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.
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.
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