116 - Absalom Tries to Steal the Crown
- Gwen Diaz
- Apr 26, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 20
April 26 - Nº 116 2 Samuel 14:25-26; 2 Samuel 15 – 17:23
Absalom was the most handsome man in all of Israel--and he knew it! He was especially proud of his long, thick hair. He was also very shrewd at getting whatever he wanted—and what he wanted was to be the king!
To impress people, he hired a chariot and horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. With this entourage, he would park outside the gate of the city and greet everyone who came by. If he noticed that someone was on the way in to see the king about a problem, he would ask, “What city are you from?” If they were from one of the northern tribes, he would say, “I understand your problem. It’s too bad the king doesn’t have time for you. If I were the king, I’d make sure you got justice.” Soon he had stolen the hearts of all the people from the northern tribes of Israel.
After four years in Jerusalem, Absalom went to Hebron pretending to fulfill a vow. He invited two hundred guests from Jerusalem who innocently accompanied him. They didn't realize that they were actually part of a plot that would make Absalom their new king. Included on the guest list was Ahithophel, David’s wisest counselor.
While he was in Hebron, Absalom sent secret messengers to all the northern tribes announcing that he would soon be made king. The northerners presumed that all the people from Jerusalem who had already gathered at Hebron were there to crown him, so they came, too. It didn't take long for Absalom to convince everyone in Hebron to serve him--including Ahithophel!
When David heard what was happening, he knew it was too late to stop his son. His life was in danger. He quickly gathered his family members and servants and fled from Jerusalem.
Almost everyone who was left in Jerusalem wept as David left the palace. Several hundred men joined him on his way out of town. Some Levites brought the Ark of God to accompany him. But David told them to return it to the tent where it belonged. “If I find favor in God’s eyes, He will bring me back to see it again,” he insisted.
When the king reached the top of the Mount of Olives, Hushai, one of his most faithful advisors, met him. David secretly talked him into joining Absalom’s camp as a spy. “Maybe you can frustrate him by convincing him not to follow Ahithophel’s wise advice. Plus, you can inform me about his strategies,” he suggested. Hushai agreed to become an undercover agent.
David was barely out of the palace when Absalom moved in. Ahithophel immediately asked for permission to take 12,000 men and chase after David while he was still weak and tired from his long journey out of town. He promised to kill only the king and bring everyone else back to serve Absalom. The proposal sounded good, but Absalom asked Hushai (David's undercover spy) for advice as well.
Hushai said, “Oh no! Don’t do that. You know your father and his men are fierce warriors. Right now, they are like wild bears robbed of their cubs. They will hide in caves and ambush you. Instead, you should gather a great army from all over Israel and personally lead them into battle. David won’t be able to escape such a massive army.”
Absalom liked Hushai’s advice, so he began to muster his troops. When Ahithophel heard that his wise counsel had been completely ignored, he knew Absalom would not be in the palace very long. He became so distraught that he went home and hanged himself.
Have you ever felt like the plans God has for your life are about to be ruined--and there is nothing you or anyone else can do about it?
Although things can seem very bleak at times, nothing and nobody can ever stop God from fulfilling His plans.
David was the king that God had anointed. Regardless of Absalom's popularity, David would remain the king until God chose to remove him.
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