The final string to Absalom’s bow in v5 is to pretend to be a man of the people. Whenever someone comes near to him to pay homage, to bow down before him perhaps, Absalom instead reaches out and hugs and kisses him. He doesn’t have any airs or graces. It’s easy for Absalom to do. He doesn’t have any other […]

The next thing Absalom does in verses 2-6 is to try and win the hearts and minds of the people. In v2 he makes sure he’s standing at the gate when anyone comes to the king to ask him to rule on a dispute. Absalom pretends to show an interest in them by asking where they’re from. Then he says: […]

David is king. He’s finally ruling after so many years on the run from Saul. And yet his own son Absalom is going to launch a challenge for the throne. By the end of the chapter, David will be on the run again. There’s a lot we can learn from David’s faith, and be warned about from Absalom’s scheming. But […]