The Book of II Samuel
Chapters 15-17
2 Sam 15:1-9 Absalom Seduces Israel
15:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
In the first part of chapter 15 David’s son Absalom took an interest in politics.
- He used the oldest political tricks in the book:
- He criticized the present administration and sought to create dissatisfaction.
- And told everyone that they would get what they wanted from him if he were king.
- So he seduced the people and stole their hearts, and gained a huge following.
- He then launched a conspiracy, that is a coup, and tried to overthrow his father.
- Learn to look beneath the historical details and see the spiritual principles at work:
- Learn to apply them to yourself
- Absalom as a type of Satan.
- The lust of the flesh:
- "But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him" (2 Sam. 14:25
- The lust of the eyes:
- "Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him," thus there was an appeal to "the lust of the eyes."
- The pride of life:
- He promised to further the temporal interests of all who had "a controversy," that is, of all who considered they had a grievance and were being hardly dealt with (1 John 2:16).
7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.KJV
2 Sam 15:10-16:14 Absalom Launches A Coup
15:10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counseller, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
- Note carefully that after Abasalom called Ahithophel, the conspiracy gained strength
- Ahithophel was key.
- Ahithophel is one of David’s 2 chief counselors.
- He is turning against David by going with Absalom.
We need to examine the 2 verses below to discover a fact:
2 Sam 11:3 3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? KJV
2 Sam 23:34 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite. KJV
- Conclusion: Bathsheba, whom David so grievously wronged, was the grand-daughter of Ahithophel;
- And Uriah, whom he so cruelly murdered, was his grandson by marriage!
15:13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
David Flees Jerusalem
15:14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
- David and his servants flee Jerusalem and quickly escape the city.
- David felt that to withstand Absalom would be to resist the Lord Himself; therefore, instead of strengthening his forces in Jerusalem and maintaining his ground, he flees.
- There are probably several thousand people who flee with David.
- These are people from the house of Judah and it is most everyone who was in Jerusalem.
- Now they are on the run:
- Nothing new for David since he was on the run from Saul for many years
- Types and Shadows:
- David as a type of Christ
- Represents the rejected king in this case
- The people were fickle in David's day, as they were fickle with the Lord Jesus.
- Triumphal entry vs. crucifixtion.
- Jesus entered the city in triumph. That day they hailed him as King of the Jews but 5 days later they were shouting "Crucify Him". and “We have no king but Caesar”.
15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
- Satan attempts to create dissatisfaction with the Lord’s government over our lives.
- Although Absalom had turned the nation against him, David’s close servants were faithful to him.
- His servants were ready to go with him, even when things were not going well.
- Absalom attracted the multitudes, but
- He possessed no attractions for those who were nearest to David.
- Satan’s baits have no attraction for those who are in communion with and finding their joy in the Lord.
16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
- David’s purpose in leaving behind the ten concubines was "to keep the house," that is, to maintain the palace in some order and cleanliness;
- But God’s design was to make good His own word: to fulfill the prophecy.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
- This “far off” means somewhere outside the city, not across the country.
- We know this because in the next few verses they come to the Mt. Of Olives.
18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
- Note that while all the nation of Israel turned against David, ALL these Gentile groups remained loyal to him.
19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
- Ittai was a Philistine leader from the city of Gath.
20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
- Notice that Ittai expressed a belief in Yahweh, the living God.
22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
- Ittai and the other gentiles in this group represent the Gentiles being admitted to the kingdom of God.
- There are many lessons in the Old Testament that show that God planned to bring the Gentiles into his grace and into his kingdom.
- Isaiah prophesied concerning the Messiah: “In him shall the Gentiles trust”.
- Today Gentiles take having access to God for granted.
- The common misconception is that everyone is a child of God.
- We should be amazed that in these last times, the grace of God was made available to Gentiles all over the world.
The words of Ittai remind me of what Ruth said. She also was a gentile.
Summary ofthe story of Ruth:
There was a famine in Judah during the time of the Judges. Naomi and her husband and 2 sons move from Judah to Moab. Here sons married Moabite women: Orpah and Ruth. Naomi’s husband and 2 sons die in Moab. Naomi moves back to Judah and starts to say goodbye to her 2 daughters-in-law:
Ruth 1:14-18
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. KJV
- Ruth the gentile was loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi, as Ittai the gentile was loyal to David.
- Ruth was David’s great grandmother through: Obed, Jesse, David
- So David had gentile blood in him.
Eph 3:3-6 The Mystery of The Gentiles
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. KJV
David Crosses The Kidron
15:23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
- Refer to map of old Jerusalem.
- See Kidron Valley and Mt. Of Olives
- The Kidron Valley and the Mt. of Olives are just east of Jerusalem and run north to south along the length of the city.
24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation <his dwelling place, the tabernacle that David built>:
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
- Imagine that you were being chased out of your own house by people who wanted to kill you. You are running for your life.
- The leader of the people who wants to kill you is someone from your own family such as your son.
- What would your attitude be?
- Would it be: “Let the Lord do to me as seems good to him”?
- This is that attitude that makes David “a man after my own heart”.
- What spiritual stuff do you need to have this kind of attitude?
- What is the secret sauce?
- It takes FAITH.
- It shows a lack of faith when we take matters into our own hands.
- It shows lack of respect for the sovereignty of God when we object to his purposes in our lives.
- We can question why but not challenge the Lord.
- Sometimes people question why God lets things happen to them.
- They say "Why me Lord?"
- "How could you let this happen to me?
- What I noticed this time through is that David is at his spiritual best when he is under severe trials.
- When David told Saul that he would face Goliath the giant, Saul said
- You’re just a mama’s boy.
- You sit around all day playing that harp.
- What are you going to do? Sing him to sleep? <paraphrased>
- But that was the occasion when David was bold for the Lord and exclaimed "That all this assembly may know that there is a God in Israel".
- David is in top form in this chapter.
- This is the low point of his life, but the Lord is working all things out for his good.
- The Christian life is not made up of all mountaintop experiences:
- Sometimes we go through the valley.
- David literally went through the valley: Kidron.
Psalm 23:4 A Psalm of David
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. KJV
- David never questions his salvation at these low points in his life.
- He is secure in his relationship with the Lord.
- The promise isn't that we will never go through the valley.
- The promise is that the Lord will be with us when we go through the valley.
- That should comfort us as David said in Psalm 23.
James 1:2-4 "It's All Joy"
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. KJV
Here's What James Is Saying:
- Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations?
- Then be happy,
- For when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.
- So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems.
- For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.
- Peter said to "think it not strange" (1 Peter 4:12) when we are called upon to pass through "the fiery trial."
- Not only did this revolt of Absalom’s provide an occasion for the manifestation of David’s subjection to the will of God,
- But it also served to make unmistakably evident who were for and who were against him.
- Prosperity is often a mixed blessing, and adversity is far from being an unmixed calamity.
Submitting To The Will Of God
- David is in complete submission to the will of God during this episode.
- He knew that his punishment was just.
- He was penitent and humble with his head covered.
- It takes faith to submit to the will of God.
- He doesn’t want to take the matter of the Ark into his own hands.
- The Ark belongs to God.
- David doesn’t want his punishment to come on those who are closest to him:
- "If therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way" (John 18:8).
- The Antitype should ever be in mind as we read the Old Testament Scriptures.
- David recognized that everything hinged upon the unmerited "favour" of the Lord.
James 4:13-15 "Lord Willing"
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. KJV
Rom 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. KJV
2 Samuel 15:27
15:27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
<start 5-1-04 lesson >
30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
- Some commentators believe that walking barefoot is a sign of mourning
- It was the custom to cover one’s head when weeping.
- Here David is a type of the rejected Christ the King.
- Whom shall I release to you? The King of the Jews?
- We have no king but Caesar!
An Amazing Type: The Crossing of the Kidron
Compare David's crossing of the Kidron to when the Lord Jesus crossed that same valley.
John 18:1 Jesus Crosses the Kidron On His Way To Gethsemene
18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. KJV
"Cedron" is the Greek spelling for Kidron. It refers to the same valley and stream that David crossed.
Mark 14:26-34 Jesus In the Garden
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. KJV
2 Samuel Chapter 15
15:31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
- Ahithophel is one of David’s top counselors and his friend.
- He has betrayed David and gone with Absalom.
Observe these points of comparison between David's ascent up the Mt. of Olives and the Lord's:
- David’s crossing of the Kidron (v. 23),
- His complete surrender of himself to the will of God (v. 26),
- His tears (v. 30),
- And now his praying, present one of the most remarkable types of our Lord’s sufferings to be found anywhere in the Old Testament.
- While observing the comparison, let us not forget the radical contrast:
- His own sins were the cause of David’s grief, but the sins of His people occasioned Christ’s tears.
32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount <mt of olives>, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
- Hushai was his other chief counselor besides Ahithophel.
33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
- When you’re down the way David was, what you need is a prayer and a friend.
- So David prayed to the Lord. v. 31.
- His prayer was short, but effective.
- The amazing thing here is that the Lord answered his prayer before he even prayed.
- That is, his friend Hushai met him as he ascended the summit of the Mt of Olives.
- Hushai is key in this whole section of chapters 15 through 17.
2 Samuel Chapter 16
16:1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
16:2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
3 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.
4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
- When you are under severe testing and trials, the smallest blessings become so precious.
- When we are under trial, we need to look for these blessings because they show us that God still loves us and is working all things for our good.
- Ziba was selfishly motivated.
- Ziba was a servant: Saul’s servant
- He was Saul’s chief steward and made sure that everyone in the king’s household had their needs met.
- A good servant can see when there is a need.
- He doesn’t just stand at the top of the mount and wave
- “God bless you”.
- God give me a servant’s heart.
- We should serve because of our love for the Lord, not to get over.
5 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.
- Shimei is a relative of the previous king: Saul.
6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
- David did not deserve this because he had not done any harm to anyone of Saul’s family.
- If fact Saul’s son Jonathan was his best friend
- David had extended great kindness to Jonathan’s son Miphebosheth.
- What else is wrong with Shimei’s statement?
- When a person is experiencing hardship, does it always mean that God’s judgement has come upon them for their sin?
- Does it mean they are cursed of God?
9 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.
10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
- David isn’t saying that Shimei is obeying a direct order from God.
- Shimei didn’t say within himself: “Ah, God has told me to go curse David, so I must obey God’s command and carry out his purpose”.
- What he’s saying is that the Lord has allowed this to come upon him as part of his punishment.
- Shimei is acting on his own. His own purpose is to strike back at David for his perceived wrongdoing against his family.
- But God is using what Shimei does to accomplish his own purpose.
- David shows an appreciation and understanding of God using free-will acts of his creatures to accomplish his purpose.
11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
13 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.
14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there. KJV
- We don’t need to repay evil for evil:
Luke 6:27-33
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. KJV
Rom 12:17-21
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. KJV
2 Samuel Chapter 17
17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
17:2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
17:3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.
7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
17:14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
This is similar to the case of Joseph in that the Lord used the free will actions of imperfect men to accomplish his will.
17:22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
- Ahithophel compared to Judas
- Betrays his Lord, then later hangs himself.
Matt 27:3-5 Judas Hangs Himself
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. KJV
- Every one who, after having backslidden or trespassed, has only turned again to the mercies and faithfulness of God. Even though the tokens of divine rebuke and chastisement be present on every side, even though every tongue may say ‘there is no help for him in God,’ such an one may remember David, and again say, ‘Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me: my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.’ Thus, even the sins and chastisements of God’s servants are made blessings in result to His people" (B. W. Newton).
Introduction | 2 Samuel 1-4 | 2 Samuel 5 | 2 Samuel 6 | 2 Samuel 7 | 2 Samuel 8 | 2 Samuel 9 | 2 Samuel 11 | 2 Samuel 12 | 2 Samuel 13-14 | 2 Samuel 15-17 | 2 Samuel 18-19 | 2 Samuel 20-21 | 2 Samuel 22 | 2 Samuel 23 | 2 Samuel 24