Day 25 ~ Solomon ascends the throne

• David shows over and over again that he has a merciful spirit. In 2 Samuel 18:5, he demonstrates it in his instructions to deal gently with his son Absalom who is trying to abdicate the throne.
• The woods devoured more in the battle than the sword - what does that mean? (18:8)
• The infamous terebinth tree strikes again! This time it grabs Absalom by the hair - it must have been time for his yearly trim.
• I'm guessing that David is not going to be happy with Joab, who against David's orders and the advise of his troops, kills Absalom as he hangs by his hair from a tree.
• Chapter 19 - David mourns Absalom, to the extent that Joab is irritated because it seems to him to be excessive, and he tells David so. Remember that Joab was in on the sin that caused the ultimate death of Absalom when he arranged to have Uriah killed in battle. David makes the people request that he return to Jerusalem to be king.
• Why does Joab try to keep the news from David about Absalom? Is he more worried that David will find out that it was he who disobeyed David's instructions?
• David's mercy is extended to Shimei (who had cursed him), Mephibosheth (who had not joined David as he fled Jerusalem), and Barzillai (who had aided David in his time in Gilead)
• The immature tribes who had sided with Absalom now argue about who should have accompanied David back to Jerusalem.
• Chapter 20 - What is the deal with the Benjamites. First they stand with David, then a bunch of them rebel with Sheba.
• For some reason, I really don't trust Joab.
• A wise woman of Abel of Beth Maachah saves the city by delivering the head of Sheba to Joab.
• David's political cabinet: Joab - military; Adoram - treasury; Jehosaphat - recorder; Sheva - scribe; Zadok & Abiathar - priests; Ira - chief minister. But what/who are the Cherethites and Pelethites, first mentioned in chapter 8. Anyway, Benaiah was over them.
• Chapter 21 - Saul's sin against the Gibeonites (a remnant of the Amorites whom were to have been protected) results in three years of famine. David seeks what he may do to atone to the Gibeonites. They want 7 decendants of Saul to hang. David gives up 5 of his (ex) wife Michal's children (ouch!).
• David recovers the seven bodies as well as the desecrated bodies of Saul and Jonathan and gives them a proper burial.
• This is the second or third time that David's army tell him not to come to battle - he is too valuable (21:17). Especially when they are fighting the giant Philistines, who would surely have it out for David after he killed Goliath.
• Odd trivia: who had 12 toes and 12 fingers: a giant of Gath killed by Jonathan.
• Chapter 22 - “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
  The God of my strength, in whom I will trust" 2b, 3b
• Remember this song that you sing in a round? "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies." “The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation!" (vs. 4, 47)
• I'll admit right now that I'm not a big fan of poetry. I like the stuff that rhymes, but to pick up and read a book of poetry is really not my thing. I tend to tune out when it's not written in narrative form, and I did it to some bit just reading this one passage. I'm going to really have some trouble being focused in the books coming up.
• Chapter 23 - full of a bunch of his army buddies
• Chapter 24 - census time again. God is angry and wants a count. He sends Joab to do it, and Joab questions David. Noone else is that bold. Nearly 10 months later, but they are still separated by "Isreal" and "Judah" - even though the kingdom is under one ruler, this foreshadows the split to come. Israel (northern) 800,000 swordsmen, Judah 500,000 men.
• 24:10 - what had David done that was sinful (this time?). The Lord let's him choose his punishment through the prophet Gad: 7 years of famine, flee three months while being pursued by and enemy, or a plague for three days in the land. I think he'll choose the enemy chasing him, because he's done that so much. Guess I was wrong, that is exactly what David didn't want. The Lord sent a plague, and restrained the angel with the plague from destroying Jerusalem. At least 70,000 were killed.
• 24:24 - David won't offer a sacrifice that costs him nothing - he insists on paying.

What do you know - 2 Samuel is complete. That makes our count how many books now? 10. 56 to go. Onward to 1 Kings...

• 1 Kings - they know just the thing to comfort the man who goes for the ladies...a nice young virgin to warm him up in his old age.
• Absalom's brother, Adonijah, another good looking son of David, gets it in his mind that he would be a good king. Will he wait for old, cold David to die? Or will he take matters into his own hand. Surely he won't think to seek the Lord on what to do.
• A-ha! I knew I didn't like Joab - he jumps ship (with one of the priests, Abiathar) and supports Adonijah while others in David's cabinet stick with David. ( 1 Kings 1:7,8)
• Just because he gathers some men, how does this make him a king? Nathan tells Bathsheba that Adonijah is king and David doesn't know it. That doesn't seem like the truth. (:12)
• Is this the first time that we have heard that Solomon is to ascend the throne? I think so.
• That must have been an interesting situation - Bathsheba goes in to see her husband and the young girl is in there keeping him warm. (:15)
• David appoints his son Solomon as his successor to the throne.
• When Adonijah, who was once cocky and is now quite scared, finds out about the coronation of Solomon, he runs scared to the altar (is this the home base in a game of tag?) and begs for mercy to be spared. Solomon spares him (for now?)
• Chapter 2 - David charges Solomon to walk in the ways of the Lord in order to prosper.
• A-ha again! David's deathbed instructions are to give Joab what's coming to him. He also passes the protection he promised to the sons of Barzillai and Shimei to Solomon.
• The age that people are dying seems to be dropping considerably. Not too many books back, people were living to be several hundred years old. Then people were living into their lower hundreds. In one of the verses we've read today, a man is described as old at 80. Now David is dead after reigning 40 years, and I think he was 30 when he took the throne (hey, I remembered correctly - 2 Samuel 5:4). That's only 70.
• Solomon sat on the throne of his father and his kingdom was firmly established. I bet not for long. (:12)
• Adonijah has some nerve - he asks Bathsheba, Solomon's mom, for the young virgin that kept David warm before he died as his wife. I'm thinking that was not a smart move. Confirmed: Adonijah sealed his fate and was killed (:25)
• Abiathar is removed from his priestly position but his life is spared by Solomon. You know that Joab has to be shaking in his sandals. Yep - he tries the "home base" at the altar ploy as well. (:28). I'm surprised that God didn't strike them dead for touching it.
• You better do exactly as Solomon instructs. Shimei learns a lesson the hard way. (:46). I bet when people saw Benaiah coming, that they started running for their lives.
• Chapter 3 - What!? Solomon breaks a couple of rules right off the bat: 1) he makes a treaty with a foreign land (Egypt); 2) he marries outside the tribe. How does it say that Solomon does this and a verse later it says Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statues of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. I would add some more stuff to that based on the first verse alone. However, he must have at least started the temple (seee vs 1)
• God asks Solomon "what shall I give you?" in a dream. What would you answer? Solomon admits that he's a bit green and wants to be able to judge the people with an understanding heart and discern between good and evil. God is pleased and grants his request, in addition he will get riches and honor...if you walk in my ways, keep my statutes, then God will lengthen his days. In addition to the other granted requests?
• The wisdom of Solomon is displayed in the story of the two women claiming to be the mother of an infant. Abraham Lincoln did something similar to this in his days as a circuit judge, but the baby in question was a colt.