The National tribune., 1889-10-24
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study tho paragraph from the Holy Scriptures
indicated Rbove.l
SUBJECT: ABsALoM's REBELLION AGAINST
His FATHER, DAVID.
/. Data.
We find the account of Absalom's rebellion in
Sam, 10: lip. Ii was probably written by
| the prophet Nathan. We have only this ono
| record in the Bible of said event.
2. Time.
The rebellion occurred b. @. 1924, or A. M.
| 29s1. David was 62 years old He had ruled
| about 81 years. Absalom was about 80 years
| of age. He was born while David's Capital was
| at Hebron.
The statement in verse that it came to
pass after DO years " has caused great deal of
difficulty to exegetcs. A goody number think
we must retain the figures 40. while able
| authorities insist there must be mistake, and
| that the correct number is q. The Revised Yer
sion renders 40 in the text, but makes marginal
| reference TO the fact some ancient authorities
| translate 4. The great similarity between the
numbers 30 and in tho Hebrew might have
led to an error. If We accept the number DO we
are probably to understand 40 years from the
time Samuel anointed David. Il Sa, Is 49,
! David was then 81 years old. He would there
| fore be- say, 81 to SO years old at the time OF
| this lesson. Hence he ruled for about 10 years
more, since he was King after his amounting
succeeding the death of Saul, for 40 years.
| (5:4.)
| The authorities for four years arc too numer-
Gus and scholarly to be neglected. If we un-
| derstand four years. then there is difference
| OF opinion as startpoint of date. We remem-
| Der the story Of Amnon, a alf-brother of Alb
| SALON., in connection with lamar, full-sister
of Absalom. Chapter 49, Absalom was so
enraged that he secured the assassination of
| his sisters ravisher. He then fled to Geshur,
| the former home of his mother and was thus
| banished for three years from Jerusalem.
| (13: 49, Then through the influence Of Joab
| he was permitted to return to Jerusalem
| IA: 28), but without being allowed to enter
| the palace nor TO meet his father. Many
take the four years to refer TO the time
| from the assassination including, three years
at Geshur and one of the two years at Jeru-
| salem, the fifth year having been spent in
| stealing tho hearts of the people from David.
But after the four years were passed, David
| and Absalom were reconciled. "a 49, Good
authorities hold the four years date from the
time of the making up" of the father and
son.
3. Places
Davids palace was at Jerusalem. (v a.
1t was in that city the rebellion had inception,
preparation and goodly development. Hebron
was about Is miles south. We remember that
Hebron was the Capital of Davids Govern
ment for the first seven years t5:1) Absa-
q d.
days were Enclosed in walls, and 1t was Gus
tomary for the King in person or by deputies
to administer justice, holding the court near
one of the gates of the city wall. (GoD., 81 20;
Deu., 10 10; Ru., 4: /; Sam, 10; 81 jose
phus says Absalom took position near the gate
of the Enclosure of the palace GOSH AHt,
z, ~ The Government of the Turkish En-
pire In often styled aud that even officially the
Sublime Porte. This is from the fact the Sultans
have been in the habit OF adjusting difficulties
among their subjects, holding their interviews
or courts ut the gate of tue palace.
4. circumstances.
Amnon, David's frstborn, had been assassi-
mated. Chilab, David's son by Abigail, was
most likely deceased, for we hear nothing of
him. Absalom believed himself entitled to the
throne in case of David's deeease. But he
feared he might be discarded. There were
reasons for such apprehension. He had slain
his brother Amnon. He had been banished
from his country for three years. Even when
permitted to 20 TO the Capital his father refused
him admission to the palace. Solomon was a
rising figure, promising youth To make
more sure his gaining the throne he determined
TO seize IL even before his fathers death.
1t IL. moreover doubtless fact that David
had lost some influence by reason OF his treat
meut of Uriah. Then. ho was getting into
years. And we may suppose thore was really
some ground for complaint on the part of the
people caused by delay, and perhaps by some
unfairness in the settling of their difficulties
and the hearing OF their appeals.
s. The C6nspirator.
A conspiracy is union OF several or more
persons to commit some gross crime az, e. O.,
specially treason. The word comes from two
Latin words which mean TO breathe together,
tho reference being 10 the whisperings or
bated breathing OF those connecting and carry
ing out the plot.
The conspirRtor was Absalom, born to David
by Maachah the daughter of Talmai, the King
OF Geshnr. t3:3.l Thus he was royal on both
sides, Rnd 10 is plain he felt his Importance ON
that account
We notice this severe trouble suffered by
David came from difficulties in his own family
Many think this conspiracy was part of the
temporal punishment of David on account Of
his gross cruelty. injustice, murder. deception,
aud unrestraiacd, lustiu! passion in the case
| of Uriah's wife. tSee l2:IL)
David was King Ito was becoming adj
vanced In years. a successor would soon BIO
required. Should sad die, there would be-
much commotion a. to tho incoming King.
Absalom did not feel perfectly certain as to his
own chances. aud hence formed the conspiracy,
taking the matter into his own hands.
OF Absalom. Cabinet says: lie was a bold,
violent, rcvengeful, naughty. enterprsing,
magnificent, eloquent. aud popular Prince; he
was also rich, ambitious and vain OF his per-
sonal accomplishments"
The Duke of Monmouth, own son of Charles
H. one Of England's Kings. reminds one by
many similarites OF Absalom. He was called
England's Darling" Both were of hne phys
ique, of bewitching manner, amazingly popu-
lar. Both conspired against the crown. Both
were vain, jealous, aspiring and plotting.
9. dbsaiOass Methods.
He began TO put on much of royalty in his
equipage. That pleased the people. They
wanted their King to assume more of the
grandeur common 10 Oriental rulers. Absaom
secured chariots, aud had them drawn by
horses. Samuel had told the people when they
demanded King that such customs being
common for Kings would be pracliced by their
own rulers. Il Sa., 3 III The use of horses
by lsraeiites was not allowed (Deu., II: I6.)
Nevertheless. Solomon had charots and horses
q XII, 10: 26, 25.) When Adonijah aspired to
become King he also began to assume similar
royal usages. Il Hi, 100
Absaom also had 80 runners. ". ~ Thus
did Adonijah. Josephus ANT, z, o, ~ called
them armor- bearers. They have been styled
by some commentators gyant couriers Stack
house made them a body-gnard. Absaom put
on al the style of prince royal aud heir APP
parent.
lie rose up early. ". 81 lie wanted to gain
reputation for great industry He was so con.
cerned for the dear people" that he cOnd not
sleep. Then, the masses must be early risers
and Ia MANILA IN 49,. IL, H.,