David and the group with him have traveled past Bahurim at this point in their flight from Jerusalem. As we closed yesterday's study we found them far enough out of Absalom's reach to be able to sit down and rest for a while to take refreshment. While this is going on, Absalom and his supporters are taking up residence in David's palace at Jerusalem. David's friend Hushai comes to the palace and pledges his loyalty to Absalom. "Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came back to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with them. Then Hushai the Arkite, David's confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, 'Long live the king! Long live the king!'" (2 Samuel 16:15-16)
When the author says "all the men of Israel" came back with Absalom to Jerusalem, he means all the men of Israel who transferred their allegiance from David to Absalom, not literally all the men of Israel. The complete number of Absalom's supporters is not told to us but it cannot have been an insignificant number. Absalom has enough men with him that David felt he could have carried out a successful siege and perhaps even a successful invasion of the city, which is why David made the decision to leave and spare the city's citizens the deprivations of siege and the casualties of war. In Chapter 17 we'll find Ahithophel advising Absalom to call up 12,000 from among his troops (indicating he has far more than 12,000 total) to go after David. Later in Chapter 17 we'll find Hushai referring to Absalom's supporters all over Israel as being "as numerous as the sand on the seashore". This is a form of hyperbole and the number of supporters Hushai credits Absalom with may be exaggerated but his words indicate a belief that enough men will stand with Absalom to be an impressive army.
Before Hushai can advise Absalom he must convince him he is on Absalom's side, which is why he approaches him (while Absalom is probably seated on David's throne) and hails him with this greeting: "Long live the king! Long live the king!" Absalom is suspicious of him. He is aware that Hushai has been a friend to David in the past and he wants to know why Hushai has deserted his friend. "Absalom said to Hushai, 'So this is the love you show your friend? If he's your friend, why didn't you go with him?'" (2 Samuel 16:17)
The flattering words Hushai will speak to him, combined with the fact that Hushai is not with David like the rest of his closest confidants, will convince Absalom that Hushai is yet another person who believes he is the "chosen one" and has transferred his loyalty to him. Like so many men with an overwhelming sense of pride in themselves, Absalom's opinion of his greatness is so exaggerated that he expects others to recognize this supposed greatness. Hushai pretends to share Absalom's opinion of his greatness and Absalom falls for Hushai's lies. "Hushai said to Absalom, 'No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel---his I will be, and I will remain with him. Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.'" (2 Samuel 16:18-19)
Hushai's words are like music to Absalom's ears. It is not so that the Lord has chosen Absalom to replace David but Absalom thinks this is so because he wants it to be so. It is not true that all the people of Jerusalem want Absalom seated on the throne in the palace but Absalom thinks this is true because he wants it to be true. It is not a fact that all the men of Israel have forsaken David for Absalom but Absalom believes so many are on his side that the number not on his side is negligible. It's easy for Hushai to deceive Absalom because Absalom has already deceived himself! Absalom has already done most of the work for him because Absalom thinks he is the biggest deal ever to hit the nation of Israel. He believes he will be more powerful and famous than King David or King Saul, perhaps the most famous king the ancient world has ever seen. He has convinced himself this is is destiny. It's my opinion that he's the type of person who chooses a course of action and expects the Lord to get on board with his plans. He believes he's the "chosen one" not because the Lord has specifically said so (as He did when telling the prophet Samuel to anoint David as king) but because he can't envision anyone---even the Lord---opposing him. Absalom thinks he is so brilliant, charismatic, and gifted that he is the natural choice for king and that the Lord and all the people view him in the way he views himself.
In our next session we'll find Absalom turning to Ahithophel to ask his advice. In Chapter 17 Hushai will disagree with Ahithophel's advice and Absalom will agree with Hushai, still not realizing Hushai is working for David. The ending of Chapter 16 will tell us that Ahithophel is used to having his advice taken as seriously as if he were one of the Lord's prophets. When Absalom disregards his advice in favor of Hushai's, Ahithophel will be so upset that he will commit suicide. It's always a tragedy when someone takes their own life and Ahithophel did not need to react this way, but Absalom is not the only man in the book of 2 Samuel with an enormous ego. Ahithophel cannot handle having his counsel rejected. He cannot stand the thought of maybe losing his spot as the top advisor to the king, so he takes himself from the scene entirely. His unwise choice will be to David's advantage, for had Ahithophel remained and had Absalom taken his advice, Absalom could have continued making David's life miserable for quite some time. But with David's friend Hushai in his ear, Absalom will not be so fortunate. His life, like Ahithophel's, will soon come to an inglorious end.
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