David Mourns Absalom's Death

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David's reaction to Absalom's death. When word reached Joab of the way that David was taking his son's death, he went to David and chastised him greatly. Note how Joab felt about David's remorse and how he expressed this to David:

1. You are making the army feel like they have done something wrong this day in defeating your enemies.
2. You are showing grief when in reality you should be showing gratitude for they have saved the lives of you and your family.
3. Your attitude seems to suggest that you love those who hate you and hate those who love you.
4. Now, I suggest that you go out there and congratulate your troops because if you do not, not one will be here in the morning.

And David went out and sat at the city gate and everyone went to see him.

Meanwhile, the people of Israel were confused. They had accepted Absalom as their King, but David had defeated him, yet David was still over east of the Jordan. Should they acknowledge him again as their King? Would he accept if they did? The people were seeking answers but those who should have been, the Leaders of Israel, were not. So the Priests said to the Leaders of Judah, "Why are you the last to acknowledge the problem?" "Why don't you acknowledge David as our King?" "All Israel is ready to accept him."

Meanwhile, David had some "house cleaning" to do. He sent word to his cousin, Amasa, that he was appointing him Commander-in-Chief of the forces of Israel in place of Joab. When Amasa heard this he went to the Leaders of Judah and convinced them to send for David and ask him to come back and bring all that were with him. So David started back toward Jerusalem.

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