The Tanakh Podcast

An ancient unrequited sin leads to a 3 year drought. The Gibeonites were slaughtered by King Saul. Now they demand that David hand over 7 of Sau's descendents. They want Revenge. Will David comply? Can a child be killed for his father's sin? 

David finds himself with another revolt on his hands.  He tries to avoid having Yoav - the man who killed his son Avshalom - lead the army. First, he appoints Amassa, but Amassa disappoints. Second he appoints Avishai. But Avishai defers to his older brother Yoav. In the end it is Yoav who puts down the revolt. Yoav is depicted here as a complex character. He is open to the moral call of the "wise woman" who stops his plans of collective punishment, but he murders Amassa - an act which David resents.

Avshalom is dead. The rebellion is over. Or is it? The instability continues as the tribes of Judah and Benjamin vie for prestige of leading David back to Jerusalem and tribal tensions flare leading to further volatility.

In this chapter David instructs Yoav not to kill Avshalom, where Yoav instructs the army to kill Avshalom. Who was correct?

Today we discuss two advisors: Achitophel and Hushai. Achitophel seems to be the man who's views are always correct, whose perspective is always wise and insightful. However in our story Avshalom follows Hushai's counsel and rejects Achitophel. We shall propose that Achitophel has a burning personal agenda that skews his thinking.

The mutiny continues.  Our chapter contains four scenes, four encounters. Two as David flees Jerusalem; two as Avshalom enters the city. 

Avshalom is back in Jerusalem. He wastes no time at boosting his popularity and discrediting his father, King David. Soon after, he asks for permission to sacrifice in Hebron, the city in which David was crowned, and he launches a mutiny against his father. David and his close circle abandon the city, preferring to flee rather than thrust Jerusalem into war and bloodshed. We will examine David's state of mind before and during this tragic and challenging moment. 

Avshalom is in exile. But David is pining for him. Yoav orchestrates his return to Jerusalem, and then Avshalom forces his way back, using Yoav, to high society. In this chapter we witness David as a conflicted person, conflicted between his values and his parental love. We also see Avshalom's fierce resolve, a perseverance which will become dangerous in the upcoming chapter.

David's son Amnon conspires and brutally rapes his own half sister, Tamar. Then, two years later, Tamar's brother Avshalom murders Amnon. We will show that way that the style of this horrific story brings us to see this as punishment for David's crimes.

The prophet comes to David and accuses David of murder and adultery and pronounces David's punishment. David admits his sin. Batsheva's child dies.