David’s Loyal Supporters

David’s supporters promised to follow what ever he said, so leaving ten of his mistresses to take care of things, he left the city, in II Samuel 15:15-18.  “And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.  And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.  And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.  And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.”

One of David’s supporters was a philistine from Gath named Ittai.  He was an older man, who had only come to Israel a few years before, and his status would probably not change much regardless who was king.  David suggested he go home and avoid the hardships the others might suffer, in II Samuel 15:19-20.  “Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.  Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.”

Ittai declared that he was going to support David, even if it cost his life, so David accepted his support, in II Samuel 15:21-22.  “And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.”

While Absalom had managed to get a large political following, there were a great many who supported David.  The priests and Levites went out to support David, but he reminded them their responsibility was to continue to serve God.  If it was God’s will for David to continue as king, he would be back, but what ever happened, they were still to serve the Lord.  Their most valuable contribution to Daid would be to keep him informed as to what was going on.  II Samuel 15:23-28 describes his conversation with them.  “And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.  And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.  The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.  See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.  Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.”

David had not even passed the Mount of Olives when he learned that one of his most trusted advisors, Ahithophel, had defected, as II Samuel 15:30-31 tells us.  “And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.  And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

Knowing how dependable and wise Ahithophel’s advice always was, David stopped at the top of the mount to worship God and pray that he would make Absalom ignore his advice.  While he was there, another of his advisors met him.  He was an older man and David feared the hardships might be too much for him, and David asked him to see what he could do to counter Ahithophel’s advice.  Hushai agreed to try, and went back, as II Samuel 15:32-36 tells us.  “And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.  Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.  So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.”

Saul had been a bitter enemy to David, but just a short distance past the Mount of Olives, Saul’s former servant, Ziba caught up with him.  Knowing David had not had time to make preparations, Ziba brought all the food he could readily prepare, in II Samuel 16:1-2, as well as donkeys for David’s family.  “And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these?

And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.”

David appreciated the supplies and asked where Mephibosheth was, since he was Saul’s heir, in II Samuel 16:3-4.  “And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.”   David had freely returned all Saul’s property to Mephibosheth, while treating him as his own son.  When Ziba accused him of remaining behind in hopes of being made king, David was upset and promised all Saul’s property to Ziba instead.