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The Beginning of the End
“There is no help for him in God.”
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill.
I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
Psalm 3:1-6
In the darkness of night, David and all his company crossed the
deep, swift-flowing river. “By morning light not one of them was
left who had not gone over the Jordan.”
David and his forces fell back to Mahanaim, which had been
the royal seat of Ishbosheth. It was a strongly fortified city set in
mountains that served as a safe retreat in case of war. The country
had abundant supplies and the people were friendly to David.
Absalom, the rash and impetuous prince, soon set out in pursuit
of his father. His army was large, but it was undisciplined and poorly
prepared to cope with the battle-hardened soldiers of his father.
David divided his forces into three battalions under the command
of Joab, Abishai, and Ittai.
The Battle that Defeated the Rebellion
From the walls of Mahanaim, the long lines of Absalom’s army
were in full view. The rebel was accompanied by a vast host; David’s
force seemed only a handful in comparison. As the army filed out
from the city gates, David encouraged his faithful soldiers, urg-
ing them to go out trusting that the God of Israel would give them
victory. But as Joab, leading the column, passed his king, the con-
queror of a hundred battlefields stooped his proud head to hear the
monarch’s last message, “Deal gently for my sake with the young
man Absalom.” And Abishai and Ittai received the same instruction.
But the king’s plea, seeming to say that Absalom was dearer to him
than the subjects faithful to his throne, only increased the anger of
the soldiers toward the unnatural son.