A Son’s Rebellion: Absalom’s Plot and David’s Escape (2 Samuel 15:1–37)
Have you ever been hurt by someone close to you—someone you trusted? That’s exactly what happened to King David when his own son, Absalom, tried to take his throne. This chapter in the Bible tells the powerful story of betrayal, heartbreak, and faith in a time of crisis.
Absalom Gains Popularity
Absalom, one of David’s sons, wanted to be king. But instead of asking or waiting for his turn, he started a secret plan. He made himself look important by riding in a chariot with a group of men running ahead of him—just like royalty.
Every day, he stood at the city gate where people came to bring their problems to the king. Absalom greeted them warmly and acted like he really cared. He told them that if he were in charge, they would get the justice they deserved. Slowly, people started liking Absalom more than David.
Winning the Hearts of the People
Absalom did this for four years. His charm and smooth words worked. Many people began to admire him. But this wasn’t just about being helpful—Absalom was setting a trap. He was secretly stealing the hearts of the people so that he could take his father’s place as king.
Absalom Makes His Move
Absalom told David he wanted to go to Hebron to worship. David thought nothing of it and gave him permission. But Absalom’s real plan was to start a rebellion.
While in Hebron, Absalom declared himself king. He had secretly gathered followers and sent messengers across the land to spread the news. Even some people close to David, like his advisor Ahithophel, joined Absalom’s side.
David Decides to Leave
When David heard what was happening, he didn’t fight back right away. Instead, he chose to leave Jerusalem with his household and loyal servants. He didn’t want the city to become a battlefield. It was a heartbreaking moment.
David walked away barefoot, with his head covered, and he wept. The people who followed him also wept. It was a moment of deep sadness, not just for a king, but for a father who had been betrayed by his son.
Faithful Friends Stay Close
Even in his time of trouble, David wasn’t alone. Some people stayed loyal to him. Ittai the Gittite, a foreigner who had recently joined David, told him, “Wherever you go, I’ll go too.” David tried to send him back, but Ittai insisted on staying.
The priests also came with the Ark of the Covenant—the sacred chest that symbolized God’s presence. But David told them to return it to the city. He trusted that if God wanted him back on the throne, it would happen in His time.
David Sends a Spy
David found out that his former advisor Ahithophel had joined Absalom. That was serious, because Ahithophel gave very wise advice.
David prayed that his advice would be defeated. Then he sent another trusted friend, Hushai, back to Jerusalem. His job was to pretend to support Absalom, but secretly work to protect David. Hushai’s role would become very important in the chapters ahead.
Final Thoughts
This chapter shows us what it’s like to face betrayal and heartbreak—and how to respond. David could have panicked or lashed out in anger. Instead, he chose to leave quietly, trust God, and act with wisdom.
Sometimes we go through seasons when life turns against us, even from people we love. In those moments, we can learn from David:
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Be humble.
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Seek God’s help.
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Surround yourself with loyal, faithful friends.
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Trust that God is still in control, even when things fall apart.
David didn’t know what would happen next. But he chose to keep moving, one step at a time, with faith in God’s plan.
2 Samuel 15:1-37 (WEB)
15:1 After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?”He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”3 Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.” 4 Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!” 5 It was so, that when any man came near to bow down to him, he stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him. 6 Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.7 At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’ ”9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.”So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’ ”11 Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything. 12 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom. 13 A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”14 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”15 The king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”16 The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house. 17 The king went out, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak. 18 All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner and also an exile. Return to your own place. 20 Whereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”21 Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”22 David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. 23 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. 24 Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up until all the people finished passing out of the city. 25 The king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation; 26 but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.” 27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there. 30 David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.31 Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.”David said, “LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”32 When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me; 34 but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’ 35 Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.