David Flees Jerusalem

Absalom was secretly scheming to secure the crown. In order to impress the people he assumed an attitude that he thought befitted the heir apparent. He had 50 men run before him. A bodyguard for the prince. By these measures Absalom appeared to be setting forth his claim to succeed to the throne. This was equivalent to issuing a general pronouncement that he considered himself the one who would next be king.

He also met people at the city gate the place where public business was carried on and where the judges took their position for the administration of justice (see on Gen. 19:1). The people were wont to come to the king for judgment, but justice was slow. David's preoccupation with his troubles, his hesitation to take a firm stand in rebuking wrong, evidently showed in his administration of public affairs. Absalom, however, courted public favor, placing himself in the way of the people and putting his time and services at their command.

Absalom succeeded in creating a general discontent with David's administration of government. The fickle populace did not see through his scheme. The means employed were dishonest and unfair. Absalom purposely deceived the people, creating suspicion, disaffection, and animosity against the king. Everywhere men praised Absalom and criticized the king. People were wishing that David would abdicate so that Absalom might take his seat upon the throne.

Hebron was the place chosen as the site for Absalom's rebellion. It was his birthplace (ch. 3:2, 3), and the site of David's first capital. Many of the inhabitants were probably not reconciled to the transfer of the capital to Jerusalem. Being the place of Absalom's birth, it afforded a plausible pretext for holding there the great sacrificial feast in fulfillment of Absalom's supposed vow. Absalom pretended to make his return to Jerusalem appear to be a providence of God, granted him in return for a solemn vow made while he was still an exile at Geshur.

When the rebellion was made known, David suggested that those in his favor flee Jerusalem. The decision was wise, for David at the moment was totally unprepared for the crisis. In his great peril David shook off his lethargy and indecision and seemed to regain something of his early courage and swiftness of action. The sequel proved this to have been the correct course of action. Both Ahithophel (ch. 17:1, 2) and Hushai (ch. 17:7—13) recognized that delay would be fatal, and that Absalom's greatest hope for success would be to take immediate steps against David. By his flight David gave himself time to make ready a defense, and the people time to ponder their course. The horrors of a long civil war were thus averted.

David feared that he could not at the moment make a successful stand at Jerusalem. Disaffection within the city, or perhaps even in his own household, might turn the tide against him. There would not be the spirit of unity that could have been expected if Jerusalem had been attacked by a foreign foe. It was his own son who would make the assault, and he undoubtedly had many supporters within the city.