The Chanute times., 1908-10-30
ABSALOM REBELS
AGAINST DAVID
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. I, 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-2 Samuel 15:1-12
Memory verse Sc.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Honor thy father
and thy mother; that thy days may be
long upon the land which the Lord thy
God giveth thee. EXODUS 2012
TIME.-The exact time Is uncertain.
The following dates are as exact as can
we'll be obtained: David begins to reign
at age of 30, B. C. 1063-1012. David's sin
and repentance, b. c. 1042-99l. Amnon's
crime one year later. b. c. 1O41-99o. Abb
salon kills his brother, two years later,
B. c. 1039-9SS. Absalom's exile, three
years, B. C. 1O36-9S5. Absalom two years
in Jerusalem, 3. c. 1O34-9S3. Absalom,,s
plotting. three or four years, B. c. lOSo-
979. Death of David. B. C. 1023-972.
PLACE-O Jerusalem. the capital and
home of David. (2) Hebron, the Oldest
town of Palestine. 20 miles south OF
Jerusalem, where Absalom began his open
rebellion.
DAvID.-About 81 or 6S years old, in
the thirty-second year of his reign.
LOMON-Probably eight or nine
years old.
DAvID's coUNsELoRs. = O The
prophet Nathan. who was also one of
David's biographers q Chron. 29:29). (2)
Ahithophel. the grandfather of Bath
sheba, and a man of marvellous sagacity,
whose advice was like "the oracles of
God" e Sam. 1929. (9 Hushai, wise
friend of David.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Young Man Absalom.-Absalom
was the son of Maacah, princess, the
daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur,
a region northeast of the Sea Of Cali
lee in the foothills of the Lebanon
mountains. He was born soon after
David became king of Israel, and
hence was between 25 and 30 years
old at the time of his rebellion.
His Inheritance. Being the descend
ant of kings in both lines of descent,
of distinguished appearance and
princely manners, Absalom inherited
'all the handsomeness, manly bear
ing, and beauty of his fathers hand
some and manly house. The sacred
writer expatiates with evident relish
upon Absalom's extraordinary beauty.
In all Israel there was none to be so
much praised as Absalom for his
beauty. From the sole of his foot
even to the crown of his head there
was no blemish in him. And the hair
Of his head Is a proverb to this day"
Alexander Whyte.
But this was not all he inherited.
From his mother he inherited all that
a corrupt court and heather tenden-
cies and environment had impressed
upon her nature. From his father he
inherited a great mind, strong will,
a large nature, strong passions. but al
so a power Of self-control, an enlight-
ened conscience, a religious nature,
and all that the training of his Beth
lehem home could impress upon his
character
Conditions Favorable to a Change Of
l. 1t was time of gen.
eral peace throughout the wide en-
pire. For all restless, warlike spirits
an opportunity was given for internal
fault-finding, and opposi-
ton.
2. There was a growing dissatis-
faction with the king The business
Of the law courts, over which the king
himself presided, had become too vast
to be attended to by one man. Ap-
peals from inferior judges and cases
brought directly before the king could
not all receive a fair hearing.
8. David was very busy preparing
and gathering money for
future temple. Nothing was visibly
accomplished, yet the taxes were high.
4. David would naturally at his age
be less active, less in the peoples
eye. doing less for the outward glory
Of the kingdom.
s. 1t is possible that the events de-
scribed in the last chapter of Sam
lel took place before this time. The
enrolment would be unpopular. The
plague that followed would intensity !
he discomfort.
G. In this case David was near the
end of life, and Absalom would try
not so much to take his fathers king
lom from him, as to insure that he
himself should be the successor.
V. /. Prepared him chariots and |
horses and so men to run before him"
rhe orientals are very fond of such |
display. DIR. Trumbull says when his |
little party started from Cairo for the !
pyramids a handsome young "Sais"
bedecked with scarlet and blue and
green and gold ran before them at the
top of his speed, calling out for clear
path among the camels and donkeys
and foot passengers.-Oriental Social
Life, p. 215.
V. 2. "Absalom rose up early" to be |
On hand when the people came to pre-
sent their cases to the king. Business
in the east is held early, in order to |
escape the heat of the day. They re-
tired early, for modern lights we're not
in their houses for evening work.
Kings therefore held courts in the
early morning. Beside the way Of the
gate" There was usually an open |
market place near the gates for busi-
ness and public meetings.
We should inquire of our own
hearts whether we are grateful to
God for all his benefits to us. and
whether we are showing our gratitude