DAVID RETURNS TO HIS THRONE Absalom’s rebellion, beside the war between Israel and David’s men, created several wounds, on the level of certain prominent personalities, as well as in between the different tribes. Some people were exposed as traitors to David; while some others betrayed him under pressure. Returning to the throne, needed from David, to be prudent in action, beside carrying out certain important connections. 1- Joab gets David out of his mourning for Absalom 1-8 2- The tribe of Judah’s encounter with David 9-15 3- Shimei and Ziba’s encounter with David 16-23 4- Mehibosheth’s encounter with David 24-30 5- Barzillai’s encounters with David 31-40 6- A dispute between the tribes 41-43 1- Joab gets David out of his mourning for Absalom: David’s great grief and mourning for his rebellious son Absalom, was considered by Joab, to be an insult to the people who risked their life for his sake; and who expected a word of thanks, and a joyous celebration of the victory. That is why Joab came into the house of the king to talk to him in a way, and with words, that should not be addressed to a king; saying to him: “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; For today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well” (2 Samuel 19: 5, 6) Joab exaggerated in what he said: that David loved his enemies who hate him, and hated those who loved him. If Absalom happened to conquer, he would have killed David, his children, wives, men, and particularly the mighty warriors like Joab; And David, did not hate those who loved him. Daringly, Joab, for fear, lest the people would forsake David, and look for another king, on account that he preferred his rebellious son on all of them, requested from David: “Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants” (2 Samuel 19: 7). We can not deny David’s delicate feelings toward everyone, particularly his son Absalom; Yet, he should have gone beyond personal and familial relationships, for the sake of his love and care for his people; His extreme grief for his rebellious son, actually hurt the feelings of his men, who did not expect that from their king. Anyway, the Holy Book intended by that, to demonstrate, that it is difficult for man, to rid himself of personal and familial emotions, even as far as the greatest of prophets and saints are concerned. 2- The tribe of Judah’s encounter with David: The situation was confusing throughout Israel. All the tribes recalled David’s role, since his childhood, in defending them, in the days of King Saul; beside his splendid record as a king. Yet, when his son rebelled against him, and many people joined him; ... 133 there he was, mourning his death... Now Absalom was dead; they became with no king; and did not know what to do; especially the tribe of Judah, who backed Absalom in his rebellion, and were fearing retaliation by David. So David dispatched Zadok and Abiathar the priests to the tribe of Judah, to hasten to proclaim their submission to David; And in order to wipe away their embarrassment, he reminded them that they were his brethren, his bone and his flesh. He dispatched them as well to Amasa, the commander of Absalom’s army, with a promise to appoint him the commander of his army in Joab’s place; in order to gain back the people who supported Absalom; and at the same time, to get rid of Joab, who killed Abner and Absalom, and talked harshly and indecently to David, beside harboring certain embarrassing memories concerning his crime against Uriah the Hittite. Then the king returned and came to the Jordan; and Judah came to Gilgal (between Jericho and the Jordan), to go to meet and escort the king across the Jordan. Although David acted wisely to regain the hearts of Judah, his action had its negative aspect; having alienated the rest of the tribes, who assumed that Judah felt a kind of isolationism and superiority, counting David as their personal king, being from their tribe. David dispatched the two priests: ‘Zadok,’ meaning (righteous), and ‘Abiathar,’ meaning (father of wealth); to draw, by love, his own tribe to him. And in the fullness of time, the Son of David, Himself-the incarnated Word of God-came to us to draw us to Him, through His exalted Holy life, and His divine Fatherhood, rich in love; to set us, as members of His body, His bone, and His flesh; His holy Church. Who, among us, like ‘Amasa,’ had an evil role of leadership to the account of Absalom (a symbol of the devil), will be transformed by His divine grace, to become a leader to the account of the kingdom of Christ; the same way he did with ‘Saul’ of Tarsus, who used to persecute the Church, to become by His grace, a faithful apostle and a preacher for Christ. As David cared for Judah as a tribe, and for ‘Amasa’ as an individual, so also the Lord Christ cares for His Church, as a holy congregation-His only bride; without disregarding any single member in it. The edification of the Church is to the account of the growth of every member in it; and likewise, the edification of every member, is to the account of the congregation as a whole; with no separation between the collective Church, and the personal experience of each one of its members. 3- Shemei and Ziba’s encounter with David: Shemei and Ziba, hastened to meet David: the first cursed him while fleeing from Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16: 5-13); and the second deceived him, when he claimed that Mephibosheth coveted his throne (2 Samuel 16: 1-4). The first came with 1000 men from Benjamin; and the second came with his 15 sons and 20 servants; They all crossed the Jordan to meet the king. While Abishai considered it the right time to put Shemei to death, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed, David, on the other hand, counted it a time for joy, for healing wounds, and for dealing with everyone with love, big heart; and forgiveness. How amazing is David’s personality! With every success or conquest, he does not seek authority that when he gets, he does not abuse it; but transfers it to love and care. He sees the royal throne as way to gather together, to reconcile, to unite; and not to create 134 more dissension. By forgiving Shemei, he swayed to himself the hearts of all the tribe of Benjamin; and all the other tribes as well, had their hearts comforted by such forgiving spirit. If we say this concerning a king, what would we say concerning the Bishop or Priest, or any spiritual leader?! Clergy is fatherhood and care, rather than authority and dictatorship; is love in Christ, and not arrogance, and temporal dignity! The honor of clergy is great. Yet if a priest abuses it, his perdition will be horrible. A priest is not saved for his honor; but for his actions, according to the ways fitting it. St. Eronimos1 4- Mephibosheth’s encounter with David: Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, came from his house in Benjamin to Jerusalem to meet king David; He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in peace; to find the door open before him! David’s heart, together with the doors of his palace, were open before everyone, even before his adversaries and opponents. He encountered Shemei, who cursed him; Ziba, who deceived him; and here he encountered Mephibosheth, who made it clear to him, how Ziba deceived him, took away his donkeys, and left him lame and helpless (2 Samuel 16: 1-4). David admonished Mephbosheth for not going with him; yet gave him the chance to defend himself; and when he realized that he was abused by Ziba, he forgave him, and gave his order to divide the land-or most probably the crops-between Ziba and Mephibosheth. He did not condemn Ziba, nor dismissed him from Mephiboshet’s service, because he did him a favor in the time of his affliction. Mephibosheth was so moved by David’s words, that he proclaimed to the king, that his pleasure for his coming back in peace to his kingdom, was more important than getting back half of his possessions and could not be compared with any other gain. David was a symbol of the Lord Christ, who came to our world through a manger, with no doors or bolts; open before all to enter and talk to him; And as we hear His voice, we count His coming to our inner Jerusalem, better than any blessing or gain, we may get! His dwelling in us, is incomparable to any blessing, whatever its value is! Our Christ dwells in our hearts, to fulfill all our needs. 5- Barzillai’s encounter with David: Barzillai the Gileadite, a very aged man, 80 years old, came down from Rogelim, and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. The King proposed that if he would come across with him to Jerusalem, he would provide for him there; to pay him back for what he did to him, as he fled and came to Mahnaim, when , together with Shobi the son of Nahash, and Machir the son of Ammiel , brought earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey and curds, sheep and cheese, for David and the men who were with him to eat (2 Samuel 17: 27, 28). Barzillai refrained from heeding the king’s proposition, on account of his old age, that did not let him anymore discern between good and bad food, nor hear any longer the . 1 الحب الرعوي، ص ١٤٧ 135 voice of the singing men and singing women; and he would rather die in his own city, and be buried by the grave of his father and mother. But he suggested to the king to let his son Chimham cross over with the king, and to do for him what seemed good to him. David commended him to his son Solomon (1 Kings 2: 7); who probably made him a governor over Bethlehem (Jeremiah 41: 17); and according to some people, the Lord Christ was born in his house. Through all the encounters mentioned in this chapter, we see in David a symbol of the Lord Christ, who encountered the following: 1- With the Church as a whole, symbolized by the tribe of Judah, to enjoy the union with Him, as His one body; while at the same time, caring for ‘Amasa,’ as a sign of His care for every single member. 2- With the fallen repentant souls, as Shemei who previously cursed David. 3- With the souls that lied and deceived; and now are coming with repentance, as Ziba. 4- With the broken and afflicted souls, as Mephibosheth. 5- With the pious souls, that only care for departing from the world, as Brazillai the Gileadite. 6- The souls, new to faith, as Chimham the son of Barzillai, to grant them authority and to dwell inside them. 6- A dispute between the tribes: The king dispatched the two priests: Zadok and Abiathar to motivate the tribe of Judah to hasten to come to the king; intending by that to sway back their hearts to him, after being exhorted by Absalom against him. They came to Gilgal; beside some Benjamites who came with Shemei; together with some of those who were dwelling east of the Jordan, from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. The rest of the other tribes, far in the west, came a little later, and counted the going of the tribe of Judah before them, as an insult and degradation. To that, the men of Judah answered, that they did not do this for their own benefit, as much as because of their closeness to the king geographically; saying: “Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?!
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