Absalom lies with his father's concubines openly for all to see. Again, we have the replaying of David's sin. Don't we? David's sin would have been known, whispered about, certainly by the soldiers who were ordered to withdraw and leave Uriah. Does David understand that he is reaping what he has sown? Does he ponder and mourn this and consider, as all father's do, how things might have been different, how their children might have been blessed with different lives, if only the father had done things differently. If we'd only spent more time, said what was needed to be said when they were little and looked to us as a hero. Did Absalom here the whispers about his father?
Joab leads the battle to put down Absalom's rebellion. Here again, David doesn't join in the fighting. But this time he is fully occupied, waiting for word of his son. Looking out from his rooftop this time for some news rather than to be tempted. Did he stand on the same rooftop and did standing there bring together in his mind the two situations? Did David feel convicted, humbled and oh so world weary?
Interesting verse here:
This is in a battle that claims 20,000 lives. How does the forest claim more? Is it because the men run and hide in the forest and flee from the battle? Does it mean there were more than 20,000 deserters? Probably. Or is it something more magical and miraculous? Is it a seen right out of Tolkien and the Ents? Did the woods swallow them up? Did they kill them as they assisted in the death of Absalom?
Joab kills Absalom -- despite what his king has ordered concerning his son. Even though he is reminded what the king has said by those who would not kill Absalom, Joab kills him anyway. I have a feeling that Joab is one of those who is always doing what is right in his own eyes and so producing all kinds of conflicts in the lives of those around him. The heart of the law is love and not seeking your own way.
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