“Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother. So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness. And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city. And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands” (2 Samuel 17:24-18:4).
Introduction
David and Absalom were on the verge of battle over who was the rightful king of Israel. Absalom had learned where his father was encamped and was eager to rid himself of his influence once and for all. In these verses we are told something about both armies and how they had prepared for the ensuing conflict.
Absalom’s army
Absalom’s army set themselves up in Gilead. The army is called Israel to highlight the fact almost all the people had defected to Absalom’s side and where more numerous than David’s little band of followers who are called his “servants” in 2 Samuel 18:7, 9. We know that it must have been a huge force, for twenty thousand of them would die in battle. We ought not suppose that the men were forcibly enlisted into Absalom’s army, as Scripture implies that the initial revolt was popular with the people, therefore the men were pleased to fight for their new king.
Amasa was made the captain-in-chief of Israel’s army because Joab had gone with David when Absalom took over. Amasa was the cousin of Joab and was therefore a nephew of David. Even after the battle Amasa was appointed as head of the reunited Israeli army (19:13), which greatly offended Joab. Amasa would soon die at the hands of his cousin (20:10). No doubt Amasa, an Ishmaelite according to 1 Chronicles 2:17, was thrilled at being chosen to perform such an important role in Israel’s army. Amasa's father was Jether, but he was called Ithra to signify that he was a convert to Judaism. Jether married Abigail, a sister of David.
Absalom’s decision to set up camp in Gilead, an area consisting of rough terrain, was unwise, for it would be one of the reasons that he was quickly defeated by David who was accustomed to the hills and ravines. This mistake was due to the fact that he brought the battle to David, as a consequence he was on a wrong footing from the outset. If he had been patient his father might have sought to take Jerusalem. Absalom and his men were out of their depth, but since many of David’s men were from Gilead, they already had the upper hand before a sword was drawn.
David’s defenders
David’s small army was encamped in Mahanaim and was making ready for the coming battle. Mahanaim was a fortified city just like Jerusalem, so it afforded David the protection he needed if Absalom chose to attack him there. The Jewish historian Josephus states that David’s army was only around four thousand strong. All the children and women would be safe from the conflict. God blessed David with a great supply of food and drink, which not only brought the people strength after their fifty mile trek through the wilderness, but also to help them if the city was under siege for any length of time.
There are various names of those who supported David mentioned in the text, but the most unlikely is Shobi. This man was the brother of Hanun, the king of Ammon, who had offended David’s men and brought about a battle between the Ammonites and Israel (2 Samuel 10). It seems that Shobi took after his father Nahash who was a friend of David (2 Samuel 10:2). Another person mentioned is Machir. He took care of the crippled Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9). He was obviously delighted to know that David was continuing to care for needy Mephibosheth so took upon himself to bring supplies to him in his own time of need. Barzillai was an old man who supported David the best way he could, and though he is introduced to us here for the first time, he would have an important part to play in the future. Each of these men were rulers of the region they represented but were willing to honour and help David.
David’s defenders were not as numerous as Absalom’s army, but he organized them into three groups under Joab, Abishai and Ittai, thus attacking the opposition on three fronts. We see David making the best of the resources he had by spreading them out. He fully intended to lead them into battle. Maybe he was thinking back to the battle with the Ammonites, when he stayed at home and fell into sin, which in turn resulted in the consequences he was now suffering. His men wanted him to remain in the city and pray for them. They did not want him being caught by Absalom if the battle went against them, and they believed him to be worth more than ten thousand of them. David was commissioned by his men to be a prayer warrior rather than a soldier king. He stood at the city gates as his men filed passed him on their way to the battlefront.
Conclusion
Absalom approached the field of battle full of confidence, for surely his father’s little band of men were no match for his mighty host, but the important elements missing in his strategy was wisdom and experience. David had enough of these to spare, and besides this, God was on his side. David’s well-disciplined and skilled soldiers would prove to be too much for Absalom’s disorganised civilian army.
© 19/7/2010