This week we
will continue the study of the Book of 2 Samuel in the Old Testament.
As David was fleeing from Absalom, we read that the people of Israel had to make a choice, whether to continue their loyalty to David, or seize this opportunity to support the seemingly more powerful rebel in Absalom, the king’s son:
(1) Can you recall who Ziba was and what he was commissioned to do by David? (9:9-11)
(2) As Saul’s former servant who now saw how the only survivor in Saul’s family was being treated, how should he take his commissioning by David?
(3) Take a good look at the things he brought for David and his men:
a. Did he just think of something to bring to David or was it very well thought out?
b. If you were David, during a time like this, how would you feel?
c. However, what do you think was Ziba’s motive?
(4) Why did David ask where his master was?
(5) Why did David react so emotionally and ordered all that belonged to Mephibosheth would go to Ziba?
(6) Was it a right decision? What should David have done?
(7) Who was Shimei?
(8) In your opinion, why would he seize such a chance to curse David?
a. What could his curse accomplish?
b. Why was he not afraid of being killed by David’s special guard?
(9) Why did David assume that Shimei was sent by the Lord to curse him?
(10) As much as he thought he deserved to be cursed (not because the charges by Shimei were correct, but because of his sins against Uriah), why did he still think that something good could come from the curse?
(11) What kind of a message was David sending to his men?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
本週我們繼續研讀舊約撒母耳記下；請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
大衛逃離耶路撒冷時，以色列人自然要作出決定，是否繼續效忠大衛，或是轉而支持叛亂的押沙龍：
(1) 你尚記得洗巴是誰嗎？大衛曾命他作何事？(9:9-11)
(2) 既曾為掃羅家的僕人，現奉王命照顧掃羅的惟一後人，他當怎樣看這機會？
(3) 讓我們細看他帶給大衛家眷的東西：
a. 從何可以看到他的細心？
b. 如果你是大衛，在這逃難之際遇上這事，你會有何感受？
c. 你認為洗巴的動機是什麼？
(4) 為何大衛要問他主人的兒子在那裡？
(5) 為何大衛這樣衝動，立時命令把米非波設的財物全歸洗巴？
(6) 這決定對嗎？大衛該怎樣做才對？
(7) 示每是誰？
(8) 按你估計，為何他趁這機會咒罵大衛？
a. 這樣的咒罵能帶來什麼結果？
b. 為何他竟不懼怕大衛和保護他的勇士？
(9) 為何大衛以他的咒罵是耶和華所吩咐的呢？
(10) 大衛一方面以自己當受咒罵的，為何卻以為神或會因此向他施恩呢？
(11) 大衛這樣的對待示每給跟隨他的人立下什麼榜樣？
(12) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Leave him alone, let him curse…It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today.” (2 Sam. 16:11-12)
As David fled from his son, Absalom, it was quite obvious that he saw the rebellion of his son as part of the judgment by God of his sins against Uriah — having committed adultery with his wife and murdering him in order to cover his guilt. This is clearly revealed in the words he used to stop his people from harming Shimei who was cursing him as he was leaving the area surrounding Jerusalem: “leave him alone, let him curse, for the Lord has told him” (16:11). In other words, David not only took the rebellion of Absalom as from the hand of God, but also all the misfortunes that befell him at the time, including being cursed by a nobody like Shimei.
However, while he silently submitted to the chastisement of the Lord, he also had hope even in the midst of his suffering that “may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today.” One wonders why he would have such hope. Keil and Delitszch shared their great insight on the matter with these words:
“But this conscience of guilt also excited the assurance that the Lord would look upon his sin. When God looks upon the guilt of a humble sinner, He will also, as a just and merciful God, avert the evil, and change the suffering into a blessings. David found upon this the hope, that the Lord would repay him with good for the curse with which Shimei was pursuing him now” (K&D, 653).
Indeed, as much as he believed that his present plight was a result of his sin, he also firmly believed in Nathan’s message that, “The Lord has taken away your sin” (12:13).
「由他咒罵罷！因為這是耶和華吩咐他的。或者耶和華見我遭難，為我今日被這人咒罵，就施恩與我。」(撒下16:11-12)
大衛因兒子押沙龍的叛變而要逃亡，他看這事是神的管教，或是神因他犯姦淫與謀殺罪來審判他的一部份。這可從他阻止亞比篩去殺示每時所說的話看得到的：「由他咒罵罷，因為這是耶和華吩咐他的」(16:11) 。換句話說，大衛不但以押沙龍的叛變是出於神的手，就是連帶所發生的禍患，包括示每這等閒之輩的咒罵，也是出於神。
雖然他是默默的接受這一切，但他卻並非是絕望的，因他繼續說：「或者耶和華見我遭難，為我今日被這人咒罵，就施恩與我」(16:12) 。為何在接受神的審判時他還對神存希望呢？解經家 Keil & Delitszch 就有以下的分析：
「但這對罪的敏感卻帶來他對神會這樣看他的罪的保證：當神看到一個謙卑的罪人認罪時，作為一位公義和憐憫的神，祂同時會叫兇惡離去，把苦難變為祝福。因此，大衛在被示每咒罵時，他能抓住這盼望，知道神會叫這咒詛成為祝福的」(K&D, 653) 。
是的，雖然他相信所遭的患難是與他的罪有關，但他同時深信神藉著先知拿單所說的：「耶和華已經除掉你的罪」(12:13) 。
(1) We have just read that Ziba used this crisis to benefit himself through betraying his master, and Shimei used it to vent his own biased tribal frustration (turning a blind eye to the will of God). What did Hushsai do at this critical time of Israel’s history?
(2) What might have convinced Absalom of his loyalty to him?
(3) Ahithophel, a former trusted adviser to David, appeared to be the chief adviser to Absalom (16:23). What advice did he give to Absalom?
(4) Why did he give such wicked advice?
(5) Did he really have to give such advice?
(6) Why would Absalom listen to such horrible advice?
(7) With this advice, would there be any chance of reconciliation with his father, David? Why or why not?
(8) How did this wicked action fulfill the punishment announced by God? (12:11-12)
(9) Was this punishment too harsh, given the sin committed by David? Why or why not?
(10) What might be the warning to us?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 我們剛讀到洗巴怎樣趁著大衛逃難而自肥、示每則趁機「落井下石」；然而戶篩卻在這歷史性時刻趁機作什麼？
(2) 你認為是什麼驅使押沙龍信任戶篩的？
(3) 亞希多弗這大衛所曾器重的謀士，現在向押沙龍獻上什麼計謀？
(4) 他為何要提出這樣醜惡的建議？
(5) 這建議是否必須的呢？
(6) 為何押沙龍竟聽從這醜惡的建議？
(7) 押沙龍這樣行，是否使他和父親的和解成為絕無可能呢？為什麼？
(8) 他這罪行卻怎樣應驗了神對大衛的審判？ (12:11-12)
(9) 這個審判是否太厲害？為什麼？
(10) 對我們有什麼提醒？
(11) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Lie with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace…” (2 Sam. 16:21)
When David committed his horrible crime of adultery and murder, everyone in Israel had to be greatly alarmed by the wickedness of their beloved king, perhaps with disbelief. Therefore when the Lord announced His punishment through Nathan to David that “Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel” (12:11-12), all would have considered that it was a just punishment. However, when we read that this would be fulfilled by David’s own son, we cannot help but feel the horror of such a crime of incest! Ahithophel must have hated David to his guts to give such a wicked advice to Absalom, and Absalom must have lost all his decency to have committed such a sin to his father.
However, this serves to remind all of us that there is no such a thing as a sin committed in secret. Chuck Swindoll is right in saying that what we think is “a secret affair on earth is an open scandal in heaven”, but he is only stating what our Lord Jesus has already made plain: “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open” (Lk. 8:17). David would be the first one to tell us that it is certainly the case!
「亞希多弗對押沙龍說：你父所留下看守宮殿的妃嬪，你可以與他們親近。」(撒下16:21)
大 衛犯了極卑劣的姦淫與謀殺罪，相信震驚了全以色列，他們不能相信他們所敬重的王，竟可以行此大惡。所以，當神藉著先知拿單宣判說：「我必從你家中興起禍患 攻擊你；我必在你眼前把你的妃嬪賜給別人，他在日光之下就與他們同寢。你在暗中行這事，我卻要在以色列眾人面前，日光之下，報應你」(12:11-12) ，相信沒有人說這是不公平的。但當讀到這報應竟是藉著大衛的兒子押沙龍而應驗時，我們同時不禁被這亂倫的罪感到震撼！這獻計的亞希多弗一定是對大衛恨之入骨；而聽從這惡謀的押沙龍也是喪盡了天良！
但同時，這也提醒我們，絕對沒有一件罪，是真的能在暗中行出，而無人知曉的。Chuck Swindoll 說得對：
「我們以為在地上可以行隱惡，其實在天上是公開的醜聞」。這正是主耶穌在路加福音 8:17 所說的：「因為掩藏的事沒有不顯出來的；隱瞞的事沒有不露出來被人知道的。」
大衛會告訴我們，這話是千真萬確的！
(1) What was the essence of the plan recommended by Ahithophel in vv. 1-4?
(2) What might be the thing that “seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel”?
(3) Why did Absalom hate his father to the point of wanting to kill him (was his exile not good enough for him)?
(4) Since Absalom trusted Ahithophel so much, why would he seek to get a second opinion? Did he not know that it might make Ahithophel look bad?
(5) What was the essence of Hushai’s advice?
(6) On a practical level, whose plan makes more sense to you? Why?
(7) What was the decision of Absalom and his men?
(8) What does the Bible say was the reason for their decision?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 亞希多弗的獻計重點是什麼？
(2) 押沙龍與長老「都以這話為美」的原因是什麼？
(3) 為何趕逐父親還不足，押沙龍竟要殺父才罷休？
(4) 既以亞希多弗的話為美，為何押沙龍還要詢問戶篩？難道他不曉得這樣會使亞希多弗丟面的嗎？
(5) 戶篩建議的重點是什麼？
(6) 按常理，你認為那個建議更佳？為什麼？
(7) 押沙龍與眾人的決定是什麼？
(8) 聖經告訴我們，他們這樣的決定，真正的原因是什麼？
(9) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.” (2 Sam. 17:14)
It is true that Absalom was a product of David’s own making: the marrying of many wives; the blatant favoritism toward Ammon, the first-born; the total disregard of the shame and humiliation suffered by his own daughter; not to mention his horrible example of adultery and murder. One might even be fair in saying that Absalom’s killing of Ammon was the dispensation of justice that David should have done in the first place, except that it was murder and not justice administered according to the Law of Moses through proper process of public trial and execution.
Now, he had listened to the advice of Ahithophel to sleep with his father’s concubines, an action that was not only abhorred by God, but an action that put reconciliation between him and his father impossible.
Ahithophel was obviously a very shrewd and intelligent man, no wonder both “David and Absalom regarded all of his advice" “like that of one who enquires of God” (16:23). His plan to attack David and his men when they were still weary and weak made a lot of sense, but somehow Absalom chose to seek and listen to the advice of Hushai instead. The Bible makes it very clear the reason behind Absalom’s decision and that was, “For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom” (17:14).
Indeed, irrespective of how wicked a ruler might be, God is still in complete control because, “In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that He channels toward all who please him” (Prov. 21:1).
「這是因耶和華定意破壞亞希多弗的良謀，為要降禍與押沙龍。」(撒下17:14)
押沙龍不但是大衛所生的，更是他的「塑造產品」：大衛的多妻、對暗嫩這首生兒子的偏愛、對女兒他瑪所受的污辱和蒙羞之不顧，加上他自己所犯卑劣的姦淫與殺人的罪，使我們可以說，押沙龍刺殺暗嫩是施行了大衛該給暗嫩的審判—不過這仍是謀殺，並非按摩西律法所定的公開審判而作的刑罰。
現在，押沙龍聽從亞希多弗的計謀，與父親的妃嬪同寢，這是神絕對恨惡並禁止的行為，也是做成父子沒有可能復和的原因。
亞希多弗誠然是一個很有才智的人，故此，大衛和押沙龍昔日對他「所出的主意，好像人問神的話一樣」 (16:23) 。他向押沙龍獻議要趁大衛一行人正在疲倦乏力之際，立刻起擊、更著重單殺大衛之計實屬上策；不過卻被戶篩的建議所阻攔了。聖經就清楚的告訴我們，原因是：「因為耶和華定意破壞亞希多弗的良謀，為要降禍押沙龍」(17:14) 。
是的，神至終掌管一切，就是惡如押沙龍的心，都會因為「王的心在耶和華手中，好像隴溝的水隨意流轉」(箴 21:1)而被掌管著。
(1) Since Absalom had already agreed to his advice, why did Hushai still need to tell David of Ahithophel’s plan and advised David not to stay where he was, but to cross over Jordan?
(2) The sons of the priests, Jonathan and Ahimaaz (15:27), were ready to relay the message to King David, but what risks did they have to take?
(3) How did the Lord protect them?
(4) While we have read in 17:14 that God was obviously in control of the situation, what did the ensuing twists and turns concerning the sending of the message by Jonathan and Ahimaaz teach us? (vv. 17-20)
(5) What did the crossing of Jordan by David and all his men do to the advice given by Ahithophel?
(6) What might be the possible reasons for Ahithophel’s suicide?
a. He was angry or disappointed with Absalom.
b. He felt a complete loss of face before all Israel.
c. He recognized that it was the doing of the Lord.
d. Other
(7) What does it say about this person who “put his house in order” before he committed suicide?
(8) Read David’s prayer in 15:31. What can you learn from this incident concerning Ahithophel?
(9) Compare the action by Makir (9:4) and that of Ziba (16:1-4):
a. What were common to the two of them?
b. How different were they?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Absalom replaced Joab with Amasa as the commander of Israel’s army. Vv. 24-26 describes Jether as having married Abigail, the sister of Zeruiah, instead of saying that she was the sister of David—“some of the early commentators have very justly concluded that Abagail [sic] and Zeruiah were only step-sisters of David” and Jether “was therefore an illegitimate cousin of Joab” (K&D, 658).
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 既然押沙龍已決定聽從他的建議，為何戶篩仍要通知大衛，速速的渡約但河？
(2) 祭司二人的兒子約拿單和亞希瑪斯準備向大衛報訊，他們要付上什麼代價？
(3) 神怎樣保守他們？
(4) 17:14 已告訴我們神在掌管著這事情，這裡報訊的情節讓我們看到什麼現實？
(5) 大衛與跟從他的人既都過了河，這對亞希多弗的計謀有什麼影響？
(6) 你認為亞希多弗自殺的原因可能是什麼？
a. 對押沙龍感到憤怒與失望？
b. 在以色列民眾前失面子？
c. 他心知是神的手在破壞他的計謀？
d. 或是另有原因？
(7) 亞希多弗是先留下遺言(或作遺命) ，再自盡的：你對這人有什麼評價？
(8) 請翻到 15:31 看看大衛曾作的禱告。你可以藉著這事學到什麼功課？
(9) 試比較這裡的瑪吉(參 9:4) 與先前的洗巴(16:1-4)作：
a. 二人有什麼相同之處？
b. 二人卻有什麼分別？
(10) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
註：押沙龍立亞瑪撒代替約押作以色列的元帥。第 24-26 節形容以特拉曾與亞比該親近，又說亞比該是洗魯雅的姐妹，而不說是大衛的姐妹。看來，亞比該是大衛同父異母的姐姐；以特拉即是約押(illegitimate cousin)非正式的表兄弟。
“When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself.” (2 Sam. 17:23)
When Absalom rebelled against his father David, many people seized the opportunity to reap benefits for themselves through this crisis. Ziba was one example, and Ahithophel was another. But the betrayal of Ahithophel was even more wicked, because he was “paying back evil for good” (Prov. 17:13).
The Bible says that in those days, “the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice” (16:23). In other words, instead of going to the priest to inquire of the Lord through Urim and Thummim, David thought so highly of Ahithophel’s advice that he took it as from the Lord. Apart from being a very wise man, Ahithophel must also have a very pious appearance too — that was until he showed his true colors when David was in trouble. He jumped ship at the first possible moment. That was why David who could even take the curse of Shimei, was so surprised and hurt to the point that he uttered this prayer: “O Lord, turn Ahithophel counsel into foolishness” (15:31).
As it turned out, the Lord did more than that; He not only frustrated the advice of Ahithophel, but He also sent him to death by suicide (17:23).
I suspect that neither David nor Absalom had ever doubted his advice and so for Absalom to publicly seek another opinion from Hushai whom he must have considered his rival must have frustrated him. He knew that Hushai was actually acting as David’s spy except that he had no proof. His frustration coupled with the public humiliation caused him to pack up and go home. However, I also suspect that deep in his heart he knew the hand of God was behind it and was against him for the evil he had repaid the goodness of his former master, David. The comment that “He put his house in order” before he committed suicide was quite unusual in that his suicide was not an emotional act but one that was thought through carefully to the point that he took the time to put his house in order, likely meaning the writing and explaining of his will before he took his life.
Spurgeon remarks that, “To put his house in order showed that he was a prudent man; to hang himself proved that he was a fool” (Spurgeon’s Sermon XI, 497). Perhaps, this fool finally came to realization that “Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good” (Prov. 17:13).
「亞希多弗見不依從他的計謀，就備上驢，歸回本城；到了家，留下遺言，便吊死了，葬在他父親的墳墓裡。」(撒下17:23)
當押沙龍背叛父親大衛時，不少人就趁這危機找自肥的機會。示巴是其中一例；亞希多弗是另外一例！但亞希多弗出賣大衛的行徑就更卑鄙，因為大衛一向是器重他的；正如箴言所言，他是「以 惡 報 善 的」(箴17:13) 。
聖經說：「那時亞希多弗所出的主意好像人問神的話一樣；他昔日給大衛，今日給押沙龍所出的主意，都是這樣」(撒下16:23) 。 換句話說，與其找祭司以烏陵土明來向神求問，大衛對亞希多弗的意見尊重到一個地步，是索性直接向他請教了。故此，除了以才智見稱，似乎亞希多弗更有敬虔的 外表。直到大衛一遭難時，他就立刻露出真面目！無怪，大衛在驚訝之餘，向神這樣的禱告：「耶和華啊，求你使亞希多弗的計謀變為愚拙！」(15:31)
神當然是聽禱告的神，祂不但用戶篩來破壞他的計謀，更迫使他自尋短見(17:23) 。
我相信大衛和押沙龍尊重亞希多弗到一個地步，鮮有公開對他的建議有所質疑。故此，押沙龍公開向戶篩求問，聽取他對亞希多弗的獻計的意見時，是使亞希多弗感到非常憤怒和失面子的。這聰明的謀士，相信是看穿戶篩仍是效忠大衛的，卻是苦無證據而已。
不過，我相信他是心知肚明的知道神的手是在其中的，報應了他對大衛的出賣。聖經說他在自盡之前，先「到了家，留下遺言(可譯作把家事安排妥當)」，叫我們看到他是一個何等冷靜的人。
司布真就此說：「把家事安排妥當表明他是一個有智慧的人，但把自己吊死卻表明他是一個愚蠢人」 (Spurgeon’s Sermon XI, 497) 。或許，這愚蠢人終於領會到聖經所言：「以惡報善的，禍患必不離他的家。」(箴17:13)
(1) It appears that with the rebellion of Absalom who took many of David’s men from his army, David had to regroup with the people that were left, mainly from his own tribe of Judah. As a result he needed to appoint new commanders. Who among the three chief commanders was really new? Why was he chosen? (15:19-22)
(2) Why did David not join the march into the battle? What does it tell us about these people who had chosen to stick with David? What did David do right to earn such loyalty from his people?
(3) What special command did David give to his three chief commanders? Was it even right for David to give such a command? Why or why not?
(4) What was the result of the ensuing battle? Was it a surprise? Why or why not?
(5) How tragic was this battle?
(6) What was Absalom known for in all Israel? (14:25-26)
(7) Now, what contributed directly to his demise? (v. 9)
(8) What lesson can we learn from his demise?
(9) Why did the man who saw Absalom stuck with his hair on an oak tree choose not to kill him?
(10) What did Joab do instead?
(11) Was Joab right in what he did? Why or why not?
(12) What do you think about the erecting of a pillar by Absalom for his own remembrance? (v. 18)
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 因著押沙龍的叛變，帶走了相當的軍兵，故此大衛的軍旅需要重組。似乎仍歸順他的，主要是猶大人。大衛封立三個元帥，其中那一個是新立的？為何立他呢？(15:19-22)
(2) 為何大衛不親自出戰？這給我們看到這些仍歸順大衛的人對他的愛：大衛作了什麼以至贏得他們的愛呢？
(3) 在出戰前大衛特別對三位主帥有什麼吩咐？
(4) 這場戰役的結果怎樣？是否叫人感到意外？為什麼？
(5) 這場戰事最悲慘之處是什麼？
(6) 押沙龍生前在以色列人中最令人善慕的是什麼？(見14:25-26)
(7) 現在，他的死亡卻是因何之故？
(8) 我們可以從此學到什麼功課？
(9) 為何那人看見押沙龍被頭髮掛在樹上，卻不肯殺他？
(10) 約押卻怎樣處理押沙龍？
(11) 他作得對嗎？為什麼？
(12) 你對押沙龍為自己立柱一事，有什麼感想？
(13) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“During his lifetime, Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself…it is called Absalom Monument to this day.” (2 Sam. 18:18)
Absalom was born into a king’s family. Being perhaps the most handsome of all the sons of David, with a body admired by body builders and hair that was the admiration of all men and women in Israel (14:25-26). He really thought he was meant to succeed David as the king of Israel.
Perhaps the birth of Solomon and the fact that God was the one who personally gave him the name of Jedidiah (loved by the Lord) made him realize that he was not chosen by God to succeed his father.
Instead of submitting to the will of God, Absalom seized the opportunity of his father’s mistake in not punishing Ammon for his incest against his own sister to justify his ultimate rebellion against his father. Deep in his heart, he had to know that God was not on his side and he would definitely not succeed with his plan. So, even before his death, he wanted to make sure that however short his reign might be, he would be remembered forever, so he erected a monument to himself and called it Absalom’s Monument (18:18).
The interesting thing is that the Bible says he did this because he thought, “I have no son to carry on the memory of my name” (18:18). However, he did have three sons (14:27) whose names were never mentioned in the Bible. I suspect that it really was not a case of not having any sons to carry on his name, but that he knew he and none of his sons would succeed to the throne of David. Being a king for a short time did not satisfy the ego of this man; he thought he could perpetuate his name as a king forever by the erection of this monument. Matthew Henry was right, “The pillar shall bear his name, but not to his credit; it was designed for Absalom’s glory, but proved Absalom’s folly” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary, 468).
All human endeavors to make a name for oneself will only end up being remembered for their folly!
「押沙龍活著的時候，在王谷立了一根石柱，因他說：我沒有兒子為我留名。他尌以自己的名稱那石柱叫押沙龍柱，直到今日。」(撒下18:18)
押沙龍生於帝王的家中；他可能是大衛兒子中最英俊的，身體和頭髮更是以色列人所善慕，甚至崇拜的 (14:25-26) 。故此，他可能自信是承繼父親的當然人選。
但所羅門的出生是特別的，神公開的表明祂對所羅門的愛，到一個地步要親自為他起名“耶底底亞” —即被耶和華所愛的意思(12:25) 。或許，押沙龍心中是知道神並沒有揀選他作王的。
但與其順服神的旨意，押沙龍卻找著父親縱容暗嫩污辱妹妹的錯誤，作為背叛他父親的藉口。但他心中知道神不是站在他那邊，而他的計謀也不會成功的。故此，就在他短暫的得勢期間，他為要能留名千古，就為自己立了一根石柱，稱之為「押沙龍柱」 (18:18) 。
對，他自言立柱是 “因為沒有兒子” 為他留名(18:18) ，但聖經卻說他是有三個兒子的(14:27) 。若三人都死掉，聖經豈不會提到嗎？但他們的名字卻沒有被記錄下來，是表明押沙龍和他的後人是不會承繼大衛作王的。能短暫作王是不能滿足押沙龍的野心的。立這石柱是他為自己留名的方法。Matthew Henry 說得對：「這石柱固然以他的名而立，卻非歌頌他；雖然是為他的榮耀而設，卻成為他愚妄的標記！」(Matthew Henry’s Commentary, 468)
(2) Why did Joab try to stop him and send another man, a Cushite, to be the messenger of what Ahimaaz thought was the good news?
(3) Twice, David thought the message brought back was good news. What might constitute good news to David?
(4) Ahimaaz indeed brought the good news of the defeat of the king’s enemies, and yet what was the king’s concern? Why? Can you identify with the heart of David at the time?
(5) How did Ahimaaz take advantage of his outrunning the Cushite in his answer to the king’s question? (v. 29)
(6) Now the Cushite became the bearer of the bad news:
a. Why was David so shaken by the death of Absalom who pursued him, tried to kill him and committed incest with his wives?
b. Was his wish to capture Absalom alive wishful thinking? Why or why not?
c. Did he rather lose the battle?
d. What did his deep mourning reveal about him and his inner turmoil?
e. What kind of a message was David sending to his people with his deep mourning while the people were joyous over the victory?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 為什麼撒督的兒子亞希瑪斯這樣堅持要作報信的那位？
(2) 為何約押阻止他，反派另外一個外族人(古示人) 去作報信的？
(3) 大衛兩次都猜想跑來者是報好信息的。對他而言，什麼是好信息？
(4) 亞希瑪斯固然是帶來勝利的好信息，然而王所著重的是什麼？為什麼？你了解他的心情嗎？
(5) 亞希瑪斯藉著跑得比古示人快，他怎樣準備王的心來接受真相？
(6) 現在那古示人成為惡信的使者：
a. 大衛為何竟為這叛逆、要置他於死地、和公開污辱他妻妾的兒子押沙龍之死，傷慟欲絕呢？
b. 他難道是寧願自己失利、兒子得勝嗎？
c. 他這哀慟怎樣顯出他內心的苦情？
d. 這對民眾公平嗎？
(7) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Now Ahimaaz, son of Zadok said, ‘Let me run and take the news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies'.” (2 Sam. 18:19)
I really think that David was a very blessed leader. As much as he had committed a most horrific crime which drove him into a family feud that tormented him to no end, he was surrounded by people who loved him.
As ruthless as Joab was, he was not only loyal to him, he loved him. The killing of Absalom was really for the good of his reign, and for the unity of Israel, not to mention that Absalom should have been judged most severely too for his sin of incest under the law of Moses (Lev. 20:11).
Even this young man, Ahimaaz, son of Zadok the priest, risked his life in sending the important message of possible attack by Absalom to King David (17:17ff). And now, with the death of Absalom, he volunteered to bring the news to him. From what he subsequently told the king, I think Joab had misread him.
Joab knew how David would react to the news of son’s death, and so he would rather send a foreign slave, the Cushite to bear the news, just in case David might blame the messenger and kill him as he did to the bearers of the news of Saul’s and Ish-Bosheth’s death (1:15; 4:12). In fact, Ahimaaz knew that his decision to stay in Jerusalem as instructed by David, risking his life to bring him the message as a spy, should have earned the trust and affection of David so that he might not be blamed. As it happened Joab chose to use the Cushite, but Ahimaaz decided to outrun him so that he could prepare the heart of the king to receive the “bad news” and spare the life of the Cushite.
How blessed David was, surrounded by people who genuinely loved and cared about him!
「撒督的兒子亞希瑪斯說：容我跑去，將耶和華向仇敵給王報仇的信息報與王知。」(撒下18:19)
我總覺得大衛是很有福的。雖然因犯了大罪而叫家庭發生慘變、國家亦受虧損，但他仍被一群愛他的人所環繞著。
對，約押是一個殘暴人，但他對大衛忠心，也是愛他的。他殺死押沙龍是為國家團結的好處，也是為大衛的好處。以押沙龍的性情，他若不死，再思叛變是遲早的問題。
祭司撒督的兒子亞希瑪斯也是愛大衛的。他曾不惜冒死來給大衛帶信(17:17) ；現在他自薦把戰爭勝利的信息報給王知。我相信約押是看錯了他的用心。
約押明白大衛的心，知道他聽到兒子的死訊是會何等的激動；故此，他情願派一名外族人(古示人) 來報信，免得亞希瑪斯像以前向大衛報掃羅和伊施波設死訊的人，同樣遭殃(1:15; 4:12) 。其實亞希瑪斯知道自己甘願留在耶路撒冷作內奸，並冒死帶信是已贏得大衛的信任。雖然約押是另派古示人報信，他卻跑過古示人，支吾以對的回答大衛，是要先給大衛作好心理準備來接受押沙龍的死訊。
是的，或許大衛仍懵然不知；他能有這些愛他的人，是很有福的！
(1) How did the soldiers enter a city after their victory normally?
(2) How did the soldiers of David enter the city after their victory over Absalom and his men? Why?
(3) Was it right for David to turn the victory parade into something like a funeral procession? Why or why not?
(4) According to Joab, how had David’s mourning harmed himself and his nation?
(5) Now with the death of Absalom, what did the people of Israel want to do?
(6) What can you say about such a people who could change their loyalty so quickly? Would you want to be their king?
(7) Why did David want the people of Judah to receive him back first?
(8) How did he “use” Amasa (17:25) in this process? Did it work?
(9) Apart from the people of Judah, the Bible highlights others who also “rushed” to welcome the king back into Jerusalem. Who were they?
(10) Would you have forgiven Shimei like David did? Why or why not?
(11) Do you think this reflects David’s weakness or virtue? Why?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 一般的軍隊在戰勝歸來時是怎樣進城的？
(2) 這些打敗了押沙龍的大衛軍旅是怎樣進城的呢？
(3) 大衛把勝利的行伍變為敗戰之軍是否合適？為什麼？
(4) 根據約押所言，大衛這樣哀慟怎樣傷害自己和國家？
(5) 押沙龍一死這些原擁戴他的以色列人想怎樣作？
(6) 這樣不忠、善變的人民，你願意作他們的王嗎？為什麼？
(7) 為何大衛希望猶大人率先的請王回宮呢？
(8) 大衛同時怎樣「利用」押沙龍所立的元帥亞瑪撒？
(9) 除了猶大支派的人，也有其他非猶大人也(急著/NIV)來迎接大衛。他們包括誰？
(10) 如果你是大衛，你會放過示每嗎？為什麼？
(11) 你認為大衛這樣對待示每是顯出他的輭弱，還是他的美德？為什麼？
(12) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“They rushed to the Jordan where the king was.” (2 Sam. 19:17)
If I were David, I really would not want to rule over a people that changed their allegiance like clothes. One minute, the people of Israel were rallying behind the rebel son and joined in to pursue David with the intent of killing him; the next minute, once Absalom was dead, they had the audacity to forget what they had just done to David and sought to welcome him back as king. Shimei epitomized such kind of audacious and shameless behavior.
He must have thought that David would be defeated by Absalom and would be gone for good as he fled Jerusalem. As a result, he hurled insults and curses at David, charging him with sins that David had not really committed (16:7-8). He did this because he lamented that the nation was ruled by a king from the tribe of Judah and not from his own tribe of Benjamin.
Now David’s fortune had changed and Shimei was quick to save his bacon, being the first to receive David back and making a public confession of his sin (19:18-20).
Abishai was obviously furious. He had wanted to kill Shimei when they were fleeing already (16:9), and now he asked the king’s permission to put him to his rightful death. However, David not only rejected his request, but also appeared to be chastising him.
The question is, “Did David believe Shimei’s confession as genuine and did he forgive Shimei?”.
We should not think that David was a fool. He saw through the flip-flop of Shimei and knew that his confession was far from being sincere. What he said that day was, “Should anyone be put to death in Israel today?” (19:22). If Shimei’s curses and insincere confession were directed not at him, he might have acted differently. As it was, David demonstrated that he was big enough to take personal insults. However, he knew people like Shimei could be harmful to the kingdom of his son; as a result, he left these last words to Solomon:
“And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood” (1 Ki. 2:8-9).
Some may say that “the favor shown him [Shimei] here was a sign of David’s weakness” (K&D, 668), but I for one admire David as he was able to make a distinction between personal insult (which he took lightly) and potential harm to others (which he took seriously).
「他們都逿過約但河迎接王。」(撒下19:17)
讀到這些善變的以色列人，我不禁在想：誰願作你們的王呢！一見押沙龍作亂，就立時擁護他；一知道他死掉，就立刻想回到大衛的陣營。這種絕無廉恥、無忠誠的心態在示每身上表露無遺！
當初，示每一定以為大衛必喪在押沙龍的手下，故此他膽敢出言咒罵大衛(16:7-8) 。作為便雅憫人，他只有支派狹窄的觀念，始終不能接納猶大支派的大衛作王的。
現在，死掉的不是大衛，而是押沙龍，示每就急急率先的跑去迎接大衛回城，並公然的承認己過 (19:18-20) 。
亞比篩自然是義憤填胸。他早已想懲罰示每(16:9) ，現在他就求王的允許把他治死。誰知大衛不但不允許，似乎更加責備亞比篩。問題是：大衛真的相信示每嗎？他真的寬恕示每嗎？
我們不要以為大衛是如此的愚昧！其實他看穿了示每的善變，知道他的悔過是虛假的。他不是寬恕示每，他只是說：「今日在以色列豈可治死人呢！」(19:22) 。
其實，如果示每的咒罵和虛假的效忠不是向他作的，大衛或許會立刻懲治他。但是這裡給我們看見大衛的胸懷廣闊：他不以個人的榮辱為重。始終大衛是知道這樣的人是不可容納的，是會對後來的政權不利的。故此在他給所羅門的遺言中，最後的話是與示每有關的：
「在你這裡有巴戶琳的便雅憫人，基拉的兒子示每；我往瑪哈念去的那日，他用狠毒的言語咒罵我，後來卻下約但河迎接我，我就指著耶和華向他起誓說：我必不用刀殺你。現在你不要以他為無罪。你是聰明人，必知道怎樣待他，使他白頭見殺，流血下到陰間。」(王上 2:8-9)
有解經者認為“ 向他( 示每) 寬容是顯出大衛的輭弱”(K&D, 668) ；但我卻認為，這是因大衛絕不看重個人的榮辱之故！