When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash, from the city of Rabbah in Ammon, and by Machir son of Ammiel, from Lodebar, and by Barzillai, from Rogelim in Gilead.
Shobi from Ammon – a foreigner. How David had a positive influence on others outside his world. May I likewise have such an influence, Lord.
They brought bowls, clay pots, and bedding, and also food for David and his men: wheat, barley, meal, roasted grain, beans, peas, honey, cheese, cream, and some sheep. They knew that David and his men would get hungry, thirsty, and tired in the wilderness.
Thank you, Lord, for people like this who provide an essential – and most often thankless – role (Luke 8:1-3).
King David brought all his men together, divided them into units of a thousand and of a hundred, and placed officers in command of them. Then he sent them out in three groups, with Joab and Joab’s brother Abishai and Ittai from Gath, each in command of a group.
Ittai from Gath – another foreigner! Marvelous.
“I will do whatever you think best,” the king answered. Then he stood by the side of the gate as his men marched out in units of a thousand and of a hundred. He gave orders to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake don’t harm the young man Absalom.”
Weakness. And once again, David finds himself on the sidelines (2 Samuel 11:1): a time to reflect on his culpability (2 Samuel 12:9-12) and its cost (2 Samuel 24:17).
David’s army went out into the countryside and fought the Israelites in Ephraim Forest. The Israelites were defeated by David’s men; it was a terrible defeat, with twenty thousand men killed that day.
Life’s lessons can prove to be very expensive. And while all this was a consequence of David’s sin, equally true is that the people still hadn’t learned not to trust appearances (1 Samuel 16:7).
Suddenly Absalom met some of David’s men. Absalom was riding a mule, and as it went under a large oak tree, Absalom’s head got caught in the branches. The mule ran on and Absalom was left hanging in midair.
Here now it’s Absalom’s turn to reflect! I do wonder what was going through his mind at that moment… “What could I have done differently?” “If only I had listened to Ahithophel…” (2 Samuel 17:14). Ultimately it didn’t matter once God decided his fate (Psalm 127:1).