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.
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.
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