Thursday, April 5, 2012

2 Samuel 16

David is leaving Jerusalem when he meets with Ziba, servant of Mephibosheth (son of Jonathon and grandson of Saul). Ziba gives David's men food supplies (they managed Saul's household farm). Ziba tells David that Mephibosheth stayed in Jerusalem to try to regain the kingdom and reestablish Saul's dynasty. It seems that this makes David mad because he gives to Ziba all that Mephibosheth owns.

They encounter another relative of Saul who throws stones at David's caravan and curses him. David's men want to kill him but David allows this man to follow them and continue it. David's reasoning is that God told this man to curse David, so he has no right to stop it. Plus, as a relative of Saul, he has a bonafide reason to curse David.

Meanwhile, Absalom enters Jerusalem with the army. Hushai greets him as king, but Absalom is skeptical of his loyalties. Rather, Absalom listens to Ahithothel's advice to have sex with the 10 concubines that David left behind. We saw this with Abner having sex with Saul's concubines, but it is a move for power. The advisor says this move will be an insult beyond reconciliation and all Israel will support Absalom. It is also the fulfillment of Nathan's prediction that it will happen publicly because Absalom does it on the rooftop of the palace (I.e., where David first saw Bathsheba).

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