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Absalom's Flight to Mahanaim and His Grandfather David

Absalom's flight to Mahanaim, and his subsequent confrontation with his father David, represents a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative of David's reign, detailed primarily in 2 Samuel. This event was the culmination of Absalom's rebellion, which began with his usurpation of the throne in Jerusalem [12].

Absalom, whose name means "father of peace" or "peaceful," was David's third son, born to Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur [4, 6]. He was renowned for his striking personal beauty and abundant hair [4]. The catalyst for his rebellion was a deep-seated grievance: his half-brother Amnon had violated Absalom's full sister, Tamar [4, 6, 9]. Absalom harbored this resentment for two years before orchestrating Amnon's murder at a sheep-shearing feast in Baal-hazor [4, 6]. Following this act of blood-revenge, Absalom fled to Geshur, his mother's homeland, where he remained for three years [6].

Upon his return to Jerusalem and subsequent reconciliation with David, Absalom began to subtly undermine his father's authority. He cultivated popularity by engaging with those who sought justice from the king, implying that David's rule was inadequate [12]. This strategy successfully turned the hearts of the people towards him [12]. When he had garnered sufficient support, Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron under the pretense of fulfilling a vow, but his true intention was to launch his rebellion there [12]. He sent for Ahithophel, David's trusted counselor, to join his cause, possibly exploiting Ahithophel's potential resentment over David's affair with Bathsheba, who some Jewish traditions identify as Ahithophel's granddaughter [14].

As Absalom's rebellion gained momentum and he entered Jerusalem, David was forced to flee the city with his loyal followers [12]. David's flight took him across the Jordan River to Mahanaim [1, 2, 3, 10]. Mahanaim, meaning "two camps" or "two hosts," was a significant location in biblical history. It was where Jacob encountered "the angels of God" and divided his retinue into two groups upon his return from Padan-aram [7, 8]. Later, it served as the capital for Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, during his brief reign while David ruled in Hebron [7, 8]. The city was located in the territory of Gad, east of the Jordan River, and was allotted to the Merarite Levites [8].

David's choice of Mahanaim as a refuge was strategic. It was a fortified city in the high eastern country of Gilead [17], offering a degree of safety from Absalom's immediate pursuit. While David established himself in Mahanaim, Absalom, having taken control of Jerusalem, gathered a vast army of Israelites to pursue his father [5, 10]. Josephus notes that Absalom crossed the Jordan with this army and encamped not far from Mahanaim, in the land of Gilead [5, 11]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, suggests that Absalom's crossing of the Jordan was not immediately after David, but some time later, after he had gathered all available fighting men, indicating a deliberate pursuit [10]. The land of Gilead, where Absalom's forces pitched, belonged to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh [11].

The narrative highlights the stark contrast between David, who had fled to Mahanaim, and Absalom, who pursued him with the full force of Israel [1, 2, 3]. David's presence in Mahanaim is noted in 2 Samuel 17:24, with the Targum Jonathan also stating, "While David came to Mahanaim, Absalom crossed the Jordan, and all the people of Israel with him" [15]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, describes David waiting in Mahanaim, "some miles from the wood where the battle was, and in the utmost border of the land," expecting news of the battle [13].

The events at Mahanaim underscore a recurring theme in biblical narratives where figures of faith, like Jacob and Moses, flee from danger but later return or confront their challenges with divine guidance [16]. David's flight to Mahanaim was not an act of cowardice but a strategic retreat that allowed him to regroup and prepare for the inevitable confrontation with his rebellious son. The subsequent battle in the forest of Ephraim, which resulted in Absalom's death, would ultimately restore David to his throne, but not without immense personal cost and grief [13].

Sources

  1. King James Version “[KJV] 2 Kings 17:24 — Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.”
  2. 2 Samuel “Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. -- 2 Samuel 17:24”
  3. II Samuel “II Samuel 17:24 (KJV) — Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Absalom — Father of peace; i.e., "peaceful" David's son by Maacah (2 Sam. 3:3; comp. 1 Kings 1:6). He was noted for his personal beauty and for the extra-ordinary profusion of the hair of his head (2 Sam. 14:25,26). The first public act of his life was the blood-revenge he executed against Amnon, David's eldest son, who had basely wronged Absalom's sister Tamar. This revenge was executed at the time of the festivities connected with a great sheep-shearing at Baal-hazor. David's other sons fled from the place in horror, and brought the tidings of the death of Amnon to”
  5. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 10, section 1: . How, When Absalom Was Beaten, He Was Caught In A Tree By His Hair And Was Slain 1. And this was the state of David and his followers: but Absalom got together a vast army of the Hebrews to oppose his father, and passed therewith over the river Jordan, and sat down not far off Mahanaim, in the country of Gilead. He appointed Amasa to be captain of all his host, instead of Joab his kinsman: his father was Ithra and his mother Abigail: now she and Zeruiah, the mother of Joab, were David's sisters. But when David had numbered his ”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Absalom — (father of peace), third son of David by Maachah, daughter of Tamai king of Geshur, a Syrian district adjoining the northeast frontier of the Holy Land. (Born B.C. 1050.) Absalom had a sister, Tamar, who was violated by her half-brother Amnon. The natural avenger of such an outrage would be Tamar's full brother Absalom. He brooded over the wrong for two years, and then invited all the princes to a sheep-shearing feast at his estate in Baalhazor, on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin. Here he ordered his servants to murder Amnon, and then fled for safety to ”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mahanaim — Two camps, a place near the Jabbok, beyond Jordan, where Jacob was met by the "angels of God," and where he divided his retinue into "two hosts" on his return from Padan-aram (Gen. 32:2). This name was afterwards given to the town which was built at that place. It was the southern boundary of Bashan (Josh. 13:26, 30), and became a city of the Levites (21:38). Here Saul's son Ishbosheth reigned (2 Sam. 2:8, 12), while David reigned at Hebron. Here also, after a troubled reign, Ishbosheth was murdered by two of his own bodyguard (2 Sam. 4:5-7), who brought h”
  8. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mahanaim — a town on the east of the Jordan. The name signifies two hosts or two camps, and was given to it by Jacob, because he there met "the angels of God." (Genesis 32:1,2) We next meet with it in the records of the conquest. (Joshua 13:26,30) It was within the territory of Gad, (Joshua 21:38,39) and therefore on the south side of the torrent Jabbok. The town with its "suburbs" was allotted to the service of the Merarite Levites. (Joshua 21:39; 1 Chronicles 6:80) Mahanaim had become in the time of the monarchy a place of mark. (2 Samuel 2:8,12) David took refuge t”
  9. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 3: her brother as an injury. So she yielded to his advice, and left off her crying out, and discovering the force offered her to the multitude; and she continued as a widow with her brother Absalom a long time. 2. When David his father knew this, he was grieved at the actions of Amnon; but because he had an extraordinary affection for him, for he was his eldest son, he was compelled not to afflict him; but Absalom watched for a fit opportunity of revenging this crime upon him, for he thoroughly hated him. Now the second year after t”
  10. 2 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Samuel 17:23: Then David came to Mahanaim,.... A city on the other side Jordan in the tribe of Gad, Jos 13:26, famous for its being the place where the angels of God met Jacob, Gen 32:1; and was for some time the seat of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, Sa2 2:8; and Absalom passed over Jordan, he, and all the men of Israel with him; not directly after David, but some time after, when, according to the counsel of Hushai, he had gathered all the warlike men of Israel to him that he could, and with this army pursued his father; not content to drive him to the other side Jordan, sought”
  11. 2 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Samuel 17:25: So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. Which belonged to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; here the Israelites that were with Absalom encamped, in order to give battle to David and his men. So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. Which belonged to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; here the Israelites that were with Absalom encamped, in order to give battle to David and his men. 2 Samuel 17:27 sa2 17:27 sa2 17:27 sa2 17:27And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim,.... Wh”
  12. 2 Samuel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Samuel 15 (introduction): Absalom's Rebellion and David's Flight - 2 Samuel 15-16:14 After this restoration to favour, Absalom soon began to aspire to the throne, setting up a princely court, and endeavouring to turn the hearts of the people towards himself, by addressing in a friendly manner any who came to seek redress from the king in matters in dispute, and by saying things adapted to throw suspicion upon his father's rule (Sa2 15:1-6). When he had succeeded in this, he asked permission from the king to take a journey to Hebron, under the pretence of wanting to fulfil”
  13. 2 Samuel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 18:19: Absalom's business is done; and we are now told, I. How David was informed of it. He staid behind at the city of Mahanaim, some miles from the wood where the battle was, and in the utmost border of the land. Absalom's scattered forces all made homeward toward Jordan, which was the contrary way from Mahanaim, so that his watchmen could not perceive how the battle went, till an express came on purpose to bring advice of the issue, which the king sat in the gate expecting to hear, Sa2 18:24. 1. Cushi was the man Joab ordered to carry the tidings (Sa2 18:21), an Et”
  14. 2 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Samuel 15:12: And Absalom sent for Ahithophel, the Gilonite, David's counsellor,.... To advise with about this treasonable affair he was engaged in, and to get out of him David's secrets, who was reckoned the best counsellor in the land; and he might rather hope he would come to him, if he was the grandfather of Bathsheba, as say the Jews, Sa2 11:3; since he might be disgusted with and resent David's adultery with Bathsheba his granddaughter, and the murder of her husband Uriah: him he sent for: from his city, even from Giloh; a city in the tribe of Judah, in the mountainous p”
  15. Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on II Samuel 17:24: While David came to Mahanaim, Absalom crossed the Jordan, and all the people of Israel with him.”
  16. CCEL (Patristic) “Athanasius of Alexandria, Select Works and Letters, section 321: 18. The Saints who fled were no cowards. Of a truth no one can possibly doubt that they were well furnished with the virtue of fortitude. For the Patriarch Jacob who had before fled from Esau, feared not death when it came, but at that very time blessed the Patriarchs, each according to his deserts. And the great Moses, who previously had hid himself from Pharaoh, and had withdrawn into Midian for fear of him, when he received the commandment, ‘Return into Egypt 1471 1471 Vid. Ex. iii. 10 ,’ feared not to do so. And again, when h”
  17. 2 Samuel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Samuel 17:24: Then David came to Mahanaim--in the high eastern country of Gilead, the seat of Ish-bosheth's government. Absalom passed over Jordan--It is not said how long an interval elapsed, but there must have been sufficient time to make the intended levy throughout the kingdom.”
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