Game of Thrones – The King Measures his People

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Category: Personal Study

Thread: Game of Thrones

Post Topic: The King Measures His People – A triumphant return delayed

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Scripture: 2 Samuel 19:9-15

Key Verses:
¹¹King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? ¹²You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’
2 Samuel 19:11-12

Observations

Context

Previously, on Game of Thrones, Bible Edition:

King David’s son Absalom had led a rebellion against his father. He gathered men from the tribes of Israel to the north, and even garnered support from some men of the two tribes in Judah in the south.
Under Absalom’s advance, David fled Jerusalem to the remote city of Mahanaim.
Here, David’s loyal men made their stand, and defeated the rebels, with David’s commander Joab killing Absalom.

Mutterings and Reconciliations

David did not immediately leave Mahanaim to return to Jerusalem.
The 10 tribes of Israel, who initiated the rebellion, were the first to talk amongst themselves.
- “The King delivered us from our enemies like the Philistines.”
- “Why doesn’t anyone say anything about bringing him back?”
David gets wind of the talk, and sends a message to his priests in Jerusalem. He is wondering about the men of Judah.
- “You are my flesh and blood.”
- “Why would you be the last to ask your king back?”
- “As an olive branch, I’ll make Absalom’s commander, Amasa, my own commander in place of Joab.”
The men of Judah are moved, and ask David to return.
David and his family begin the journey back, and they are met at the Jordan River by the men of Judah.

Interpretation

Setting

David remains holed up in the remote outpost of Mahanaim, on the east side of the Jordan. He’d have to head south, then cross the river near Jericho, before heading west to return to Jerusalem.

Genre

Narrative description.

Takeaways

Note – when I say Israelites, I’m talking about the 10 tribes to the north. When I refer to Judahites, I’m speaking of the 2 tribes to the south.

David remained away from Jerusalem for a time, letting the people stew without him. They had time to choose someone to replace Absalom, but didn’t do so.
- He could have returned as a forceful military leader, having re-taken control by force.
- He preferred to return only if the hearts of the people were with him.
- Many of the men in Jerusalem had been against him.
  - The Israelites had formed the majority of the forces against David.
  - Many Judahites had been disloyal too, such as the men that went south to Hebron with Absalom prior to the revolt.
  - They might have had some fear in their hearts, mixed with regret.
The Israelites were first to call for his return. Since he wasn’t one of their tribesmen, perhaps they felt less remorse about the revolt.
Actions have consequences. Choose your leaders wisely (not necessarily speaking of political leaders). In David’s case, it was clear that he was the anointed king of God.

Imagine

What was Jerusalem like while David waited in Mahanaim? It would have been like a U.S. President moving to Bozeman, Montanna, and hiding out from the press and rarely speaking to anyone from Congress.

The high priests were still there, so the religious observances would still be held. There’d be a mix of men from Israel and Judah milling around, hopefully willing to work together to defend the city. But the nearby pagan enemies might be starting to sense weakness and building up forces around them.

Politically, there would have been strife. The men of Judah who had stayed behind had accepted Absalom as their new king and allowed him to take over Jerusalem. They’d be blaming each other for allowing it to happen. They’d want David, as one of their own, back in power, but would be worried about their own fates. Most of the Israelites had returned to their homes in the north, but they seemed to be more willing to remember the good old days when David had united the kingdom and had expanded the borders and provided strength and prosperity for them all.

Correlation

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

God has given us a ministry of reconciliation. We are to proclaim the message of how we can be reconciled to God through Jesus. But how can we proclaim this if we are unable to reconcile our differences with other Christians?

Application

Generic Applications

Why did Joab kill Absalom, against David’s wishes?

Although wildly ambitious, he’d always remained loyal to David. He’d never threatened a rebellion.
He probably thought he was doing the right thing. Absalom was a traitor. Clearly treasonous. And David didn’t have the stones to kill his son. So Joab decided to do it for him.
Scripture doesn’t say whether David was told directly that Joab killed Absalom. But David wasn’t stupid. He knew.
David determined in his heart to replace Joab. And he offered the job to Amasa, who’d led Absalom’s troops against him.
Actions have consequences.
Be careful taking revenge into your own hands.

Why did David wait, essentially in exile, rather than returning with a show of force?

He took the temperature of the people first. The king measured his people.
He wanted reconciliation; healing.

Sometimes it’s good to wait before reacting. Let our own temperature cool down, as well as those we’ve had a conflict with. Just as Christ reconciled us to God through the cross, we should seek reconciliation and healing with others.

Personalize it

David’s instructions to Joab didn’t make sense to Joab. He thought he knew better. Do we sometimes take matters into our own hands, rather than waiting for God’s instructions to make sense? Do I trust where God is taking me?
After conflict, do I seek revenge, avoidance, or reconciliation?

Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:

Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.

Daniel P Warner