“The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.”
-2 Samuel 17:26
Verse 26 tells us that Absalom and his men set up camp in the land of Gilead.
Now, don’t be fooled by the term “Israelites” in this verse.
It doesn’t mean all of Israel.
It’s just a general term referring to men from all twelve tribes who decided to place their bets on the anti-king, Absalom.
And Gilead refers to the city of Jabesh-Gilead, an area located north of David’s makeshift headquarters at Machanayim.
It wasn’t some random town.
Way back in the Book of Judges, its women were given as wives to help the tribe of Benjamin survive after a war wiped most of them out.
Years later, Saul, who was a Benjamite, became king when he saved Jabesh-Gilead from an enemy attack.
And when Saul died in battle, the people of Jabesh-Gilead risked their lives to bring back his body and give him a proper burial.
The whole point here is that Jabesh-Gilead always had close ties to the tribe of Benjamin, a group that sided with the northern alliance.
This means, out of all the tribes, they had the least interest in supporting David, since he hailed from the southern Judah.
On the other hand, they would’ve warmly welcomed an enemy of David, even if that enemy was David’s own son.
This brings me to an interesting observation.
In Scripture, we encounter many scenes that reflect the ongoing conflict between northern and southern Israel.
The war between David (the Christ), who represents the south, and his son, Absalom (the anti-Christ), who represents the north (though being a Judahite), is just one example.
And what I just talked about now, about Benjamin being a northern tribe that would warmly welcome Absalom but be hostile to David, is another example.
Yet, what I find interesting is that the man who will go down in history as one of the greatest propagators of the gospel is an Israelite proudly hailing from the tribe of Benjamin.
Of course, I’m talking about the Apostle Paul…
Otherwise known as Rabbi Shaul in messianic circles.
He was a Benjamite who would break tradition with his ancestors and bow down to the Judahite, Yeshua of Nazareth.
Or another way to put it, Paul, an Israelite (when I say Israelite, I’m referring to the fact he is a northern tribal member), will warmly embrace a southerner from the Tribe of Judah (meaning Yeshua).
So in a small way, we see a fleshing out and demonstration of how all Israel (meaning the northern tribes) will be saved.
Ya feeling me here?
See ya all next time.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“I ask then: Did God reject his people?
By no means! I am an Israelite myself,
a descendant of Abraham,
from the tribe of Benjamin.”
-Romans 11:1
“And in this way,
All Israel will be saved.
As it is written:
‘The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.”
-Romans 11:26
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