September 17, 2025
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Reading along with us in 2 Samuel and Acts? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Samuel 18 (NIV)
1 David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent out his troops, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite.……Continue Reading
These chapters are hard to read. Absalom became so full of anger and bitterness starting at the rape of his sister. That revenge has completely overcome him. David also was furious about the rape. But in Absalom eyes didn’t do enough. Hard to understand his resentment towards his own father. The king. So much to want to not only take his place as king but to kill his own father. Can hate. Anger and bitterness actually bring us that far?? Yup. Just watch the news
Joab did both the right and wrong thing by killing Absalom. Obviously for the safety of David and Israel, Absalom’s death was a smart choice. He was an evil person with no good intentions for the people and especially not for his father, David. However, Joab was told not to kill him and therefore he disobeyed his king’s order. David trusted God to put things right like he did with Saul.
David grieves for his son, a son who was full of evil, but still his son whom he loved. He wished for his own death in the place of Absalom. This scene certainly reminds us how God mourns for us when we choose evil over Him and so He made a way, He sent Jesus to die in our place. We just need to believe and accept the most priceless of gifts, for nothing we did, can do, or even deserve.
2 Samuel 17 & 18
2 Samuel 18; Isaiah 33
2 Samuel 18
Even in this dark time, David shows himself to be an apt and brave military commander. And although it is good that he desires to show Absalom mercy, it is probably best that he die in the battle that he brought against his father. He was so full of pride that it blinded him to the right course of action for his life. It is also interesting that he gets killed because the very thing that was noteworthy for him, his hair, gets caught in a tree. I also couldn’t help but think of David’s mourning, where was all this concern for Absalom when you let him sit for 2 years (and even longer) without going to him. I imagine there is a measure of regret over his decisions in his tears for Absalom. Often great men have some area that is off in their lives. It is so important to have all aspects of our lives operating under God’s direction and power.
2 Samuel 17-18
2 Samuel 18
Absolom’s beautiful head of hair is what destroys him in the end. And King David’s men do what they want instead of listening to their leaders. At this point, there is no loyalty or obedience to the ones who are in charge. There is such a mixture of raw emotion here causing everyone to act foolishly rather than taking the time to calm down before responding to what is happening around them. And King David mourns deeply for the loss of his son amongst the conflict and confusion that surrounds him as a result of poor decision making and a past, grievous sin.
Absalom dies, sadly and yet poetically. He is hung up in his own beautiful hair. His prideful character is demonstrated by his actions, as we have seen in these chapters, but also symbolized by his idol to himself .
”Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.“
II Samuel 18:18 NKJV
When it says “to this day” about anything, I wonder if it is still there.