Feb 15

Hmm.....This whole passage was a little confusing. You have to do a lot of reading between the lines. I'll try to 'cliff note' it a little since I had to untangle it for myself anyway. (this is without reading any commentaries and just trying to get the most out of it that I can, so feel free to disagree).

Joab challenges David that all he is doing is sitting around and mourning the death of Absolom. He says it is a disgrace to everyone who fought for him. David does perk up and making moves to go back to the throne but he says that Amasa (his sister Abigail's son) will be his commander, not Joab.

A lot of people go out to greet the returning David. Many are worried that they will be in big trouble for their brief disloyalty but David forgives them and the only one in trouble is the one who says that the ones who were disloyal should be put to death.

It turns our that Mephibosheth was not waiting for the return of his grandfather's kingdom at all as Ziba had told David, he was mourning the loss of David (his unkept state a sign of mourning in that culture). I'm not sure what Ziba's motiviation was there, maybe he wanted to discredit "Meff" (we'll call him for short) and get more for his 15 sons. David tells them to divide the fields (I assume this a way of saying Adios to Ziba).

The next part seems to be the first hint of an upcoming divided kingdom. The tribe of Judah takes back David and sets him up as king. The other 10 tribes (wouldn't it be 11?) get ticked off and say they have "10 claims" on him. Then a trouble maker named Sheba got the the rest of Israel (minus Judah) stirred up and against David (are they fickle or what?). Amasa, who was supposed to be (or is?) the new commander takes longer than 3 days which he was told to take to get together the troops of Judah (does that mean he is deserting or being a trouble maker, or just unreliable?). At any rate, Joab kills him! And then he gets Sheba's head, litterally.

 Now, I can't say that I have really figured out this story. I don't even see any neat symbolism in it except for Meff who was by their standards 'unworthy' to eat at the kings table but is always extended grace and undeserved favor like we are. And I still don't know or remember how this is going to turn out in the long run with Joab. Is he 'good' and taking charge when David is unwilling or unable to? Or is he 'bad' and bent on his own agenda? Not exactly another cliff hanger.......just kind of confusing. I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on this one.