When we last left off, we had the elderly and worn-out King David standing at the gates of Machanayim, asking the army to go easy on Absalom. Imagine the confusion the men must’ve felt when they heard that. They were being asked not to kill the very man who sought to overthrow David’s kingdom. Forgive […]

“The king gave orders to Yo’av, Avishai, and Ittai, ‘For my sake, deal gently with young Avshalom.’ All the people were listening when the king gave all the commanders this order concerning Avshalom.”-2 Samuel 18:5 After David agreed with his men’s suggestion that he should not go out and fight with them, we’re told that […]

“Then David dispatched the people, a third of them under the command of Yo’av, a third under Avishai the son of Tz’ruyah, Yo’av’s brother, and a third under Ittai the Gitti; and the king said to the people, ‘I will also go out with you, myself.‘”-2 Samuel 18:2 To prepare for the battle with Absalom, […]

“David took a census of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds.”-2 Samuel 18:1 Why did David take a census? It was purely a military thing. It was customary for a king or military leader to take count of his men before a big battle. It […]

Today, we begin 2nd Samuel Chapter Eighteen. For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE. For the King James Version, click HERE. In the opening verses of this chapter, the wisdom of Achitofel’s instructions to Absalom becomes apparent. Recall what those instructions were. He told Absalom to take 12,000 men and immediately pursue David, strike down […]