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001

 

II Samuel

Chapter 14 (Continued)
17a~~Now your female servant concludes,
"Please {sir} . . . let the decision of my lord the king
become tranquility for me . . .
for my lord the king is like a messenger/angel from God
judging between the good and the evil.
  {this is flattery - she only thinks of David as a good audience and a
  sucker Joab's script calls for flattery to reinforce a weak
  argument}

{Promise of Divine Blessing - from an 'Actress'!}
17b~~Therefore Jehovah/God your 'Elohiym /
Godhead will be . . . with you.
  {the best manipulators need to conclude by bringing the Lord
  into it . . . on their side . . . and will be on YOURS if you do what
  THEY want! This is 'Manipulative Power' - power over a person -
    conning a person by promising 'divine blessing' }

{Note: The principal here is that three types of Power can be used to distort justice when the judge is in the interlocking gates of arrogance: 1)Exploitive power - presupposes threat or the use of violence; 2) Manipulative power - power over a person 3) Competitive power - saying you will become greater in the eyes of the people and the eyes of God!}

{Suspicion of the King}
18~~Then the king answered and said to the woman
  {Joab had overcooked the scenario - now David is suspicious of this
  woman - the trick indicated genius she did not have - so David is
  staring her down},
"Please {ma 'me} {when David gets polite - look out!}

Do not conceal from me anything which I am about to ask you.
  {now the actress is off script and will panic - the curtain is coming
  down on the drama David is starting to see Joab's genius in this
  trap}.

And the woman said, "Let my lord the king now speak."
  {she has now given up the right to not incriminate herself (our Fifth
  Amendment right)}

{Verses 19-20: Interrogation and Confession of Plaintiff}
19~~And the king said,
"{Is} . . . The hand of Joab . . . with you in all of this?"
  {the lack of verb gives this great emphasis}

Then the woman answered and said,
"By the life of your soul {nephesh} . . .
my lord the king . . . {in effect - Yes}
  {the life of David's soul is 'thought' and she knows he is too smart
  to fool him anymore}
'yes sir you hit the nail on the head'/'you are 100% right'
  {idiom: literally 'truly there is nothing to the right or to the left'}
from all of which my lord the king has spoken.

Yes, it was your servant Joab . . .
he ordered/commanded me to play this part
  {Joab was the producer of the drama}
  {not quite true - Joab was calling in a favor and she was willing to
  take the exposure to danger}

and he 'put all these words in the mouth of your female subject' {directed the scenario}.
  {she is pleading distress in her complicity and wanting no
  punishment from the king}

{Note: This woman is quick to betray here benefactor (Joab) and flatter her accuser (David). This is the last we hear of her. Both David and Joab must not have anything else to do with her - no integrity. Her talent lies in being something she isn't and that does not inspire integrity. Being an actor does not make someone 'superior' so why do the unwashed masses 'worship' them and their opinions? A nation enmeshed in arrogance just does.}

{Flattery}
20~~For the purpose of 'turning around'/changing/reversing
'the face of the matter'/'the judicial decision condemning Absalom'
your servant Joab
has done/'manufactured out of this drama' {`asah}
this thing {drama}.

But my lord {David} is wise,
according to the wisdom of an angel of God,
to know/'see through' . . . everything that happens in the land.

{Note: The actress is now flattering David with 'you knew all along this was a fake drama and you went along with it so you could do what you wanted to do - to pardon your beloved son Absalom".}

{Note: RBT says from Deuteronomy 33:2 and Psalms 68:17, we see that angels taught the Mosaic Law in the time of Moses. They can be invisible and see without being seen. So the Jews thought them to be almost omniscient.}

21~~Then the king said unto Joab,
"Yes, now I have done this thing.

Go, therefore, bring back the 'young man' Absalom
  {shuwb - Hiphil stem - RBT says the Hiphil stem indicates (with
  verse 24) that Absalom is pardoned but not completely, he will
  be placed in the custody of Joab - Joab caused him to be
  brought back and Absalom's future behavior is his responsibility}."

{Note: By using 'young man', David is indicating that Absalom is NOT being restored to 'Prince elect' the future king of Israel. David pardoned Absalom but did not personally forgive him. This is another error of David.}

{Exuberance of Joab}
22~~And Joab fell with his face to the ground
  {naphal - an informal bow - a bow and salute to the king}.

He both honored/'bowed himself' {shachah - the official formal bow},
and saluted the king.

Then Joab said, "Today . . . your 'loyal subject'
knows that I have found grace in your eyes,
my lord, O king,
because the king has performed/fulfilled the request of his servant."

{Note: Joab erroneously equates 'getting his way' . . . with 'the grace of God' - a misapplication of the doctrine of grace. He also thinks all the nations problems are solved by bringing back Absalom. Instead, he and David will soon be in the woods looking for soldiers to fight on their side!}

{Verses 23-24: Absalom Remanded to Custody of Joab}
23~~So Joab got up and went to Geshur
  {instant action - Joab was 'enthusiastic' about his mission},
and cause Absalom to be brought back to Jerusalem.

24~~Then the king commanded,
"He will {an order} go back to his own palace.

And, he {Absalom} will not see my face."

So Absalom returned to his own palace
  {overtly obeying the king - but we will see in his soul he was
  bitter},
and did not see the face of the king
  {so from bitterness, Absalom will remain a criminal. He will remain
  out of fellowship, revolt against his father, and die the sin unto
  death}.

{Note: A pardon means 'as if he never committed the crime'. If a criminal who is pardoned is to be rehabilitated, society must follow both the letter and spirit of the law. The letter of the law says 'his crimes are to be forgotten'

(see Isaiah 43:25). David followed the letter of the law. But David violated the 'spirit of the law'. He pardoned Absalom, but he did NOT forgive and forget personally. And, this will cause more problems for him in the future.}

{Verses 25-26: Results of Pardon Without Forgiveness - the Narcissus Syndrome}
25~~Now in all Israel,
there was no man so highly praised {halal}
for his beauty as Absalom.

From the sole of his foot to the top of his head
there was no blemish/defect {m'uwm} on him
  {means Absalom had skin in perfect condition - important to ladies}.

{Note: The Narcissus syndrome is when the person is so
beautiful . . . and he/she knows it . . . to the point that they become arrogant because of their outer beauty. Physical beauty without soul beauty is a disaster in the making - resulting in self-centerness and no capacity for love. This verse is telling us Absalom was arrogant because of his physical attractiveness. The beauty of Absalom will end up destroying him (see also Lucifer - for a similar situation). Beauty + humility = virtue (& objectivity);
Beauty + arrogance = evil (& subjectivity).}

{The Degeneracy of Long Hair in the Male}
26~~And when he {Absalom} had a hair cut,
(for it was at the end of the year that he cut it {once a year} . . .
because it was too heavy for him, therefore he cut it)
the weight the hair of his head . . .
at 'five pounds'/'two hundred shekels' by the king's scales
  {scales used for 'tithing' - the Jews income tax - 10% -
  so probably means a half pound of hair - 10% of five pounds}.

{Note: Principal: Long hair on a man is a sign of his rejection of authority and is dishonorable (I Corinthians 11:14). Whereas, long hair on a woman is her glory and it is also a protection of the woman from angels (I Corinthians 11:15; 11:10). The exception is the Nazarite vow of Numbers 6:5 (Sampson was a Nazarite - as was John the Baptist/Baptizer/Herald). So here, intended or not, Absalom was 'impressing the people' with how 'spiritual' he was by having long hair.}

27~~Incidently, to Absalom were born three sons
and one daughter . . . whose name was Tamar.

She was a woman of beautiful appearance {like her Aunt Tamar}.

{Note: If Absalom had taken the Nazarite vow and his long hair was evidence of that vow, then he could not touch women! So, Absalom's long hair was a sign of his rejection of authority. SideNote: the names of the three sons are never given. From II Samuel 18:18 it appears they all died in youth. Tamar was named after her famous aunt who was raped by Amnon (who was then murdered by Absalom).}

{Verses 28-33: David's Arrogance Hangover}
28~~Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem,
without seeing the face of the king.

{Note: Society recognized Absalom as a law abiding citizen under the king's pardon, but David still refuses to forgive him.}

29~~Consequently, Absalom sent for Joab,
to present him face to face with the king.

But he {Joab} refused {'abah -verb of negative volition}
to come to him {Absalom}.

So he {Absalom} sent again for him a second time . . .
but he {Joab} refused to come.

{Note: Absalom needs to get back right with David, so that he can use this to start a revolution against David. But Joab now realizes that Absalom is not the man to be the next king and is not supporting Absalom in his efforts.}

{Absalom Proves He is Still a Criminal At Heart}
30~~Then he {Absalom} said to his servants,
"Observe that Joab's field/property adjoins mine,
and that he has a crop of barley there.

Go and set it {the barley in the field} on fire.

Therefore, the Absalom's servants set the 'crop of barley' on fire.

{Note: An attack on personal property is an attack on God's Laws for Establishment (same with any attack on personal freedoms). This applies to both the criminal and/or the Federal Government - an attack on freedoms and free enterprise is evil. Maltreatment from others (David) does NOT justify maltreatment to others (Joab)}

{Coercion and Manipulation of Joab}
31~~Then Joab 'went into action'/got up {quwm},
and went to Absalom . . . at his palace/house,
and said unto him {a confrontation},
"Why have your servants set my field on fire?

{Note: Absalom flunked the injustice test. David wronged him to pardon him but only a half-forgiveness over the last two years. So Absalom fails and bitterness sends him into the arrogance complex.}

{Secondary Manipulation}
32~~Then Absalom replied to Joab,
"Now look . . . I sent for you, saying, "Come here . . .
that I may send you to the king, to inquire . . .
Why have I {Absalom} come from Geshur?

'It would have been better for me if I were still there
  {literally 'It would have been good for me to have been there still'}.

Now, therefore, let me see the king's face;
and if there is guilt in me,
then let him {David} put me {Absalom} to death."

{Note: Absalom is pointing out there is no 'guilt' after pardon for that past crime. Absalom knew David was not about to execute him after he had pardoned him! So, this is a fake 'offer'. He just needs to get back in good with David so he can lead a revolt against him. Joab was not intimidated. But he yielded to reason - Absalom was right in what he was saying.}

33~~As a result, Joab went to the king,
and told him about this matter
  {because Joab thought David was wrong in not seeing Absalom
  after the pardon}.

Therefore, he {David} summoned into his presence Absalom.
  {David was convinced by Joab's argument that he had been wrong}

And, he {Absalom} came to the king,
and 'bowed his face into the ground {shachah} before the king.

Finally, the king {David - lifted him up and} kissed Absalom.

{Note: This kiss is equivalent to our custom of a handshake today. When David kissed Absalom, he publicly acknowledged that he forgave him. However, the people will think that David has now made Absalom the heir-apparent. Absalom will use the authority of David to start a revolution against David.}