The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-22
The Sunday School Lesson.
Studies in Old Testament History.


pursuit of David. Hushai, beholding
that this would mean the capture of
David, plausibly advised that a great
army be first gathered, which would, he
said, mean both the easy capture OF
David and the easy Inauguration of the
new government. Absalom preferred
the advice of Hushai. Time was thus
gained for David. His cause was saved.
Ahithophel, foreseeing the result
knowing that the better heart of Israel
was with David, and that time would
make it appear,-expressed his chagrin
and despair by taking his own life.
David received q royal welcome at
Mahanaim. Many. influential citizens
brought support to his cause. Among
his supporters we find Machir, whom
we remember as aforetime befriending
Jonathan's son.
In due time, probably after the lapse
of some weeks, the army of Absalom,
under command of his nephew Amasa,
left Jerusalem and marched toward Ma
hanaim.
David had meantime, with his wonted
sagacity organized his forces. He d.
vided his supporters into three divisions,
and placed them severally under COM
mand of Joab. Abishai, and Ittai the
Philistine.
The approaching army was met in the
Forest of Ephraim." manifestly a Sec
ton of woodland in Gilead near Ma
hanaim.
The battle from the first was victory
for the army of David. 1t was like the
Braddock's Defeat of the American
French war. The smaller forces of
David, by rapidity of movement among
the trees. by attacks from behind the
natural Notifications. wrought fearful
slaughter on the army of Absalom.
Twenty thousand of the rebel army
we're that day slain.
In the midst of this sanguinary battle
the important event occurred which
specially claims attention.
L. AbsalOm is Caught in an
Oak, VS.. 9-13.
In the hurlyburly. while riding on
the royal mule, Absalom was left alone.
He saw soldiers of David approaching.
He spurred his royal mule to fight, di-
recting it with singular indiscretion to-
ward the thickest of the forest. The
animal dashed under the low boughs Of
a great terebinth or oak. Absalom was
caught in the limbs and held immova-
BILE; the frightened mule continued it's
flight. We are not directly told that it
was the renowned hair of Absalom that
caught itself in the branches; but, with
the general mind, we infer that he could
not have had such mass of hair with
out its being a serious inconvenience to
him in his fight among the trees. How
ever it may have been he was. according
to the record, caught in the branches of
the tree and suspended in the air, with
no power to extricate himself. He was
in pitiable plight.
When he was discovered and the re-
port was carried to Joab, that impulsive
soldier naturally asked why the traitor
had not been Immediately killed. The
ly was that David had that morning,
in the hearing of the royal army, given
strict charge to the generals not to suf
fer any personal harm to come to Absa-
lom. 1t was not for private to disobey
the kings command.
2. AbsalOm is Slain by JOab,
VS.. 14-17.
Joab could not deny the mans say
ing; neither could he stop to parley
with him. He started swiftly for the
place where Absalom was to be found;
he was followed by his guard. On dis
covering the conspirator. and seeing
that he was utterly helpless, he took
three slaves or javelins, and thrust them
through the living flesh and into the
trunk of the tree; thus he impaled Alb
salon, making his lingering death Ger.
tain. But the ten young men of Joab's
body guard, catching the fever of Zero.
city from their general. rushed upon the
dying man, and with quick blows smote
the sufferer to death.
II ever rebel deserved to die it was
Absalom. He deserved in his mortal
part to be consigned to the rock heap
which commemorated his infamy,
rather than to the tomb he had pre-
pared for himself. Yet he was his faith
er's son.
3. AbsalOm is MOurned for by
his Father.-vs. 80. 80.
David, contrary to his wish, had re.
manned in Mahanaim, that he might
not in battle expose his life and thereby
endanger IsraePs best hope. He had
waited in the look out in the wall over
the gate OF the city which opened to-
ward the battle field.
A Waterman from the roof above
after period reported the approach of
a running herald, who was afterward
found to be Ahimaaz, the son of the
high priest Zadok, as David discovered
while he was at distance; he brought
tidings of the victory for the loyal army.
But Ahimaaz had no assuring word to