The next thing Absalom does in verses 2-6 is to try and win the hearts and minds of the people. In v2 he makes sure he’s standing at the gate when anyone comes to the king to ask him to rule on a dispute. Absalom pretends to show an interest in them by asking where they’re from. Then he says: […]

David is king. He’s finally ruling after so many years on the run from Saul. And yet his own son Absalom is going to launch a challenge for the throne. By the end of the chapter, David will be on the run again. There’s a lot we can learn from David’s faith, and be warned about from Absalom’s scheming. But […]

The third and final verse I want to highlight is verse 32. What is Absalom’s complaint there? It’s that it would have been better for him still to be in exile than to return, but not be able to go into the king’s presence. Or literally, as some versions have it, to see the king’s face. Is that not how […]