Day 92. 2 Samuel 16-18

In the confusion surrounding Absalom's rebellion it is sometimes hard for us to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
Ziba, the servant of Mephiboseth, pretends to be a good guy and paints his master as a bad guy (16:1ff). This will be revealed later on as a deception intended to curry favor with David. No one, apparently, is exactly what he seems.
Shimei, who hurls curses and stones at David and his exiled court, appears bad. But apparently there is still a faction in Israel, especially among the Benjaminites, that remains loyal to the house of Saul and blames David for the deaths of Abner and Ishbaal. So David will not allow his followers to kill Shimei, in spite of his insults, recognizing the truth that power always draws hatred. "My own son seeks my life," the king says, "how much more now may this Benjaminite" (16:11).
David's friend Hushai pretends to turn his support to Absalom, but is actually remains loyal to David. Ahithophel was also a counselor to David, who is willing to now to support Absalom with advice. He advises Absalom to "go in" to his father's concubines. This would insult David and help support Absalom's claim to be king, although it is technically incest according to the Law of Moses (16:20). Ahithophel also, quite pragmatically, suggests that Absalom quickly follow up his advantage, pursue David, "strike down only the king, and bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband" (17:2).
The advice is good. But Hushai counsels a much larger campaign, sowing insecurities in Absalom, while pretending to be loyal to him. All the while he is working on David's side, playing for time. Absalom foolishly chooses the advice of Hushai (17:14). In the meantime Hushai warns David to escape. Ahithophel returns home in disgrace and commits suicide (17:23).
So the stage is set for the last act of Absalom's tragedy. Joab, David's commander, convinces the king not to lead his own troops into battle in the forest of Ephraim. His clever military man knows that David's weakness is his tender heart, and Joab fears that the king's emotions may get in the way of a decisive victory. So David lets him go without him, but with a final order that Joab "deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom" (18:5), pleading Absalom's youth and his love for the young man.
The battle is joined in difficult terrain. We are told that "the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword" (18:8). The men of Israel, Absalom's army, are defeated, and there is terrible slaughter. Absalom, riding on a mule—a royal mount in ancient times—is caught by his beautiful hair in an oak tree and left hanging between heaven and earth ( 18:9).
Now Joab reveals his true colors, disobeys the king, and taking three spears, he thrusts them into the heart of Absalom, "while he was still alive in the oak" (18:14). Waiting at the gate, the anxious David is told of the great victory. But all that he can think of is his son. "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" he anxiously asks the messengers (18:32). When he learns the heartbreaking truth, Nathan's curse falls fully upon David, and he collapses upon the weight of grief, crying, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (18:33).
A heart capable of such love can be a great handicap in a king.