Synopsis of the Chapter
Absalom solicits the people, and conspires against David in Hebron; wherefore David with his followers, verse 14, flees, and, verse 24, sends back the priests following him with the ark to the city. Finally, verse 30, ascending the Mount of Olives, with bare feet, weeping and covered head, he sends Hushai back to the city, to frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel.
Verse 1: Absalom Solicits the Kingdom ¶
1. THEREFORE AFTER THESE THINGS ABSALOM PREPARED FOR HIMSELF CHARIOTS -- as if soliciting the kingdom, especially because after the death of Amnon the firstborn, and also after Chileab had died or proved unfit for the kingdom, he, born in third place, seemed to have the nearest right to the kingdom.
Verse 7: After Forty Years ¶
7. AFTER FORTY YEARS, ABSALOM SAID TO THE KING. -- Some from Josephus read four instead of forty. But the Hebrew, Chaldean, and Septuagint consistently have forty. I say therefore that these 40 years are to be computed from the first anointing of David as king, done by Samuel in 1 Kings XVI, 13. For this was done when David was in his 20th year; from there count 40 years, and you arrive at the 60th year of David's age, when Absalom's conspiracy took place.
Verse 14: David's Flight ¶
14. AND DAVID SAID: ARISE, LET US FLEE. -- St. Chrysostom gives the reason for the flight in Psalm III, which David then composed: "David was fleeing from his son, because he had fled from chastity; he was fleeing from his son, because he had violated chaste marriage. He was fleeing from his son, because he had fled from the law of God, which says: You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery."
Morally, learn here how vain it is for parents to glory in their children, and how true that saying: "The children of heroes are scourges." For often children are degenerate and enemies of their parents. Behold, David begot three sons, of whom the first, Amnon, violated his sister by incest; the second, Absalom, was a fratricide and parricide; the third, Solomon, was an idolater and plainly a womanizer.
Verse 27: The Seer Sent Back ¶
27. O SEER, RETURN -- that is to say, O priest, O pontiff, return to the city. For the pontiff is called a "Seer," that is, a Prophet, because clothed with the rational, in which was the Urim and Thummim, consulting God he received His oracles, and proclaimed and prophesied them.
Verse 30: The Mount of Olives ¶
30. NOW DAVID WAS ASCENDING THE SLOPE OF THE OLIVES -- namely the Mount of Olives. He ascended it, both so that fleeing Absalom he might go into the desert and hide there; and so that on the Mount of Olives, abounding in olives and olive trees, he might worship God and implore God's help and mercy (whose symbol is the olive and olive oil) in so great a crisis.
CLIMBING AND WEEPING, WALKING WITH BARE FEET AND COVERED HEAD. -- For the Hebrews, like the later Romans, walked with uncovered heads as free and unencumbered people; but in mourning they covered and veiled their heads. See here the wonderful humility, penitence, and patience of David, who weeping, barefoot, and mourning with covered head, takes to flight.
Verse 31: Ahithophel's Conspiracy ¶
31. THAT AHITHOPHEL WAS IN THE CONSPIRACY. -- The Hebrews give as the reason that Ahithophel wished to avenge the wrong done to his granddaughter by David: for Bathsheba was the daughter of Eliam the son of Ahithophel.
MAKE FOOLISH, I PRAY, O LORD, THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL. -- For he was a very prudent man and of great counsel. Now God has various ways of making foolish the counsels of the prudent, and this without sin; for example, by suggesting other counsels, other thoughts, other reasons and methods, which at first glance seem more advantageous and attractive, and by concealing their disadvantages, difficulties, and dangers.