2 Sam. 15-17, Ps. 41, Ps. 22

Multiple choice

1.    (15:2) Early in the morning, where would Absalom stand?
    a.    in his back yard minding his own business
    b.    in an alley where no one would see him
    c.    beside the way to the gate

2.    (15:2) People would come past that place on the way to see the king for what purpose?
    a.    To attack the palace
    b.    To seek a judgement from the King favorable to themselves
    c.    To file a complaint against the King

3.    (15:3-4) Absalom would talk to these people about
    a.    how the King was doing a good job
    b.    how Absalom was glad that he didn't have to render judgements for them
    c.    how much better it would be for the people if Absalom could judge their cases

4.    (15:5-6) As a result of Absalom's doings,
    a.    he became very popular in Israel
    b.    he became despised by the people
    c.    the King appointed Absalom to judge the people

5.    (15:7-11)When Absalom went to Hebron, his true purpose
    a.    was to pay a vow
    b.    was to join the band as a trumpet player
    c.    was to have himself proclaimed king, even though he claimed he was going to pay a vow

6.    (15:12) The man who had been a counselor to David, and now was helping Absalom, was named
    a.    Giloh
    b.    Ahithophel
    c.    Judas

7.    (15:13-18) When David found out that Absalom was trying to usurp (look it up!) the throne, David
    a.    fled, leaving ten of his concubines (wives) behind
    b.    burned the palace down
    c.    shut himself up in the palace

True/False (15:19-37)

8.    _____    There were a large number of people who went with David when he fled.
9.    _____    Ittai was loyal to David.
10.    _____    Zadok and Abiathar were against David.
11.    _____    Zadok and Abiathar were told to stay in the city (Jerusalem).
12.    _____    Zadok's son was Jonathan and Abiathar's son was Ahimaaz.
13.    _____    Ahimaaz and Jonathan were useful as messengers, sneaking out of Jerusalem with information for David.
14.    _____    David never found out that Ahithophel had become a traitor.
15.    _____    Hushai was loyal to David.
16.    _____    Hushai was sent back to the city to Absalom.
17.    _____    Hushai the plan was for Hushai to pretend to be loyal to Absalom, while actually helping David
18.    _____    Hushai would be able to send messages to David by means of Ahimaaz and Jonathan.

Short Answer: Shimei curses David (16:1-23)

19.    Shimei was a member of the family of what very famous man?

20.    What did Shimei throw at David?

21.    What did Shimei call David?

22.    What did Abishai want to do about Shimei?

23.    Who was Abishai's mother?

24.    Was David pleased with Abishai's suggestion?

Short Answer: Hushai and Ahithophel, Two counselors (16:15-17:23)

25.    Was Hushai truly loyal to David?

26.    When Hushai came to offer his services to Absalom, was Absalom a little surprised that Hushai wasn't with David?

27.    What did Hushai give as a reason for helping Absalom?

28.    Remember the ten concubines that David left behind? Ahithophel advised Absalom to have sexual relations with them. Was this to be done secretly, or in such a way as to become public knowledge?

Interesing Possibility

It appears that Bathesheba may have been a grandaughter of Ahithophel, and this might explain why Ahithophel was willing to turn against David and side with Absalom. The evidence suggesting she was a grandaughter of Ahithophel is as follows: Ahithophel was referred to as Ahithophel the Gilonite ( 2 Sam. 15:12). Among David's mighty men, specifically, among the thirty, were both Eliam the son of "Ahithophel the Gilonite" (2 Sam. 23:34) and Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam. 23:39). This suggests these two men were at least acquainted, even comrades. Is it too much to suppose Uriah and Ahithophel's son, Eliam, were friends?

2 Sam. 11:3 tells us that Bathsheba was the daughter of an Eliam. It seems likely that this is the same Eliam inasmuch as it is reasonable to suppose that Uriah married the daughter of his friend, Eliam. And that would mean that Bathsheba was Ahithophel's grandaughter.
 


Challenge Question

29.    Why did Ahithophel give the advice found in 16:21?
 


30.    How had Ahithophel's advice been regarded by David, and then later, by Absalom?

31.    Both Ahithophel and Hushai gave Absalom advice about how best to attack David.
    a.    Which one advised an immediate attack while David was weak?
    b.    Which one advised a delay before attacking?
    c.    Which one made Absalom worry about David's famous skills as a warrior?
    d.    Which one was giving advice that would really be most likely to give victory to Absalom?
    e.    Which one was giving advice that would help David, by giving David time to escape and regroup his forces?
    f.    Which advice did Absalom think was the best?
    g.    What was the Lord accomplishing by means of Hushai's advice?
    h.    What did Ahithophel do after he saw that his advice was not followed?

Fill in the Blanks: Chain of Events (17:15-22)

After Absalom's plans were made, Hushai sent word to ___________
and ____________, the priests, who in turn, sent a __________ to
their sons ______________ and ______________ at En-rogel. But the
sons of the priests were seen by a _________ who told __________.
So the sons of the priests hid in a ________ which was then
covered, and _________ was spread on the covering, so that
Absalom's__________ didn't find them. Then _________ and
__________ got out of the well and went and gave Hushai's
information to __________.

Challenge Questions
  1. Why did Ahithophel kill himself?

  2. Who betrayed David, by going over to Absalom's side, and which verse in Psalm 41 (written by David) refers to this man?

  3. Jesus quotes this verse in John 13:18. Read from John 13:18 to verse 30. Of whom was Jesus speaking when he quoted Psalm 41?

  4. What did Judas do after betraying himself? (Mt. 27:3-5) Do you see a parallel?

  5. What mountain did David sorrowfully ascend, and in what mountain was Jesus very sorrowful before being betrayed? (2 Samuel 15:30, Matthew 26:30-38)

  6. Read Psalm 22 and see how many parallels you can find to Matthew 27:33-46.

  7. Were all these parallels mere coincidence? (John 19:23-24)