While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman went up to the roof Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”
But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
Father, how many more years will I live? Please remember how fleeting my life is (Isaiah 40:7).
So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell, and Barzillai returned to his home.
A road already travelled. Lead me to a new one, Lord (Isaiah 42:16).
The Israelites replied, “We have ten times as many claims on King David as you have, even if he is one of you. Why do you look down on us? Don’t forget that we were the first to talk about bringing the king back!”
But the men of Judah were more violent in making their claims than the men of Israel.
Saving face (Judges 8:1-3). Please help me to stop managing my image, Lord. I so want to be without pretention (Psalm 131).
There happened to be in Gilgal a worthless character named Sheba son of Bikri, of the tribe of Benjamin. He blew the trumpet and called out, “Down with David! We won’t follow him! Men of Israel, let’s go home!” So the Israelites deserted David and went with Sheba, but the men of Judah remained loyal and followed David from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
There will always be a Sheba around to exploit a difficult situation and make it worse. What’s happening here is so similar to what will happen in 1 Kings 12:16. There was always a tension between Judah and the rest of the country. Perhaps it was only a matter of time that they would split…
When David arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and put them under guard. He provided for their needs, but did not have intercourse with them. They were kept confined for the rest of their lives, living like widows.
David is staring down a civil war and this is what he does?! It’s like these women have become vessels that someone could use to touch his soul. I am so far from understanding the mystery and implications of the sacred union of husband and wife (1 Corinthiens 7:14-16). May I forever remain as I am, Lord (1 Corinthiens 7:32).
The king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together and be back here with them by the day after tomorrow.” Amasa went to call them, but he did not get back by the time the king had told him to. So the king said to Abishai, “Sheba will give us more trouble than Absalom. Take my men and go after him, or else he may occupy some fortified towns and escape from us.”
A good plan executed immediately is always better than a great plan executed too late.