2 Samuel 18 The victory goes to the side with the shortest haircut!

2 Samuel 18

David organised his army into divisions to face Absalom, appointing commanders of tens, hundreds and thousands with Joab in overall command with 1/3 of the troops, with Joab's brother Abishai and Ittai the Gittite taking the other 2/3.

David wanted to lead the troops personally but his advisers said that if David was killed it would all be over, but their lives were of less interest to Absalom and his army. David made a request that Absalom be treated kindly.

The battle took place in a forest in the region of Ephraim, spreading out to cover a large area.
David's army routed Absalom and his army.

Absalom met his demise when he came across some of David's soldiers while riding on his donkey.
As he rode off at top speed his hair got caught in the low branches of an oak tree and the donkey did not stop, leaving Absalom dangling helpless by his hair.

The men in immediate pursuit reported that Absalom was hanging in a tree to Joab, who with 10 of his men killed Absalom - thus ending the rebellion and restoring David as king.

Amihaaz the son of the priest wanted to take the news to David , but Joab knows that David does not usually take the news of the death of his enemy well, after all he killed the messanger who told him that Saul was dead because he had helped him to die.

Joab sent a cushite to tell David the news that Absalom is dead and the rebellion is over, David is once more king.

David goes to pieces on hearing the news and mourns the death of his son to the extent that the army do not feel like they won a victory.

The death of Absalom confirms a theory that Arnold Rimmer proposed in Red Dwarf - Series 2 episode Emohawk - By Rob Grant and Doug Naylor
The whole exchange goes as follows - 

Rimmer: Would it harm you to have hair like mine?

The Cat: I have got hair like yours. Just not on my head.

Rimmer: Well, I'm no stranger to the land of scoff. Perhaps you'd like to explain to me why it is that every major battle in history has been won by the side with the shortest haircut.

Kryten: Oh, surely not, sir!

Rimmer: Think about it! Why did the US cavalry beat the Indian nation? Short back and sides versus girly-hippie locks. The Cavaliers and the Roundheads, 1-0 to the pudding-basins. Vietnam, crew-cuts both sides, no score draw.

Kryten: Oh, for a really world-class psychiatrist!

2 Samuel 17 Good and bad advice sometimes sound similar

2 Samuel 17

Absalom is in effect king in Jerusalem and has made an enemy of his father, David.
Ahithophel, one of David's chief advisers has defected to Absalom's side and gives him some very sound advice, namely take 12000 men and go hunt down David your father while he is weak and already fleeing. Once you kill the king everybody will come over to your side and the victory and kingdom will be yours.
Absalom and the elders liked this idea but Absalom asked for the view of Hushai.
Hushai was a spy planted by king David to undermine the sound advice of Ahithophel.

Hushai pointed out that David and his men are very experienced fighters, and the chances of capturing the king with his troops are very slim, David would in all probability be hiding in some cave or hiding place.
Any deaths of Absalom's forces would be viewed as defeat, so Hushai recommends that Absalom rally every man in Israel - from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south and with overwhelming force hunt down David and his band.
If David took refuge in a city, the army would be strong enough to level the city completely not leaving anything bigger than a stone.

Given these two pieces of advice, which would you take? - Absalom is delighted and much prefers Hushai's very bad advice which would wipe out many more people than just Absalom's target - his father the king.

Hushai sent word to the priests to pass on through their sons to David via a female servant. Unfortunately a male palace servant sees them and warns the palace. So Ahimaaz and Jonathan are forced to hide in a well in a safe house belonging to a guy called Bahurim. 
Bahurim's wife covered the well where the men were hiding and spread seed over the cover, and the searchers were totally unaware of the presence of a well let alone the men hiding in it. Telling the soldiers that the men had already crossed the ford and headed out.

David got the message and managed to make his escape in time.

Ahithophel seems to have taken the rejection of his plan very badly as he went home, put his affairs in order and hanged himself. (A sad end for a good advisor - though he had chosen the wrong side)

David and his men head to Manahaim, where the locals bring him and his men supplies of food 

Absalom had also appointed a replacement for Joab in command of the army - Amasa, whose father was an Ishmaelite and his mother a relative of Joab.

What makes me wonder here is that the advice of Ahithophel and Hushai are really quite similar go and search for and attack the king.
I don't want to draw parallels and certainly don't want to take a cheap shot at politicians - who am I kidding? That's exactly what I'm going to do!

You know how the political parties publish their fictional masterpieces Manifestos, trying to persuade us that they will actually A) Do what they say, and B) what they say does not harm the country and works in our best interests.
All the schemes of the parties sound like good advice and make a certain amount of sense (Apart from the fringe parties like the BNP, Monstor Raving Loony Party, UKIP etc), however in practise none of the parties will do as they say and if they do it will invariably backfire somewhere down the line.

2 Samuel 16 Saul's family reaction

2 Samuel 16

As king David is fleeing from Jerusalem and Absalom he meets up with Ziba who was a household servant to king Saul and now looks after Mephibosheth (Saul's lame Grandson).

Ziba is leading a string of donkeys, saddled and with provisions of food. These are for David and his followers lest they become weak in the wilderness.
Mephibosheth is staying behind in Jerusalem as he thinks that the Israelites will hand him the kingdom that was his grandfather's. (Some hope considering David has been king a while and Absalom is very popular)
This is treachery in David's eyes and Ziba is given outright the lands that belonged to the family of Saul.

As they march on another relative of king Saul meets David, a guy called Shimei who accuses David of being a man of violence while pelting him with stones!
David does not approve of retaliation for this insult "Perhaps the LORD told him to curse me" if so perhaps he will lift his curse and restore his blessings
Also David points out that his own flesh and blood is after him, why should not this relative of his former enemy do the same? After all he is basically powerless to do any real harm.

I do find it slightly ironic that Saul's relative should accuse David of violence and murder considering David spared Saul's life - twice, and composed a lament when he died.

Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem, Absalom questioned Hushai's loyalty, after all he was David's friend.
Hushai relied that he follows the one chosen , and if not David it will be Absalom.

Absalom also asked Ahithophel (one of David's trusted advisors) for his advice on what to do next.
Ahithophel told Absalom that he should sleep with all David's concubines - this would drive a big wedge into the relationship with David and proving how resolute Absalom is to annoy David would improve the resolve of the people.

Absalom then had intercourse with all of David's concubines in a tent on the roof of the palace.

2 Samuel 15 Absalom the Rebel

2 Samuel 15

Absalom bided his time in Jerusalem, but he was not idle. He had a chariot and 50 men to run before him.
He would get up early and sat by the city gate. Whenever anybody came with a complaint that they wanted the king to settle Absalom would ask where they were from, and say sadly that there was nobody available today in the palace to hear the case that obviously had merit, adding that if only he were appointed as judge by the king.

If anybody bowed down when they met Absalom, he would stop them from bowing and greeted them as equals and friends with a kiss.
Acting like this, Absalom managed to steal the hearts of the people in the space of 4 years.

At this stage Absalom asked David for permission to visit Hebron saying he made a vow while he was out of favour that if God bought him back to Jerusalem he would worship in Hebron.

David let Absalom go with his blessing - I don't think David would ever interfere if his son wanted to worship God.

However Absalom sent secret messengers through the land to declare Absalom as king in Hebron.
200 men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom, but his plan was not known to them.

When David and his people hear that Absalom had turned the people against David and declared himself king they fled Jerusalem lest Absalom take them captive and kill them.

One of David's friends was a man called Ittai the Gittite who had come from the land of the Philistines near Gath. David gave him the oppportunity to return to Gath or back to Jerusalem but he declined.

As they flee, the priests meet David with the Ark of the covenant and they offer sacrifices.
David urged the priests to go back to Jerusalem with the Ark - if God is with him, he will bring David back, if not then it does not matter. He also arranges to have spies within the city since the priests are loyal to David.
David also heard that one of his advisers Ahithophel had defected. David prayed that God would turn his advice into foolishness.

Another man met David as he fled, Hushai the Arkite met him. David also asked him to be a spy in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 14 Absalom returns

2 Samuel 14

I enjoy hearing about history , and I recall hearing the story of Thomas Becket while visiting Canterbury Cathedral on a school visit.
You may wonder why I am starting here - probably with some cause!

Here is the link - Thomas and Henry lost their relationship but they still, I believe, close friends.David and Absalom lost their relationship but were still father and Son.

Thomas Becket was archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Henry 2nd dying in 1170 - Thomas was born to middle class parents who gave him an education, and he was introduced as a clerk to the Royal court.
Eventually Thomas rose to become Lord Chancellor and was a very close friend of the king, enjoying the high life, good food, drink, and all the other things that the elite enjoyed.
Thomas had worked for a previous Archbishop and when the post became vacant Henry chose his friend for the post - probably hoping that Thomas would bring the church under his control.
Thomas had other views and as a result his relationship with the king deteriorated to the extent that they had to negotiate a handshake and a kiss of greeting.
Anyway it seems that an outburst of Henry was the cause of several knights heading to the cathedral in Canterbury and murdering Thomas in the church.

Absalom persuades Joab to arrange for his return from exile - Joab arranges this by getting a wise woman to visit David with a story about her 2 sons who had been in a field and had a fight one killing the other, and the community thought that her other son was a murderer and wanted to kill him, even though it would leave her destitute.

David gives her his assurance that her son will be protected and to send anybody who thought different to see him.

At which point she talked about Absalom.
David spotted the hand of Joab in this and Joab made an argument for Absalom.

David agrees that Absalom can return to Jerusalem, but he will not meet with him.

Absalom is regarded as very handsome and probably had amazing hair - he used to cut it once a year when it got too heavy, and he would weigh the hair cut off and it was about 5 kg (what a wierdo - who weighs their haircut??) but he appears to have been very popular.

For 2 years Absalom waited to see David - he eventually got frustrated and sent for Joab.
Joab refused to come, so Absalom told his servants to set Joab's field on fire!
This did get Joab to pay him a visit and Absalom demanded to see David if he has done anything wrong David could put him to death.

Eventually David and Absalom meet up again and they meet with David kissing Absalom in greeting.

As we will see tomorrow, Absalom leads a conspiracy against his father the king. 

Thomas Becket had not been very popular in life, but after he died they found that he wore sackcloth that was flea ridden under his posh robes, it did not take long before he became extremely famous. Becoming a saint in 1173 and his tomb became a site of pilgrimage for 400 years until it was destroyed in the reformation.

2 Samuel 13 Family trouble

2 Samuel 13

Nathan's prophesy did not take all that long to come true, David had a number of sons and daughters by several wives 

David's eldest son fell for his half sister Tamar. Tamar was one of at least 2 children David had by his wife Maacah, her brother was Absalom. From all accounts both brother and sister were quite attractive.

Amnon had an advisor, Jonadab, his cousin, the son of David's brother who was very shrewd.
He advised Amnon to pretend to be very ill and to ask David when he came to visit his sickbed for Tamar to bring him some food, as that might revive him.

Tamar, not suspecting went to her half brothers house and made him a meal while he watched. Amnon then sent everyone out and asked Tamar to come into his bedroom so she could help him eat.

When they were alone Amnon demanded that she come to bed with him.
Tamar resisted and implored Amnon not to do such a wicked thing, she would be disgraced. If Amnon asked the king, he would probably let them marry (though it was forbidden in the law) 

Amnon was stronger than Tamar and he raped her. At which point his feelings changed from lust to disgust and hate. He demanded that she get out of his house.
Tamar explained that this was worse than what he had already done, but Amnon told his servants to throw Tamar out of his house.
Tamar left weeping and having torn her clothes in despair. 
Absalom took Tamar into his house where she lived as a desolate woman.

When he heard what had happened, king David was furious, though he does not appear to have treated the matter seriously enough for Absalom.

Absalom refused to talk to Amnon neither good nor bad, but he hated his half brother.

Some 2 years later Absalom's shepherds were shearing his sheep at a place called Baal Hazor and he invited all the kings sons to a feast - he invited his father David and his retinue, but David declined as he thought that the court would put too great a strain on Absalom, but he gave his blessing.
Absalom asked then if Amnon could come in David's stead.
Absalom order his men when Amnon was in high spirits from the wine to strike Amnon down and kill him.

When the men struck, all David's other sons fled the scene as fast as they could ride, but news travelled even faster, and David got word that all his sons were dead.

At this point Jonadab puts in another appearance and tells the king that only Amnon is dead, and this was Absalom's plan all along to get revenge for Tamar's rape.
Shortly after the rest of David's sons arrive and they all mourn for Amnon 

Absalom fled the country following the murder and fled to Geshur where he stayed for 3 years.
During this time, David wanted to go to Absalom and reconcile and for consolation following Amnon's death.

This evening before writing this blog I was watching an episode of Death in Paradise, like so many crime dramas there are complicated family and friendships, but really they have nothing on this lot!.

2 Samuel 12 reality strikes

2 Samuel 12

God gave the prophet Nathan is given a rather tricky message to deliver to David.
The message starts with what is the first parable found in the Bible.

I guess parable may not be a word in common usage, it is really a story or illustration with a hidden deeper meaning, there is something about a story that has the power to break through prejudice and engage the listener, particularly if a lecture is unlikely to make the impact!

The story goes - there was a rich man and a poor man living as neighbours, the poor man and his family had virtually nothing of value apart from one ewe lamb. This lamb was their best hope for the future and they treasured it. The rich man was very rich possessing many sheep and cattle.

One day a guest came to stay with the rich man, but instead of killing one of his herd or flock to make a meal, he took the poor man's lamb.

On hearing this tale, David was outraged "the man who did this must die, paying for the lamb 4 times over since he was so pitiless 

Nathan then presses the message - "You are that man, God bought you to the position you now hold, giving you all of Israel and Judah, and if that had not been enough even more. Why did you do evil in God's eyes by striking down Uriah the Hittite - you killed him with the sword of the Ammonites, even if you did not wield it yourself.
Now the sword will not depart from your house, because you despised God and took Uriah's wife to be your own.

Trouble will come on David from within his own family, David bedded Bathsheba in secret at night, but one of his family would make a show of bedding David's wives and concubines in full daylight.

David was distraught - I have sinned against the Lord. 
In fact the full prayer of David is recorded in full in the book of Psalms (Psalm 51) 
Nathan assured David that God had forgiven David, and would not strike David down.
However the child conceived in an act of contempt of God would not live.

David and Bathsheba's son fell ill and David fasted and wept weeping so much that when the boy died a week later, they were afraid to tell David, but he guessed.
On hearing the news, David got up, washed and ate "While the boy lived, I fasted and wept because God could change his mind, but there is no point now, I will join him one day but he will not come back to me".

David comforted Bathsheba and they had another son, David and Bathsheba called him Solomon, God told Nathan that the boy should be called Jedidah (Which means loved by God). So the vengeful God that the likes of Richard Dawkins et al go banging on about actually shows particular love the brother of the boy who died having been conceived in an act of contempt for God.

Meanwhile Joab has been continuing the campaign against the Ammonites and has captured the water supply for their capital city Rabbah. Joab requests that David come with reinforcements otherwise he will take the city and name it after himself!

So David mobilised the whole army and attacked and captures Rabbah, taking the crown from the king - the crown weighed approximately 34 kg and was inset with jewels. 
34 kilos - that is so heavy that wearing this thing must have been really bad - the current imperial crown of the UK I am informed weighs just under 1 kg 

David and the army captures all the Ammonite towns effectively enslaving the people to manual labour and making bricks. 
The campaign over, the army went back to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11 David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11

Up till now, David seems to have been what could be termed "A nice enough bloke" - he had committed a few acts of excess violence, but usually in response to violence from others, but in this chapter he is immoral all on his own.

The chapter starts "In the spring, at the time kings go to war, David sent Joab and the army...........but David stayed in Jerusalem"
One evening David got up from his bed (had he been lazing all day I wonder?) and went for a walk on the roof of his palace. While there he caught sight of a beautiful woman having a bath.
He made enquiries and found out her identity, she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, who was a commander in David's army.
David sent for her and she came to him and they slept together. 

This might have been a moderately simple indiscretion and yet another royal affair, but Bathsheba got pregnant from the encounter.

David now has to face the music - Uriah could make a complaint to the priests accusing Bathsheba as an adulteress, which would have cost her life, and quite possibly David's life or at least reputation.

The first thing David tried was to get get Uriah to sleep with his wife, then they could claim the child was not David's.
David sent for Uriah on the pretext of asking how the army was getting on and suggesting that Uriah should go home and spend the night with his wife.
Uriah however spent the night sleeping in the gateway of the palace - leaving David frustrated and getting quite worried, His excuse was that the Ark of God, the army of Israel and his men are all sleeping in tents, he would not go home and enjoy being with his wife until the others could do the same.
Quite possibly had David employed a bit of military discipline when the army was deployed on his orders, things may have turned out differently

Next day David got Uriah drunk in the hopes he would go home and sleep with Bathsheba while he was insensible. Again he refused to do this.

Next morning David sent Uriah back to the army with a letter for Joab the commander that was Uriah's own death warrant.
David's letter instructed that Uriah should be placed in the thickest part of the battle, then those with him were to retreat unexpectedly - this would leave Uriah as an obvious and exposed target and his death was more or less inevitable and the result of treachery from his own men and commanders. 

David's plan worked, there were other casualties but Uriah was killed in action.
Joab sent David a message with an account of the battle- they came out to face us and we had to take cover in the city gate, archers from the walls opened fire on us.

Joab gave the messenger warning that David might hit the roof at the danger to his army and instructed the messenger to say that Uriah was among the victims.

David sent back to Joab saying basically you win some, you lose some (actually the sword devours one as well as another) and instructs him to capture and destroy the city.

After this David bought Bathsheba to be his wife, once she had a chance to mourn for David.

The chapter finishes with the words "But the thing David had done displeased the Lord"

Adultery, conspiracy to murder, deception and callous treachery - yep, I guess that would do it!

2 Samuel 10 A "Diplomatic incident"

2 Samuel 10

The king of the Ammonites one of Israel's neighbours, a guy called Nahash  has died and his son Hanun has succeeded him as king.

David and Nahash had been on good terms, so on hearing the news, David sent envoys to Hanun to offer his sympathy for the death of his father and to wish him well as king. The Ammonite commanders told Hanun that David was not really offering sympathy but rather spying the land ready for invasion.
So Hanun took the envoys, shaved half thier beards, cut their clothing to reveal their buttocks and sent them away, a really good way to make yourself unpopular!

When David heard this he told the men to stay in Jericho until their appearance was back to normal and they would avoid the worst of the humiliation.

The Ammonites, realising that they had burned some bridges as it were, decide that they need help and they hire 20,000 foot soldiers from the Aramean town of Beth Rehob and Zobah, the king of the Aramean town of Maakah and 1000 men, and 12,000 men from Tob - so their army strengthened by 33,000 mercenaries the Ammonites thought they were ready.

David meanwhile had sent Joab, his army commander to battle - the Ammonites and the Arameans formed separate battle lines both sides of the army of Joab and Israel ready to crush them in a pincer movement.
Joab gave half the army into the command of his brother Abishai.

Abishai attacked the Ammonites while Joab attacked the Arameans and each kept an eye on the other so that they could come to the rescue if things went wrong.
The Arameans fled before the attack of Joab, perhaps with their strategic advantage they expected Israel to dig in and go on the defensive rather than attack?

On seeing the Arameans run away (like brave Sir Robin from Monty Python) the Ammonites retreat back into their city.
Joab, having routed the enemy returned to Jerusalem.

Meanwhile the Arameans did not like to be routed and they came back with serious reinforcements and led by the war chief of the Arameans, Shobak.

When David heard he mustered all the fighting men in Israel and went to meet this force at a place called Helam.

The Israelites were again successful and routed the Arameans again killing about 1000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers as well as Shobak the commander of the army.

When the Vassal kings of the Arameans realised they had been defeated again they grew afraid and made peace with Israel, and they were too afraid to come to the aid of the Ammonites again. 

David appears to be a king of invests confidence in his ministers, but when the occasion requires it he will actually take charge.

All in all it seems a bit of a waste considering what triggered this conflict!

2 Samuel 9 David and Mephibosheth

2 Samuel 9

Now that David has peace in the land he has time to remember his friendship and promises to Saul and Jonathan so he makes enquiries if anybody is left from the family of Saul.

An old palace servant is found called Ziba, who told David that Jonathan had a son, Mephibisheth,  who is lame.
David sent for Mephibosheth who offered him his service. David restored the land of Saul to his family putting Ziba in charge while Jonathan's son would eat at David's table as a member of the family.
It is interesting that Mephibosheth had found a wife and had a son despite being crippled in both feet due to an accident.

Ziba (who had been busy) had 15 sons and 20 servants who were able to tend the land of Saul.

It is interesting that it is on account of Jonathan with whom David had a very close friendship and not Saul that David wanted to help the family of Saul. Though he asks Ziba, his sons, and servants to tend the land to support Saul's Grandson (rather than Jonathan's son) It would seem that Mephibosheth would be expected to contribute toward his upkeep at David's table.

You know what - I think I quite like David so far, he seems to be quite well rounded and his faith in God and his friendship with man are really quite central to his life. 
Ok there are some acts towards his enemies that in this day and age are rather barbaric, but really no more so than other ancient civilisations.

2 Samuel 8 Victories for David

2 Samuel 8

David appears to be a very able military commander and strategist, I'm sure I noted this before, but in the course of time David defeats all the hostile nations around Israel 
.

To the west David defeated and subdued the Philistines taking control of one of the town of Metheg Ammah.
To the south East David defeated the Moabites treating the captives to a brutal treatment - he made every person lie down and measured off with a length of cord - two lengths were killed while the third was allowed to live.

I honestly do not know what to make of this mass murder. I guess it was no worse than other nations did in history, but it makes me in the 21st century uneasy.
Little wonder the surviving Moabites bought David tribute!

He defeated a guy called Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah capturing 1000 chariots and 7000 charioteers along with 20000 foot soldiers.
David hamstrung all but 100 of the horses - the fate of the men is not mentioned 
When the Arameans to the North East of Israel came to the support of Hadadezer, David struck down 22,000 of their soldiers.
David put a garrison of Israelite troops in Damascus and the Arameans paid David tribute.

David also took loot and spoils, he took large gold shields from the men of Hadadezer, and a great quantity of bronze was taken from 2 other towns.

All this war actually bought David some allies - Tou, king of Hamath sent his son Joram to greet king David and congratulate him on his victory - Tou had been at war with Hadadezer for many years.
Joram bought articles of silver and gold which David dedicated to God.

Also to the south East of Israel, Edom also had a battle with David - David's fame in the international stage was cemented when he killed 18000 Edomites at the valley of salt. David also put garrisons in Edom and they paid him tribute.

The Bible records that David ruled Israel doing what was just and right for his people, he did not do this alone his administration had several important servants

Joab - commanded the army
Jehoshophat - was the official recorder
Zadok and Ahimalek - were priests
Seraiah - was the secretary
Benaiah - was in charge of the labour force (the Bible says Kerethites and Pelethites, who I believe were the remnants of people living in the land before the conquest, but subjugated to manual labour for Israel)
David's sons were also involved in running the land

2 Samuel 7 Does God need a permanent home?

2 Samuel 7

David, having bought the Ark of the covenant (and presumably the rest of the tabernacle with it), to Jerusalem wonders if it is right that David should live in a nice palace build of cedar while the presence of God on earth is in a tent? David decided to build a permanent dwelling place for God in Jerusalem.
David asked Nathan the prophet if this was right and he said "go ahead", but during the night God spoke to Nathan saying "Are you the one to build me a house? since I bought Israel out of Egypt I have not required a permanent dwelling, I moved and the Israelites moved with me, and I never said to any I chose to shepherd my people "build me a house""

God told Nathan to tell David that he took him from the pasture tending the flock and appointed him to rule Israel. God has been with David every step of the way and destroyed all his enemies before him.

God then promises to make David's name great, among the greatest names in all the earth. God promises to build the house of David and a lineage that would be truly illustrious. Odd really that David started the chapter by wanting to honour God with a permanent temple - God has turned the tables completely and builds David's house!

When David has died, his son will build the temple for God and God would treat him as a son.

On hearing this king David went and prayed to God 

David is full of wonder, gratitude and thanks in this prayer and he asks God to fulfil his promise.
it is in verses 18-28.

I have to say that asking God to fulfil his promises seems to me rather presumptuous, though perhaps the act of asking God is a way to align my will to God's will and then in seeking the promise God has made I may in some small way be instrumental in bringing it about? Or perhaps It would encourage me to recognise the promise when it does arrive?

Either way - lesson for me here (If nobody else) "God please fulfil your promises you made to me though the bible and other sources" 

2 Samuel 6 Making Jerusalem the city of David

2 Samuel 6

Jerusalem today is one of the most contested cities in the world - it is a holy site for 3 of the worlds religions and has been the headquarters for Judaism and Christianity.

The story of Jerusalem as a world religious site starts in this chapter. King David decided to move the Ark of the Covenant - the holiest item in the Jewish faith, from Balaah where it has been kept since the Philistines sent the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel.

David arranged for a new cart to be built to carry the Ark (which is incidentally how the Philistines returned it. All was going well until the oxen stumbled and a guy called Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of the covenant but this was seen as so irreverent an act that God's anger broke out and killed Uzzah.

In great distress - David halts the procession and the Ark is left at the house of a Gittite called Obed-edom for 3 months. During which time Obed Edom had tremendous blessings.

This time David takes no chances - he arranges for the ark of the covenant to be carried on the shoulders of priests and Levites and he makes a sacrifice when they had taken but 6 paces toward Jerusalem.

The Bible says that David danced before God on that day with all his might wearing a linen Ephod, while the people cheered and made music in celebration.

Watching from the city walls, Michal, David's wife and Saul's daughter saw David's dancing before God and despised him for showing off and having no sense of decorum or decency 

With sacrifices and blessings every person in the crowd, man and woman was given a cake of raisins, a cake of dates and a loaf of brad.

David went into bless his own family and is accosted by Michal "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today - prancing around half naked for all the common slave girls to ogle! It was most vulgur"

David responded - "It was God I was dancing for and to - and I will become even more undignified when I do this and be stupid in my own eyes, as for the slave girls, I have their respect and will be held in honour"

Michal I don't think appears in the Bible again, and her lasting final comment is that she never had children.

2 Samuel 5 Finally King David

2 Samuel 5

7 years after the death of King Saul, David is finally invited to be king of all Israel - he is now 30 years old and is king for 40 years - 7 years over Judah and 33 over all Israel.

One thing I will say is that David is not impatient, and his life has not been that smooth sailing so far.

David finally captured the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites - they must have been fairly confident in their defences as they boast that the weak and invalid could hold off David's army.

There is a clue that David and his army attacked through the shafts and systems. 

David re-fortified Jerusalem and is became the capital of Israel - which it still is today.
The neighbouring king Hiram of Tyre send David greetings and cedar wood to build his palace along with stone masons and carpenters.

Once established he moved his family to Jerusalem and also took more wives and concubines. - as a single person I think that monogomy is one wife too many so polygamy is not something in this day and age I can agree with!

David seals his kingship by then facing 2 attacks by the Philistines and defeating them each time - once by straight attack and the second by an outflanking manoeuvre. 

2 Samuel 4 The murder of Ish Bosheth

2 Samuel 4

When Abner changed his allegiance from the house of Saul to the house of David, Ish Bosheth, Saul's only remaining son lost courage and it caused alarm in the whole land.
Ish Bosheth had 2 leaders of raiding parties - Baanah and his brother Rekab.

The only other male descendant of Saul (Michal, Saul's daughter David's wife, is still alive and I presume her sister is still alive too) that is a son of Jonathan called Mephibosheth (Jonathan was obviously a cruel and uncaring father to call his son that!). When news of Saul and Jonathans death reached them, his nurse tried to run carrying him at the age of 5, but she tripped and injured his feet, an injury that never healed and left the lad crippled.

Rakab and Baanah decide to turn on Ish Bosheth and killed him in his house - they then hacked off his head and carried it to David expecting a reward - they proclaim - here is the head of your enemy, the son of Saul who tried to kill you.

David, no doubt very coldly, told Rekab and Baanah that the man who told David of the death of Saul thought he was bringing good news to David, David had him killed in Ziklag for his reward - how much more do Rekab and Banaah expect - Ish Bosheth was not guilty in David's eyes , and he ordered the 2 men killed, cut off their hands and feet and hung them by the pool of Hebron.

David gave Ish Bosheth's head a decent burial in the tomb of Abner

One thing that is remarkable about David is that he is able to mourn the death of those who do not like him and he values even the life of the enemy and, according to his lights, punishes murderers when they come to tell him,

2 Samuel 3 A defector joins David

2 Samuel 3

While the civil war between the house of David, king in Hebron and the house of Saul continues for several years, David gets stronger and stronger while the followers of Ish Bosheth get weaker and weaker.

In the meantime it seems that David has time to have a number of weddings and children - the chapter lists 6 sons born to David by 6 wives
The only reason I am boss in my house is because I live alone, how David manages when he has more than half a dozen wives it a mystery to me!

Anyway the leader of Saul's army, Abner has been trying to improve his position in the kingdom but is accused of taking one of Saul's concubines to bed, so he defects and offers David a truce and to join his side.
David agreed but only if he brings Michal, David's first wife and Saul's daughter back for him. Abner arranges this and sends Michal's husband back home.

Abner persuades Benjamin to side with David and departs from the new king to persuade the rest of Israel to join with David.

Joab, David's army commander takes offence at this treatment of Abner and tracks him, betrays and kills him.

David mourned for the death of Abner, regretting that Joab is too bloodthirsty to be controlled and do the right thing. Joab's brother had been killed in battle by Abner in the past and I guess revenge for his brother played a large part in his action.

David actually refuses to eat or drink anything all day while mourning for Abner- writing a lament.

It seems that David is not one to hold a grudge even against people who have tried their very best to kill him.

2 Samuel 2 Easy royal transition

2 Samuel 2

David has been anointed king over Israel as a youth before he became famous for killing Goliath in single combat.
King Saul and 3 of his sons have died  in battle against the Philistines - so the time is now right for David to come into his destiny you would think.

David asked God if he should go to Judah and is given an affirmative response, while there David is proclaimed king of Judah, he sent word to the men who had rescued the bodies of Saul and his sons and gave them a decent funeral thanking them for their courage and assuring them of protection as king

Abner, son of Ner who had been Saul's battlechief for many years now declared Saul's youngest son Ish-Bosheth king over as much of Israel as he could persuade.

For 2 years a state of civil war appears to have existed between David in Judah and Ish-Bosheth.
They tried a symbolic battle between David's men, and Ish Bosheth's men but they wound up killing each other in no score draws.
The leaders of David's men, pursue Abner for quite some time until Abner points out that they are Israelites and really should not be doing this.

In the first battle, David's army comes out ahead.

1 Samuel 31 and 2 Samuel 1 How the mighty have fallen

1 Samuel 31

I've decided to put the last chapter of 1 Samuel and the first chapter of 2 Samuel together - for so long Saul and David have been linked - though battle, hatred, marriage, friendship and respect.

David, as you may remember is sent home from the battle by the commanders of the Philistine army who do not trust him.

The Philistines attacked the Israelite camp and killed many people, including Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua are killed in the battle. The archers get Saul in range and he is critically wounded by arrows.
Saul asks his chariot driver and armour bearer to kill him quickly rather than be captured by the Philistines.
Unwilling to help his king die, the armour bearer refused to kill Saul and Saul fell on his own sword. At which so did his armour bearer.

On one day, Saul's male line is all but wiped out along with his innocent sons and the armour bearer and so much of his army.

The inhabitants of the nearby Israelite towns all made a run for it as well as they were now kingless and without an army to offer protection.

Next day when they came to strip the bodies. the Philistines found Saul and his sons close together, dead on the mountainside - they stripped the bodies of the armour and put the armour in their temples.
The bodies of Saul and his sons were not allowed to rest - they were hung outside the walls of the city for all to see.

The men of a town called Jabesh Gilead went by night and cut down the bodies and cremated them and buried the ashes under a tree.

Thus Israel's king Saul passes from the story.

2 Samuel 1

David has re-captured his captives from the raiding party and got back to Ziklag for 2 days when a ragged messenger arrives from the Israelite army camp.
This man relates that the battle did not go well and that Saul, Jonathan and the royal sons are dead - this man is an Amalekite who happened to be on the mountain at the time and he found Saul close to death but not yet dead and Saul begged him to finish him off - which the man did.
He also took Saul's crown and armband and bought it to David.
David does not rejoice or breathe a huge sigh of relief - he turns on the messenger and orders him killed for killing the Anointed king of Israel.

David and his men weep and mourn for Saul and his family fasting until nightfall.

David then sings a lament - if you want to read it starts on verse 17 and was written also in another non biblical book - the book of Jashar.

The repeating refrain "How the mighty have fallen" has passed into the language and the expression is well known if not common.

The lament is actually quite moving and many of the sentiments are still valid in the aftermath of conflict and defeat and disaster, even today.

1 Samuel 29-30 2 Breaks for David

1 Samuel 29

David has gone to join the Philistine army with his friendly king Achish, which would have been pretty disastrous for any chance of David becoming king in the future as anything other than the puppet of the Philistines.

Fortunately for David, the rest of the Philistine commanders do not see David as the ally that Achish does and demand of Achish that David should not stay with the army to launch some kind of counter attack behind the lines, or some other dirty trick, and Achish sent him back to Ziklag with an apology and a request not to upset the rest of the rulers.

David and his men return to Ziklag early next morning.

1 Samuel 30

When David and his men return to the town of Ziklag they find that Amalekite raiders have taken the opportunity of the absence of defenders to plunder the place - carrying off as plunder everybody and living thing in the town that was worth taking and setting what was left on fire.

David and his men are very troubled to find this and enquire of God if they should pursue, God said pursue them, you will catch them and get back what you have lost.

David and the whole 600 men with him set out at once to chase down the raiding party and get back what was taken - About 1/3 of his men stayed behind in the Besor valley as they were too exhausted to cross and the remaining 400 men carried on.

Eventually they found an Egyptian slave who had been abandoned by his Amalekite master as he was too ill to keep up, so David and his men gave him food and drink and he told the tale, and led David and his men to where they were hiding out.

David and his 400 men re-captured their kidnapped families and stolen goods and livestock along with the rest of the plunder from the band - they killed the whole band apart from 400 men who ran away on camels.

When David met back up with the 200 soldiers who had stayed behind some of the trouble makers started to make demands that those who did not take part in the attack should only get their stolen goods and family back but no more, until David puts a stop to this saying they are all an army and the spoils go to everybody, the one who guards supplies is to receive the same as the one on the line.

Getting back to Ziklag, David sent gifts of the plunder to the leaders and elders of the friendly towns and where his group had been roaming.

It looks like David is quite a capable military commander but also an astute politician,

Saul, meanwhile is nervously awaiting the attack, mercifully David will have no part in the battle 

1 Samuel 28 Sorcery and possible betrayal (but no Ewoks)

1 Samuel 28

Lets get the possible betrayal out of the way first - David has been hanging out in Ziklag where he is, to all appearance, supporting King Achish.
Achish tells David that he will soon be raiding in Israel and David would be expected to join in. David basically bluffs and says to the effect of bring it on, then you can see my accomplishments.

Meanwhile the Philistine army has camped at a place called Shunem and Saul and the Israelites were camped at Gilboa. When Saul sees the Philistine camp, he loses confidence.

Saul tried to ask God what he should do and if it will succeed, but God remained silent - nothing worked, the Urim was silent, nobody had a dream or prophesy - God just would not speak.
Earlier in his reign Saul had, according to the law, rid the land of all mediums and spiritualists from the land, but this does not stop him asking to meet with a medium.

Apparently there is a medium living in Endor - so Saul puts on a disguise and pays her a visit. Saul is a tall chap, so how good his disguise was is evident by the fact that Saul has to promise that the medium would not get into trouble for doing this.

Saul asked to speak to the spirit of Samuel, who has been dead for a while now. When Samuel actually appears the medium cried out at said effectively why did you trick me? You are Saul.

I don't agree with spiritism and mediums, in my opinion the occult is real and dangerous and it is certainly not something I would mess with - it can be psychologically and emotionally damaging and possibly worse.
This story tells me that there is something in it, but the fact the medium screamed when a spirit appeared would suggest that a lot of these people are charlatans.

Anyway Samuel basically tells Saul that God has abandoned him and will deliver both Saul and his family and Israel into the hands of the Philistines.

It reminds me of a keen golfer went to a medium to find out if they have golf in heaven. The reply came back "Yes there is golf in heaven, the courses are amazing, clear fairways, smooth greens, challenges enough to be interesting and by the way - he is teeing off at 3 p.m. next Wednesday!"

So the scene appears to be set, Saul and David will meet on the battlefield, but this time David will be trying to kill Saul as he is on the side of the Philistines against his own country.

Funny really all this talk of Endor and not a single Ewok - those who get the reference well done those who don't, don't worry it is a reference to Star Wars Episode 6

1 Samuel 27 Is my enemies enemy my friend?

1 Samuel 27

David has just spared Saul's life for the second time but realises that this is unlikely to persuade Saul off his course to kill him, so he again goes to live in a Philistine area, so he went to Achish king of Gath along with his 600 men and their families. David asked Achish to give him and his men somewhere to live rather than taking up space in the royal city of Gath.

Achish gave David the town of Ziklag,  where David lived for a year and 4 months. 

From time to time, David went out raiding amongst Israel's enemies but they would leave no living person to tell the tale, so when he lied to Achish saying that he had been raiding Israel there was nobody to contradict him.

Achish thought that David was burning his bridges and making trouble for Israel - so he trusted David.

It seems to me that David is playing a rather dodgy game here.

1 Samuel 24 and 26 Two good turns

1 Samuel 24

Can you believe I missed this chapter yesterday - it is really rather vital in the character of David and his attitude to Saul who is after his blood.

Anyway out of order - today we have David hiding in the desert near En Gedi, Saul gets news and gathers a warband of 3000 young men and set out to search near the sheep pens.

Saul spotted a cave and decided it would be a good place to "Go to the toilet" as one version of the Bible translates verse 3.

As luck would have it, David and his men are hiding in the same cave, right at the back.
David's men, rather understandably in my opinion, urge David to assassinate Saul - after all it is either him or Saul.
David however refuses to kill Saul as he is the chosen king of Israel, anointed by God , instead he crept up to Saul and cut a corner off his robe, presumably Saul's attention was elsewhere!

David rebuked his men and would not allow them to attack Saul and is very troubled in conscience, and after Saul has left the cave and presumably moved out of range, David reveals himself - pointing out that he has in his hand a piece of Saul's robe to demonstrate that he could just as easily killed Saul with the same knife.
Calling Saul his father and challenged Saul on who he thinks he is pursuing a flea on a dead dog?

Saul recognised David's voice and wept - he acknowledged that David has treated Saul much better than Saul has treated him, and that David rightly will be the next king but asked that David would show kindness to Saul's family.
David gave his promise that he would not wipe out the family of Saul once he is king.
After this Saul departed and David went up to the stronghold.

While I am on a roll, lets do Chapter 26 as well as it has a similar theme

1 Samuel 26

Once again Saul has gone mad and is trying to catch David with 3000 soldiers. (David has about 600 men with him, so is outnumbered about 5 to 1) 
David is betrayed by the locals who tell Saul where he is currently hiding out. David is aware from his scouts where the Israelite army is camping 
David and one of his men decide to pay a night visit to the camp. having figured out where Saul and Abner, the commander of the army, are sleeping. 
Once again David refuses to kill Saul or allow Saul to be killed he steals the spear and water jug that are laying close to Saul as he sleeps. David's view is that Saul will be struck down by God or else fall in battle, but David will not incur guilt by killing the king.

Next morning David does not challenge Saul, but rather Abner for failing in his duty to protect the king.

Saul again hears David's voice and backs off pursuit realising that David is the better man, Saul predicts that David will do great things and be triumphant.
David and Saul parted on apparently peaceful terms. 

1 Samuel 25 Idiot husband but smart wife!

1 Samuel 25

Samuel who had been dedicated to God at a young age, led Israel as Judge and Prophet and made Saul king and anointed David to succeed Saul, dies in this chapter, Saul is madly chasing David who is wildly trying to steer clear.
The Bible says that All Israel mourned for Samuel and he was buried at his house in Ramah - The Bible is unclear whether Saul and David put aside their differences.

David then heads to the desert at Paran and runs into an misery-guts by the name of Nabal.
Nabal had a reputation of being brutish, surly and mean in his dealings, but his wife, Abigail, was stunningly beautiful, intelligent and quite probably charming, as we shall see she is really far too nice to be married to the likes of Nabal. 

David sent some of his men to Nabal at sheep shearing time to ask for some food, they had actually been in the area keeping things away from the flocks and protecting Nabal's property and because of this felt they could ask for some generosity.

Nabal was of a different mind though and sent David's messengers away with a message that too many servants were leaving their masters these days, who are you, and where are you from, that I should take from my men to feed yours?

When David heard this he told his men to arm for combat and set off to teach Nabal some manners. About 400 men set out with swords and 200 stay behind to guard what supplies they do have.
Luckily some of the servants heard Nabal and went to the real boss of the establishment Abigail, telling her that David's men had been very good to them and they had been a defensive wall while they had been close to David and his camp.

Abigail acted with admirable wisdom and speed, she took 200 loaves of bread, 2 skins of wine, 5 dressed sheep (probably not fancy dress) a big sack of roasted grain and a hundred cakes of raisins and 200 cakes of figs
Abigail chose not to try carrying this lot on her own but put the food onto donkeys and set off to meet David and hopefully prevent a rather unpleasant massacre .
Abigail meets up with David and she tells David to ignore her husband as he is an idiot (apparently Nabal actually means "Fool")
David Thanked God that Abigail had met up with him and prevented him from bloodshed.

When Abigail went home, Nabal was drunk as a lord and in the middle of a party, so Abigail waits until he is sober (if not hung over!) before telling him what his foolishness had nearly cost him. 
The Bible says that Nabal's heart failed him and he became like a stone - I wonder if this would be today characterised as a stroke or cardiac arrest? - anyway 10 days later, Nabal dies "Struck down by God"

David thanks God for vindicating him over Nabal, sends messengers to Abigail and she becomes his 3rd wife - David also married Ahinoam as well as Abigail, his other wife, Saul's Daughter Michal had been given a new husband from Saul's followers

This seems a rather odd break in the narrative - David and Saul have been chasing each other running around mountains and things - we really need chase music and suddenly David stops to get married - TWICE!! What is with this guy?

1 Samuel 23 Third party interventions

1 Samuel 23

Saul may be out for David's blood but this is really no hindrance to Israel's enemies, and sure enough the Philistines attack the Israelite town of Keilah.

David got the news and enquired of God if he should go to the rescue of Keilah. 
David's men point out that they are afraid for their lives hiding out in Judah and going to fight the Philistines is not doing anything to reduce their nerves!
David, taking note of his men asked God again - it seems that Abiathar the priest bought the Ephod with the Urim and Thummim with him - The Urim and Thummim were a method used by the priests of Israel to determine God's will.

David and his men went out and attacked the Philistines inflicting heavy losses on the Philistine battle force and saved the town.

When Saul heard about this his first reaction was not one of concern for his people living under threat in Keilah, but that David has trapped himself inside a town with walls and fortifications! So Saul and his warband head off to besiege David and his men.

David asked God if the Saul was coming he asked God through the priest if Saul was definitely coming, and also if the citizens of Keilah being faced with siege would hand David and his men over to Saul.
The answer from God to both of these is "Yes"

David and his men leave the town and escape into the desert with Saul in pursuit.

David got word from his friend Jonathan that he does not believe that Saul would actually lay hands on David, indeed David will be the king and Jonathan would be his second in command (which does not seem to bother him).
The locals point out to King Saul exactly where David is hiding - At one point Saul was going on one side of a mountain with David and his men on the other side.
In the nick of time a messenger reaches Saul with the news that the Philistines have invaded and Saul is needed urgently.

David makes good his escape while Saul is away. 

1 Samuel 22 Rough times

1 Samuel 22 

David escaped from Gath while they all thought he was mad. and headed to live in the caves at Adullum.
He is joined in the caves by his parents and a group of debt entangled, dis-enfranchised, and disaffected men join him, until he has about 400 men with him with David in command.

David arranged for the king of Moab to take care of his parents while David's future lies in the balance.
God sent a message to David not to stay in Moab but to set up camp in the land of Judah.

Saul is meanwhile getting more and more paranoid - he finds David has escaped, accuses his officials of treason, for not telling Saul that Jonathan was loyal to David.

Eventually a character called Deog the Edomite betrays that he saw David with the priests at Nob.
Saul goes to Nob and, in spite of their protestations that, as far as they knew, David was loyal to Saul and he had given David support many times in the past.

Saul ordered that the priests be executed, but his men refuse to raise a hand against the priests of God, however Deog has no difficulty and executes the priest, wastes the town slaughtering every living creature, men, women, children, and livestock.

One son of the priest Ahimelek, Ahitub, escaped with his life and seeks out David bringing news of the massacre.

David admitted that he should have realised that trouble would follow when he saw Deog at Nob, and accepts the blame for the death of the priests and Ahitub's entire family.

David welcomes the priest and promises protection, the same person is trying to kill both of them.

For me there are 2 things that struck me as I wrote this - 
David has a deep love and respect for his family, as shown by his taking care of his parents by taking them out of Saul's reach.

The other is Saul has lost his perspective and all moral restraint - to the extent that he not only allows or condones but actively orders the massacre of the priests of God. 
This could be the act of a mad man using a nasty man to wield the sword, but I would suggest that this could illustrate that when God and faith are extinguished, mankind's tendency is not to be moral and good, but rather the worst of atrocities are far more possible.