalom contrary to the king’s express command, and now lately had insulted him in his sorrow. Having, therefore, now an opportunity of transferring the command to another person, who had as great an interest in the people’s favour as Joab, he gladly embraces it, that so he might both chastise Joab for his faults, and rescue himself from the bondage in which that general had hitherto held him.
“Some, however, have thought that, considering Joab’s very faithful services to David in all the changes of his fortune, and that his violent measures proceeded in part from a regard to him, as judging them necessary for his safety and tranquility, David’s conduct in this instance, in making Amasa captain of the host in Joab’s room, is not an amiable trait in his character, and was not a prudent step at this time, especially considering Joab’s violent temper: and, it must be acknowledged, it brought on the murder of Amasa.”
2 Samuel 19:29. Why does David tell Mephibosheth to divide the land with Ziba? Does David know who is the guilty one?
There seems to be general agreement among those who have studied this case that David is here restoring things to their original status: Ziba will help Mephibosheth and thus share equally in his blessings. Much is coming to David on his return trip, so this could have been a temporary measure until he could study it further.
David probably knew what was going on, but wants to reserve final judgment about Ziba’s intrigue. Surely if it is as it appears, that Ziba told the king a bald-faced lie, David could well consider capital punishment, as he has done with several others.
2 Samuel 20:1. How could Israel so quickly abandon David and go after a “worthless” man?
At first this episode seems unreal. But ever burning in the heart of some Benjaminites, as was Sheba, was the hope of the return of the Kingdom to its original leader, Saul.
Things were still in chaos. David’s son had scored a military coup. It seemed that Israel was up for grabs. And grab it, Judah did first. Judah’s assumption that David belonged to itself further incensed the tribes of the North.
So before the dust could settle, before anyone could take a deep breath and feel that “normalcy” had set in, here comes yet another claimant to the Throne.
2 Samuel 20:16. What was a “wise woman”, as here and the woman of Tekoa etc.
The Bible speaks of women who were wise, as Abigail. It also gives descriptions for a perfect woman and wife. But there is another class alluded to here. It seems that certain villages had women in them who were looked to for leadership in the area of wisdom. The woman of Tekoa and this woman who delivered Sheba to David had leadership qualities of speaking and acting properly in the face of difficult situations that arose in town. Thus the people looked to her when needing such guidance.
2 Samuel 21:1-9. How do you account for the severity of David’s actions here?
It is a serious thing to break a covenant that God Himself has witnessed and approved. The Lord had overseen the pact between Gibeon and Joshua. Though it was made in deception on the part of the Gibeonites, it was to be honored by Israel, to show the seriousness of promises made by the people of God.
David honored Saul and spared some of his descendants because of other oaths, but he immediately saw the justice in the request of Gibeon.
2 Samuel 21:10. Why did Rizpah perform these actions?
She knew it was a disgrace for a corpse to be eaten by vultures and such. Yet, the pagan custom that had not been done away demanded that the bodies stay outside until the rain came, proving that God was now appeased.
2 Samuel 22:20-25. Was this song made before the Bathsheba incident? How do you account for the sinlessness David proclaims here?
The statement is made that this Psalm (for it is nearly identical with Psalm 18) was written after David had won major victories over his enemies and had raised Israel to a place of power and glory. So yes, this was all before Bathsheba and the deterioration of his family.
David sees a totally different side of God here. God is His warring partner, His victory. God likes David because David likes God. A warm and happy friendship, a zeal for the Lord of hosts. Not sinless perfection, but a wholesome advance of the will of God on earth.
Then comes sin, and Psalm 53. Against You, You only, have I sinned, says the other David to his newly discovered God, the one who has mercy on fallen men, and carries out His program in spite of us, rather than because of us.
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