Absalom’s Treachery

Absalom sought to impress the people by appointing a personal bodyguard to accompany him whenever he rode in his chariot.

This display showed he considered himself to be the next king.

Daily he sat at the city gate and questioned those coming to seek redress from David. Being a skilled politician, Absalom gained their gratitude and loyalty.

“Absalom assumed an air of benignity and righteous indignation at the sad state of affairs. If only he were judge, the people would not be deprived of their rights, for he would see that the situation was quickly remedied. Every cause for dissatisfaction he turned to his own advantage and against the king. At every opportunity he expressed his sympathies and regrets at the inefficiencies of administration, and his earnest wish to set things right.” It was not long before the people were openly advocating the abdication of David in favor of his son.

Absalom now moved to the next phase of his plan.

He told David he had sworn a sacred oath that if the Lord allowed him to return to Jerusalem, he would serve the Lord faithfully.

He, therefore, asked permission to go to Hebron to fulfill that vow.

David bade him go in peace. Hebron was the birthplace of Absalom (2 Samuel 3:2, 3) and was the site of David’s first capital.

Many in Hebron were still unhappy that David had moved the capital and its commerce to Jerusalem. Absalom fooled his father into thinking he was a dutiful son. He now sent spies throughout the land, telling his followers to say he had been crowned king at Hebron. In Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, Absalom had a valuable ally who furthered the conspiracy. Ahithophel “was estranged from David by personal resentment over David’s misconduct against Bath-sheba, Ahithophel’s granddaughter. . . . His son Eliam ([2 Sam.] 23:34) was the father of Bath-sheba (ch.11:3).” Absalom thought he had foreseen every detail in his plot to be made king, but he failed to see his ambition would lead to his own demise.