Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Samuel 16:15–23, “And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence. Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”
David left Jerusalem when he heard that Absalom was coming. Absalom came with his supporters and entered the city without any trouble. David’s foresight in leaving the city open paid off and it wasn’t damaged by any battle that may, otherwise, have taken place. Ahithophel, had been with Absalom when he planned to take the kingdom so he came in triumph into the city. When Absalom came, Hushai went to meet Absalom and proclaimed him as the king. Absalom was surprised because he knew that Hushai was David’s friend so he question Hushai on his quick desertion of David. Hushai was still acting as David’s friend so he had to think quickly or he would have lost his credibility and any chance to help David. Hushai knew that Absalom was a vain man and he told him that he wanted to support the new king, who was David’s son after all, as he had supported the old king. In those days, a conquering king would rape the old king’s wives to show that he was more powerful than the old king. Ahithophel told Absalom to do that with David’s concubines, who had been left behind to watch David’s palace. Absalom had now way back after following this advice but he didn’t mind. Ahithophel had such a great reputation that everyone believed consulting him was the same as consulting a priest who was using Urim and Thummim to find the Lord’s will on any matter.
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