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 14:28–33, “So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face. Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.”
Absalom wanted to be king. He found an excuse to kill his brother, the firstborn son but he had to flee from Israel to save his life. While Joab was always loyal to David, he was also interested in what was best for himself so he was trying to make sure that everything would be good for himself when David finally died. Joab tried to ensure that he was in Absalom’s good books because he believed Absalom was the most likely to succeed as king. When Absalom came back to Jerusalem he tried to further his own scheme but the king wouldn’t see him. Finally Absalom became frustrated when Joab, who had access to the king wouldn't come to see him. Joab didn’t really want to jeopardise his current situation so he didn’t make much effort to see Absalom when Absalom called him. Absalom had a plan, he burnt Joab’s grain in the field and Joab came to him. Joab was angry but Absalom bullied Joab and told him to arrange for a meeting with the king. When Absalom came to see the king he bowed low and acted as though he were a loyal servant.
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