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?
(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?
(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?
(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).
(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?
(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?
(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?