After David had passed the summit of Mount Olivet and was proceeding toward the wilderness, he was overtaken by Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant. He brought the king and his followers a present of two donkeys, a quantity of bread and fruit, and a bottle of wine. When the king inquired as to Mephibosheth’s whereabouts, Ziba told him that he had remained in Jerusalem to wait for the kingdom to be restored to his own family. Being deeply moved by the timely attention shown to him by Ziba, and presuming upon the apparent treachery of Mephibosheth; David – without inquiring into the matter further, as he should have done – immediately conferred upon Ziba the estates which he had previously given to his master Mephibosheth.

As the mournful procession neared the village of Bahurim, they encountered a relative of Saul, named Shimei. This man had apparently nursed a grudge for nearly 30 years, because of the setting up of David as Israel’s ruler, instead of Saul’s descendants. He assailed the king with a torrent of coarse invectives – cursing him and casting stones at him. He continued this conduct for a considerable length of time, running along the side of the hill so as to keep just alongside the king. Being moved with indignation at this atrocious conduct, Abishai implored David for permission to go over and take off the slanderer’s head. However, the king gave him a positive refusal. He resolved to submit to this indignity as another ingredient in the bitter cup which the Providence of God had assigned him.

When the king and his followers arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, they prepared to rest for the night. They had walked about 25 miles (40 km) that day, over bad roads, and in a part of the country that was mostly wild and mountainous. Naturally, everyone in the group required refreshment and rest.

Meanwhile, as David and his friends were making this inhospitable journey, Absalom came to Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel and a multitude of followers. Upon his arrival, Hushai went to see him; and he saluted the usurper with “God save the king!” Evidently this was more than Absalom had expected. The character of Hushai stood high for integrity and fidelity, and the rebel had not dared to hope for his assistance. So, scarcely knowing what to make of his homage, Absalom – apparently forgetting the duty that he himself owed to his father – reproached Hushai for deserting his friend. But Hushai’s reply set all Absalom’s misgivings at rest, so he joyfully received him into the ranks of his followers and installed him among his private counselors. We cannot avoid observing that although Hushai was attempting to help and serve his rightful sovereign, nothing can excuse the deception and falsehood with which he went about doing so. The ends don’t justify the means. The Lord’s Providence could and would have saved David, even if these false professions of devotion to Absalom had never been put forth by Hushai.

Having secured possession of the capital city and the palace, Absalom asked Ahithophel what he should do next to carry out his intentions. The wise politician proposed that Absalom should go and engage in immorality with his father’s concubines whom he had left in charge of the house. Ahithophel’s counsel was intended to make an irreparable breach between the father and the son; as well as to exhibit a public claim, on the part of Absalom, to royal authority – even over the king’s harem. And this advice – disgusting and repugnant to every idea of modesty and propriety – was actually carried out. Thus the most terrible part of Nathan’s malediction, in chapter 12:11-12, was completely fulfilled. “I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor,” the Lord had said; “thou didst it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.” It was as he walked on the roof of his house that David first saw Bathsheba, and it was on the same roof that Absalom’s shameful exhibition took place. It was on the same spot where David had stood when his lustful passions were raised and his adulterous plans were formed, that this humiliating and revolting punishment was inflicted upon him.

Meanwhile, the people of the city took note of all this. And as they saw men of such acknowledged ability as Ahithophel and Hushai among the principal supporters of Absalom, they easily transferred their allegiance to him. They were probably even more willing to do this because the flight of David had seemed to them to be a virtual abdication of the throne – or, at least, an indication that he had no confidence in the loyalty of the inhabitants of his capital city. In any case, they were quite ready – if not eager – to welcome Absalom as their king. This picture of the fleeting fickleness of popular favor reminds us of those people who – centuries later – cried “Hosanna!” at one time, and “Crucify him!” at another, in reference to a nobler Prince than the son of Jesse! May the Lord give us grace to hold Jesus in high esteem at all times, and not be discouraged by the conflicts and trials that we will sometimes be brought under by those who have turned their backs on their rightful Sovereign, in order to serve the devil!

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