David Escapes From Jerusalem
March 28, 2022
Commentary
A messenger told David that the hearts of the people of Israel were following Absalom (v. 13). David was in Jerusalem when he heard this news. He told his officials they must leave quickly, or none of them would escape from Absalom (vv. 14–15). David left ten of his wives behind to care for the palace, but the rest of his family, officials, and soldiers went with him. They stopped at the last house on the edge of the city (vv. 16–17). David watched as all 600 soldiers marched past him with their commander, Ittai (v. 18). David told Ittai to return and serve the new king (vv. 19–20), but Ittai answered, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives…there also will your servant be” (v. 21).
David and his men crossed the Brook Kidron while the people wept as they went toward the wilderness (vv. 22–23). Zadok and the Levites carried the Ark of the Covenant, and Abiathar waited until everyone had passed by (v. 24). David told Zadok to return the Ark to Jerusalem (v. 25). David said, “If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back…but if He says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am” (v. 26). Zadok and Abiathar returned the Ark to Jerusalem (v. 29). David went up the Mount of Olives barefoot and weeping (v. 30). He was then told that Ahithophel was helping Absalom (v. 31).
David met Hushai the Archite at the top of the Mount of Olives (v. 32). David told him to return to Jerusalem and say to Absalom, “I will be your servant, O king” (vv. 33–34). David said Hushai could help defeat Ahithophel’s advice and report what he heard through the priests (vv. 35–36). Hushai returned to Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city (v. 37).
Application
I should ask myself how I respond when life changes suddenly. Do I trust God when I must leave what feels safe? Am I willing to obey even when I do not understand the outcome? What fears or habits might be holding me back today? Where do I need to surrender control and walk forward in faith, trusting God to lead me step by step?
2 Samuel 15:13–37 (NET)
13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!” 14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come on! Let’s escape! Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring disaster on us and kill the city’s residents with the sword.” 15 The king’s servants replied to the king, “We will do whatever our lord the king decides.”
16 So the king and all the members of his royal court set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines to attend to the palace. 17 The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing at a spot some distance away. 18 All his servants were leaving with him, along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—some 600 men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with the king.
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country. 20 It seems as if you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men with you. May genuine loyal love protect you!”
21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means death or life, there I will be as well!” 22 So David said to Ittai, “Come along then.” So Ittai the Gittite went along, accompanied by all his men and all the dependents who were with him.
23 All the land was weeping loudly as all these people were leaving. As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving on the road that leads to the desert. 24 Zadok and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s sight he will bring me back and enable me to see both it and his dwelling place again. 26 However, if he should say, ‘I do not take pleasure in you,’ then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate.”
27 The king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar. 28 Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you reaches me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.
30 As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O Lord.”
32 When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you leave with me you will be a burden to me. 34 But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king! Previously I was your father’s servant, and now I will be your servant.’ 35 Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Everything you hear in the king’s palace you must tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear.”
37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.