Joab slays Absalom

2 Samuel Chapter 18

David has run from Absalom and his troops and has stopped to mobilize his own troops. He placed one third under Joab, one third under Joab's brother Abishai and one third under Ittai the Gittite. King David wanted to fight alongside his troops, but his men objected because they knew the value of keeping David alive. He finally agreed and stood by the city gate as the troops passed by. He gave the command to his troop leaders that Absalom was to be dealt with gently.

The battle began in Ephraim and the Israelite troops were beaten down by David's men. There was a great slaughter and during the battle, Absalom was caught by his head in the thick branches of a great oak tree. One of Joabs's men reported Absalom dangling from the tree and Joab told him he would have rewarded him if he had killed Absalom. But the man said he had heard king David say not to harm Absalom and he would not betray his king. So Joab plunged three daggers into Absalom himself and killed him. Then Joab blew the trumpet and his men threw Absalom into a pit and piled stones over it. And the army of Israel fled to their homes. (During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in King's Valley because he had no son to carry his name.)

Zadok's son Ahimaaz wanted to run to king David to tell him that the Lord had saved him from Absalom. But Joab wouldn't let him go tell the king his son was dead. Instead, he sent a man from Cush to tell the king. But Ahimaaz begged to go also, and finally Joab agreed and Ahimaaz took a shortcut and beat out the man from Cush.

The King saw the messengers coming and Ahimaaz was recognized. He told the king that the Lord God had handed over the rebels who dared to stand against him. When David asked about Absalom, Ahimaaz did not give a straight answer. So David asked the messenger from Cush, who told him the Lord rescued the king from the rebels. David again asked about his son and the Cushite said, "May all of your enemies, both now and in the future, be as that young man is!" And David was overcome with emotion and went to his room and cried for his dead son.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: In this chapter David finally takes charge and does his duty as he had in former days. For a long while it seemed David was characterized by indecisiveness and moral paralysis. After all the things his rebellious son had done, David still mourned the death of his son. He also realized that he was, in part, responsible for his son's death. He was also upset that his officers had killed Absalom against his wishes. And he realized that it would have been kinder to deal with Absalom and his ego when he was younger.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Have you ever been asked to do something you know is very wrong? Hopefully, you took your time and considered your actions. The man who would not kill Absalom was very brave. He knew it was wrong because he heard king David tell his commanders not to harm Absalom. Yet Joab was his direct commander and could have slaughtered him too. At this point, I am confused as to why Joab took it upon himself to kill Absalom and betray his long time relationship with his king. Perhaps it had to do with selfishness and no sense of direction or guidance from God. Perhaps because he thought like a military man in terms of outcome. Because clearly Joab was a brilliant commander but not a believer in the God of Israel. I hope you are a believer. I pray that you are so staunch in your beliefs that if asked to do something wrong, you will know how to respond. Praise God!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Update on Lori: she sheds her back brace soon and can drive. She thanks God for healing her. Please continue to pray for her during recovery. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Update on Craig: he ended up having a stent put in and is back to work. Keep him and his family on your list for prayers. Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.