Absalom's Coup and David's Flight from Jerusalem

The chapter opens with a cold, deliberate picture: Absalom acquires a chariot and horses, with fifty men running ahead of him. This is not a son honoring his father. This is a man building a royal image, stage by stage, at the gate of the city where judgment is sought.

Absalom rises early each morning and stations himself beside the road to the gate. When a man with a legal suit approaches, Absalom calls out, asking what city he comes from. The man names his tribe. Then Absalom tells him his case is good and right—but no one from the king will hear it. He adds the hook: if only he were judge in the land, every man with a suit could come to him, and he would see justice done.

When a man bows to him, Absalom reaches out, takes hold of him, and kisses him. He does this to every Israelite who comes to the king for judgment. The text states plainly: by this method, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

After forty years, Absalom asks the king for permission to go to Hebron to pay a vow he claims to have made while living in Geshur in Syria. David tells him to go in peace. But Absalom has sent spies through all the tribes of Israel, instructing them that when they hear the trumpet sound, they are to proclaim, “Absalom is king in Hebron.” Two hundred men from Jerusalem go with him, invited in their simplicity, knowing nothing of the plot.

Absalom also sends for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s own counselor, from his city Giloh, while the sacrifices are being offered. The conspiracy grows strong, and the people with Absalom increase continually.

A messenger reaches David with the news: the hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom. David does not wait for a siege. He tells his servants to arise and flee, because there will be no escape from Absalom otherwise. He fears the city will be struck with the edge of the sword. The servants reply that they are ready to do whatever the king chooses.

David leaves Jerusalem with all his household, except for ten concubines left to keep the house. All his servants pass by him, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath. David stops at Beth-merhak and speaks to Ittai the Gittite, a foreigner and an exile, urging him to return to the king and to his own place. Ittai swears by the Lord and by the king’s life that wherever David goes, whether for death or for life, there he will be. David tells him to pass over, and Ittai crosses with all his men and their little ones.

The whole country weeps with a loud voice as the people cross the brook Kidron toward the wilderness. Zadok the priest and all the Levites come bearing the ark of the covenant of God. They set it down, and Abiathar goes up until all the people have passed out of the city. But David tells Zadok to carry the ark back into Jerusalem. If the Lord finds favor in David, He will bring him back to see both the ark and the Lord’s habitation. If the Lord says He has no delight in David, then David accepts whatever seems good to Him. David sends Zadok and Abiathar back with their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, to serve as his eyes and ears at the fords of the wilderness.

David goes up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he climbs, his head covered and his feet bare. All the people with him cover their heads and weep as they go. When David learns that Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom, he prays that the Lord will turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.

At the top of the ascent, where God was worshiped, Hushai the Archite meets David with his coat torn and earth on his head. David tells him that if he goes with David, he will be a burden. Instead, David sends Hushai back to the city to offer his service to Absalom, saying he will be the king’s servant as he was David’s servant. Hushai is to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel and relay whatever he hears from the king’s house to Zadok and Abiathar, who will send word through their sons. So Hushai, David’s friend, enters Jerusalem just as Absalom comes into the city.