Sep 12, 2021. II Samuel 17:15-29

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ESCAPE BEYOND THE JORDAN.  II Samuel 17:15-29.  9/12/21.  #39.

2 Samuel 17:15-29 [New King James Version]

¹⁵ Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. ¹⁶ Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ” ¹⁷ Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. ¹⁸ Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. ¹⁹ Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. ²⁰ And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” So the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. ²¹ Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, “Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” ²² So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan. ²³ Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb. ²⁴ Then David went to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. ²⁵ And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. ²⁶ So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. ²⁷ Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, ²⁸ brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, ²⁹ honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

1. David warned
   1. Hushai and Zadok the priest had set up a spy network which included a place to hide before going to David
      1.  Hushai goes to Zadok and explains his advice and that of Ahithophel
      1.  Hushai is not sure which advice Absalom will follow, so he warns David to flee across Jordan
   1. A woman hides the 2 messengers in a well as she spreads grain over the cover of the well
      1.  A boy had seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan leaving the area quickly, so he told this to Absalom
      1.  When Abs.’s men ask her where A and J are she tells them that they had already crossed the brook
   1. The woman faced the same dilemma as Rahab the Harlot
      1.  Rahab decided to lie rather than expose the spies
      1.  This woman lies to save Hushai’s messengers
      1.  A deception to prevent evil is not held to account
   1. Hus. sends advice for David and all his men to flee
      1.  David’s troops need rest, but they are not safe
      1.  All of David’s troops escape over Jordan at night
2. David escaped and Ahithophel’s disgrace
   1. Abs. missed his golden chance to crush his father’s forces
   1. Ahithophel’s plan had been rejected
      1.  He wanted to take 12,000 men and immediately attack David, killing him
      1.  Ahithophel knew that Hushai’s plan would fail
         1.  He probably suspected Hus. as a spy
         1.  Ahithophel’s desire for revenge was thwarted
      1.  Ahithophel puts his house in order and then hangs himself
   1. Why did Ahithophel commit suicide?
      1.  Ahithophel had put all his desires into killing David
      1.  His plan and position as chief advisor were rejected
      1.  The more time that passed, the stronger David would become (Abs. had to be successful quickly)
      1.  When David wins, Ahithophel would be executed
   1. 3 main reasons for suicide:
      1.  Medical condition of depression or imbalances
      1.  Situational condition of misery or pressures
      1.  Self-inflicted trauma due to poor choices
   1. When people don’t seek the Lord, then suicide is possible
3. God provides for David
   1. David arrives safely over the Jordan
   1. Absalom chose Amasa to be his general (Amasa had violated Abigail, Joab’s cousin and David’s niece)
   1. Barzillai, the Gileadite from Mahanaim (territory of Gad and Reuben) met David with provisions of food and drink
      1.  Barzillai was the father of Adriel, husband of Princess Merab, Saul’s daughter
      1.  God had moved Barzillai to help David
   1. Even though David was being punished for his affair with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, he was still God’s choice to remain on the throne and to head the line to the Messiah
      1.  David had confessed his sins and repented
      1.  Judgment was not up to Absalom or Ahithophel
   1. God had not forced Amon or Absalom to act wickedly, but he had allowed them to choose their own wicked path
      1.  Providence allows wicked men to fulfill the will of God (pharaoh, Haman, Herod, Judas, Antichrist)
      1.  Habakkuk 2 God will use evil men and then punish them