2 Samuel 15, Psalm 3, 55 - My friend has become a foe

"Now because he was killed with the sword, the sword will be your constant companion. It will hang over your household, bringing death and violence to your family, since you have despised Me by showing no regard for My law, and you have taken Bathsheba, the lawful wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife."

                                                    2 Samuel 12:10 (the Voice)

In 2 Samuel 15, we continue to see the truth of this prophecy from Nathan played out in the family of David. The story of this family puts modern soap operas to shame.  The writer of Game of Thrones probably used David as source material. 

Last time on Kingdom of Israel:

Absalom's sister Tamar is raped by David's firstborn son Amnon. Absalom is understandably pretty angry about this, but he keeps his anger hidden. David hears about the rape, gets angry, but ultimately does nothing to punish his heir. After 2 years, Absalom lures his brothers to his house for a party where he murders Amnon after getting him drunk. Absalom flees the country and remains in hiding while David longs for his return but still does nothing. After 3 years, one of David's nephews (Joab) gets tired of David moping around and not doing anything and decides to take matters into his own hands. He pulls a Nathan and has a woman ask for advice regarding a situation eerily similar to David's own in order to get David to finally make a decision (handy decision making trick straight from the Bible: pretend someone else is in your situation and you are advising them). David realizes he wants his son back (sort of), sends a messenger to get him to return, but then can't bear to actually see him (what?). 2 more years go by with Absalom not really knowing what his father thinks about him. After burning his cousin's field in order to get his attention, Absalom finally gets to see the king and is forgiven and welcomed back into the family.  Also, Absalom is ridiculously good looking.

At the beginning of chapter 15, we see Absalom's activities immediately after receiving forgiveness from the his father. The first thing he does is buy a chariot and some horses and hire 50 men to run ahead of him. Curious. He takes these new possessions, wakes up early each morning and positions himself on one of the roads leading into Jerusalem. Interesting. Seems pretty harmless. Probably just out for a nice morning stroll right?

"I’m sure your claims are truthful and have merit, but the king has not appointed anyone to hear your case. If only I were appointed the authority in the land! Then anyone with a petition could come before me, and I would give him justice!"

2 Samuel 15:3-4

For 4 years, Absalom does this. He greets people who are on their way to the king and intercepts them, planting dissatisfaction in their minds.

"in this way, he made himself the favorite of the people of Israel."

2 Samuel 15:6

After 4 years, Absalom asks David if he can travel to Hebron to fulfill a vow. Absalom has messengers sent throughout the kingdom secretly with instructions to announce him as king when they receive the signal. Is just announcing you are king enough to make it so? It is for Absalom, who has been working for years to make himself loved by everyone in the kingdom and who is already an heir to the thrown. The period in history is also pretty important as well. How would most people throughout the kingdom know if there had been a new king crowned? They would be told by a messenger. How could they verify it? They would have to travel to Jerusalem which would be dangerous, expensive and could take days or weeks round trip. By dispatching messengers to every town in secret, Absalom is securing himself the confidence of the people of for at least a few weeks while he solidifies his power.

This is the fruition of years of planning. The same as he plotted for years the murder of his brother, he has schemed for years to overthrow the father who did nothing when his sister was raped.

David realizes he has been outmaneuvered by his son. It is too late for him to dispatch messengers to reverse the proclamation of Absalom being crowned as king. So he decides to take those loyal to him and flee to the mountains, probably back to many of the places he hid from Saul before he was king. But this time he is not hiding from a mad king. He is hiding from his own son, who has turned his people against him.

"My friend has become a foe, breaking faith, tearing down peace.

He’s betrayed our covenant."

Psalm 55:20