How often is Absolom’s example utilized in many church communities to describe rebellious coups against pastoral leadership? Often, but do you think the comparison is worthy? I believe it can be if one allows the totality of the story to speak of the entire context of Absolom’s rebellion.
The Strong Conspiracy
By the fifteenth chapter of Second Samuel, we discover rebellion reaching its apex and plans for a coup to overthrow King David in motion. How is this plan initially being accomplished on the front end? Absolom is at the city gate early every morning, greeting those arriving to seek judgment from the king regarding matters of personal importance.
2 Samuel 15:2–6 (KJV) — 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Step one in Absolom’s strategy is to increase his likeability score with the people of David’s kingdom while strategically preying upon the daily ambitions, desires, and problems the people in the kingdom face. Absolom understands that a coup to overthrow the king is only possible if he can secure a large segment of the population’s heart. So, early each day, he stands at the gate into the city of Jerusalem to meet any man caught up in a controversy that demands the king’s attention, and he readies enticing words that will both plant a desire for his being in charge and cause those listing to feel that he really cares about their needs.
This predatory practice takes advantage of the people facing problems in the kingdom. It is a damnable tactic often used by men and women seeking power in the church. Here are a few examples.
- “Man, if I were the pastor, even though I know I am not, I would have made you youth pastor long ago!”
- “I know you are overlooked and should be the music director! I would put you in that position if I had the choice!”
- “If I had my way, I would make sure you were preaching a lot more than you are right now!”
As mentioned, this practice is predatory. It cares little for the actual needs or problems of those concerned. Instead, it is a strategy that aims to sow discord and discontent and turn others’ hearts away from the current leadership. Damnable, but effective!
After four years (see note on 2 Sam. 15:7) of this predatory practice of winning the people’s hearts, Absolom is poised to move into the next phase of the rebellious coup.
2 Samuel 15:7–9 (KJV) — 7 And it came to pass after forty years*, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
Step two of Absolom’s strategy is to spiritualize his rebellious coup by asking the king for permission to leave Jerusalem, head to Hebron, and honor a vow made to the Lord. What is this tactic seeking to accomplish? Absolom needs a small army and a place where he can consolidate his power away from the immediate hand of the king should the coup be recognized. With David’s agreement to let Absolom go to Hebron to honor his vow to the Lord, two hundred men are commissioned to go with him as protection, which, according to the text, “went in their simplicity, and knew not anything.” (II Sam. 15:11). These unsuspecting men have no idea they are marching into a rebellious coup! Alas, Absolom’s predatory tactics continue to take advantage of good people.
Then, the piercing blow of rebellion comes when Absolom sends word for one of David’s top advisors to join him. This will later prove deeply disturbing to David due to the wisdom and reliability of the council this man brought to him over the many years of his service to the nation of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:12 (KJV) — 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counseller, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
AND THE CONSPIRACY WAS STRONG.
A Successful Rebellion and a Fleeing King
Suddenly, sitting out under his gazebo enjoying the brisk cold air of a Jerusalem morning, David is met by an anxious servant who declares, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absolom!” These words run David’s blood cold. A rebellion is coming, and those on the king’s side are in immediate danger!
2 Samuel 15:14 (KJV) — 14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
Notice how David doesn’t decide to fortify and garrison the city. I think David understands that war is not the tactic needed as the cost of war will be too great for the people of Jerusalem. Remember, Absolom’s predatory strategy of rebellion has duped many. Why engage in an all-out war where innocents die, and Jerusalem potentially is ruined, and the enemies beyond take advantage of the loss?
While fleeing, David sees the priesthood bearing the Ark of the Covenant and stops. He commands Zadok, the Priest, to return the Ark and his priesthood to Jerusalem. His reasoning? If God is for me, I will return to the city and be established as the king of Israel. What was David doing by commanding this? He was refusing to speak for God by using the Ark and the Priesthood as props to confirm his cause when he knew God had not spoken.
The events that follow David’s ascent up Mount Olivet barefoot with a company of those who wept at the series of events that had sent them into political exile are too many to outline. David is accosted in his weakened position by Shimei, and later, at the word of his once-trusted advisor Ahithophel, the council is given to strike while David is weary. This would have been a winning strategy lest David’s faithful confederate Hushai had not helped steer Absolom away from the advice.
What an event this rebellious coup! The machinations of predatory ambition are on full display, only to end with a tragic moment where Absolom, hanging from a tree by his hair, is stabbed thrice by Joab. This activity would send David into a tailspin of grief and rage. In the end, NOBODY wins in reality. It is a bitter tragedy that, as we will shortly see, did not have to happen.
David’s Responsibility in the Rebellion
We are quick to blame Absolom for the rebellion’s disastrous results, but I fear that by doing so, we will fail to hold David accountable for his part in the rebellious coup. History is often written by the victors, yet, in this case, Scripture ensures that we have the totality of the story for the purpose, I believe, of learning.
We must ask ourselves: What led to the rebellious coup? Why did Absolom do what he did? How did these things come to pass? A little backstory helps us answer these questions.
Sickness in the Kingdom
When we move back a couple of chapters in the story before the rebellious coup takes place, Solomon has been born following the death of the child who resulted from David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba. These events, however, are not the foreboding shadow that plays into the future rebellious coup. Instead, it is the sickness that David allows to fester within the very house he leads. I speak, of course, of the incestuous rape that occurs between David’s son Amnon and his daughter Tamar.
Amnon is a filthy man whose heart lusts after his sister Tamar. Acting sick, Amnon has his father send Tamar to help nurse him back to health. Upon arriving, Amnon’s ruse is revealed as he forcefully rapes his sister, who has begged him to stay with his illicit passions. Cast aside as an object, Amnon comes to hate the sister he has raped, casts her from the house, locks the door, and is left to return to the castle with ashes upon her head and the garment of virginity rent.
The Bible says that David was wroth (II Sam. 13:21), but we are never told that David dealt with Amnon for these actions. Instead, Absolom seethes with rage over what his brother Amnon has done to their sister, and for two entire years, nothing appears to be done to deal with the sickness in the kingdom that is Amnon.
The King that Didn’t Lead
At the heart of this story is a king who no longer leads. Sure, he carries the scepter and goes about the affairs of administration and adjudication, but the sickness festers in the kingdom, and his silence toward it can only be seen by others as complicity. Of course, David does not approve of what Amnon has done, but by failing to deal with it, the shadow of rebellion begins to cast itself into the future.
Following the death of Amnon at the hands of Absolom’s servants, a damning statement is made to David who grieves over the death of Amnon.
2 Samuel 13:32 (KJV) — 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
Since the day that Amnon forced Tamar, Absolom has been determined to deal with what David did not deal with! Roll this through your mind. Had David dealt with Amnon’s sickness, we likely could have avoided the events that would catapult Absolom into hiding and eventual rebellion. When good men do nothing, evil wins!
The Moral of the Story?
Lest we lay the entire story of rebellion at Absolom’s feet, it begs us to consider the events that allowed rebellion to take root. After Absolom’s flight from Jerusalem, David does nothing to seek him, thus eliciting the efforts of the woman of Tekoa to seek David to reconcile. Sadly, it is a little too late, as Absolom’s heart has been allowed to develop resentment toward his father during the three years he remained in Geshur while David mourned for Amnon, the sick offender who had raped Tamar.
The return of the throne to David does little to stem the blood that pours from the gaping wounds dealt to the kingdom. Division, turmoil, death, and conspiracy continue to plague David until the very day of his death and in the days to follow. At the heart of David’s problem is a conspiracy of silence that causes others to rise to force events to occur as rebellion simmers under the surface. We see this in the events that caused Bathsheba to confront David about Solomon’s coronation while a brother simmered with rebellious desires in the shadows of the kingdom.
Nobody wins, but David cannot avoid some of the blame that seems likely the culprit regarding the events that would plague Jerusalem for many days and years. To ignore this is to ignore the forensic evidence of the story. I am sure, though, as one reads through the Psalms of David, that he understood this and reached a place of honesty for himself and those around him. Instead of ignoring his complicity, David comes across as a man who accepts responsibility, even though he would continue to stand by in silence as future events simmered with rebellious undertones until confronted with the problems.
1 Kings 1:11–13 (KJV) — 11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. 13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
While the context doesn’t nullify Absolom’s damnable actions, it sheds light on David’s complicity, which must not be ignored. Indeed, scripture ensures that we see the whole to avoid the same.
NOTES
*II Sam. 15:7: Forty years is not accurate, and scholars are divided between four years and forty days. Certain manuscripts lend to four years, and I hold to that figure of four years.