DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 July 21
The Story of Lucretia (detail) - (1496-1504)
Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445 - 1510)
Italian Renaissance Style; Florentine School
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: As in the story of Lucretia, so in the story of Absalom's rebellion, rape was a key factor in division, downfall, and death within a kingdom. In Absalom's case the division he caused (in part, by rape) and the attempted murder of his father lead to his death, as described below and in subsequent chapters -- (Context: 2 Samuel 15, 16, 17, 18, 19). [Thematically Related Scriptures: Psalm 62; Psalm 41; Psalm 63; Psalm 61; Psalm 3; Psalm 22; Psalm 14; Psalm 53].
2 Samuel 16 continues the narrative of David's escape from Absalom, begun in the previous chapter. When David was a little past the top of the Mount of Olives, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with saddled asses, food, and wine. He told David that Mephibosheth did not come to his aid because he was hoping to regain the kingdom for himself and his father's house. Later, (2 Samuel 19:24-30), Mephibosheth contradicted this story; but at this point in the narrative David believed Ziba and gave all that belonged to Mephibosheth to Ziba (1-4). Then Shimei, a man from Saul's household, came and cursed David, throwing stones and dust at him and his warriors, calling him a bloody man and a man of Belial (wickedness), saying that the LORD was rewarding him for the blood of the house of Saul, and calling him a bloody man. But these things were lies; and it was Shimei who was a man of Belial. Nevertheless, fragments of truth were in the words of Shimei -- just enough to make them sound plausible to the undiscerning. David and his warriors had shed blood in the internecine war between Judah and the rest of Israel, led by the house of Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin. However, this war was apparently started by the house of Saul, led by Abner (2 Samuel 2:12-14). Therefore, the bloodshed on David's part was defensive, not aggressive or vengeful. Also, David could be called a "bloody man" in reference to his murder of Uriah. But the LORD had put away his sin (2 Samuel 12:13). Shimei's accusations ignored this fact (5-8).
Abishai wanted to cut off Shimei's head. But David forbade him and appealed to the LORD to bless, though Shimei had cursed. When David and his men became weary they stopped and refreshed themselves (9-14). With David gone, Absalom and his troops entered Jerusalem with Ahithophel, the counselor, among them. Hushai came to Absalom and hailed him as the new king. But Absalom asked him why he had not gone with his friend David. He replied that his intent was to serve the one whom the LORD and the people of Israel chose as king (15-19). Then, turning to Ahithophel, Absalom asked his advice about what to do. Ahithophel, in a stroke of brilliant wickedness, advised Absalom to have relations with his father's concubines to make the breach between him and his father permanent. So Absalom had a tent put on the top of the house (probably the house from which David saw Bathsheba) and defiled his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel (20-23).
2 Samuel 16
1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.
17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
19 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.
20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
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