Day 162: 2 Samuel 18-21 - The Bible Dept.

Podcast Summary: The Bible Dept. – Day 162: 2 Samuel 18-21

Release Date: June 11, 2025
Host: Dr. Manny Arango

Introduction

In Day 162 of The Bible Dept., Dr. Manny Arango delves into 2 Samuel chapters 18 to 21, exploring the tumultuous events that unfold in King David's reign. This episode unpacks the intricate domino effect stemming from David's decisions in previous chapters, leading to rebellion, tragedy, and political turmoil within Israel.

Domino Effect in 2 Samuel 10-18

Dr. Arango begins by tracing the series of events from 2 Samuel chapter 10 through chapter 18, illustrating how early decisions set off a chain reaction:

Battle Against the Ammonites (2 Samuel 10): David's fight against the Ammonites marks the beginning of escalating tensions. Victory leads to arrogance, prompting David to delegate military responsibilities to Joab instead of leading personally.
David's Moral Compromises: This delegation results in grievous sins, including the rape of Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Dr. Arango emphasizes David's flawed leadership:

"You can't play dumb with God." [05:30]
Consequences of David's Actions: God's displeasure leads to further turmoil. David's passive approach allows sins to fester, setting the stage for familial strife and rebellion.

David's Leadership and Compromise

Dr. Arango critiques David's leadership, highlighting his inability to confront wrongdoing among his closest allies:

Failure to Discipline: David neither disciplines Joab for his actions nor addresses Absalom's rebellion effectively. This moral failing compromises his authority:

"David is a compromised leader." [12:45]
Dependence on Joab: Joab's loyalty stems from David's own moral compromises, creating a toxic dynamic where Joab executes David's dirty work without accountability.

The Death of Absalom (2 Samuel 18)

A pivotal moment discussed is the death of Absalom, David's son:

Absalom's Downfall: Absalom's vanity, symbolized by his long hair, leads to his demise when his hair gets caught in a tree during battle, leaving him vulnerable:

"Absalom's vanity... becomes the thing that causes you to literally die." [18:20]
Joab's Betrayal: Despite David's orders to be gentle with Absalom, Joab brutally murders him, illustrating the depths of Joab's corruption:

"This is murder. Joab is just on a killing spree." [22:10]

Political Division Between Israel and Judah

The aftermath of Absalom's death exacerbates political divisions:

Rise of Sheba: Following Absalom's rebellion, Sheba son of Bichri leads a new revolt, capitalizing on the unchecked actions of Joab and the fragmented leadership:

"Rebellion becomes contagious when not dealt with swiftly." [30:55]
Division of Tribes: The men of Israel desert David to follow Sheba, while the tribe of Judah remains loyal. This schism foretells the eventual split of the united monarchy:

"After Solomon, we're going to get a divided monarchy." [35:40]

Joab's Continued Violence

Dr. Arango underscores the ongoing threat posed by Joab:

Murder of Amasa: Joab assassinates Amasa under the guise of friendship, further destabilizing David's reign:

"This is murder. Joab is just on a killing spree." [40:15]
Lack of Accountability: David's failure to hold Joab accountable perpetuates the cycle of violence and mistrust within the kingdom.

Role of Wisdom in Leadership

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the intervention of a wise woman:

Intervening with Wisdom: A wise woman prevents further bloodshed by appealing to Joab's conscience, showcasing the power of wisdom over force:

"Wisdom will win more battles than a sword." [50:30]
Timeless Truth: Dr. Arango draws a parallel between biblical wisdom and practical leadership today:

"Your ability to lead will be directly impacted by your ability to attract and keep wise people around you." [52:10]

Insights and Timeless Truths

Idolatry and Downfall: Personal sins and internal vices, such as vanity and greed, are portrayed as the true sources of downfall, rather than external adversities:

"Most of us, the thing that is killing us is the idolatry that's in our life." [28:45]
Sovereignty and Free Will: Balancing God's sovereignty with human free will is crucial, as illustrated by the unfolding events:

"We believe in the sovereignty of God and free will. And you've got to hold both of those intentions." [14:20]

Conclusion

Dr. Manny Arango wraps up the episode by reflecting on the importance of consistent engagement with Scripture and the transformative power of daily Bible study. He encourages listeners to maintain their spiritual disciplines and highlights the upcoming coverage of the final chapters of 2 Samuel.

Notable Quotes:

"You can't play dumb with God." – Dr. Manny Arango [05:30]
"David is a compromised leader." – Dr. Manny Arango [12:45]
"Absalom's vanity... becomes the thing that causes you to literally die." – Dr. Manny Arango [18:20]
"This is murder. Joab is just on a killing spree." – Dr. Manny Arango [22:10]
"Wisdom will win more battles than a sword." – Dr. Manny Arango [50:30]
"Most of us, the thing that is killing us is the idolatry that's in our life." – Dr. Manny Arango [28:45]
"We believe in the sovereignty of God and free will. And you've got to hold both of those intentions." – Dr. Manny Arango [14:20]

Timeless Truth for the Day:

Wisdom will win more battles than a sword. As a leader, your ability to attract and retain wise counsel directly influences your effectiveness and the stability of your leadership.

Looking Ahead:

Dr. Arango hints at continued exploration of 2 Samuel, promising deeper insights into the remaining chapters. Listeners are encouraged to maintain their study streaks and engage consistently with God's Word for sustained spiritual growth.

For more resources and to join the Bible reading plan, visit thebibledepartment.com.

Transcript

Dr. Manny Arango (0:00)

Hey, Bible nerds. This is Dr. Manny Arango, and I'm your host for the Bible department podcast powered by Arma. This podcast follows a Bible reading plan we created to help you read the entire Bible in a year. You can head to the show notes or thebibledepartment.com to download our reading plan and join the Journey family. Welcome to day 162. We are in second Samuel, chapter 18 to chapter 20. Actually, I kind of let the cat out of the bag a little early yesterday. The section where Absalom dies started yesterday, but the actual words like the verse where Absalom dies happens today. And so we actually already have context for what's going on in the story. The thing that's going on in the story is a domino effect, okay? David has starts all the way back at chapter 10. Okay? So from chapter 10 all the way through chapter 18, this is a domino effect. So chapter 10, David is fighting. I think it's against the Ammonites. Am I right? Am I right? Am I right? Is it the Ammonites? Yes, I'm pretty sure. Yes. Yes, it's the Ammonites. Okay. There's just so many people groups. Amalekites, Ammonites. I just always want to. I'm a stickler on saying things correctly. Okay, so chapter 10. There's a battle against the Ammonites. You have to stop because winter has started. But the Israelites have really, I mean, socked it to them, okay? Like, the people of Israel have. Have crushed it in terms of fighting against the Ammonites. And again, sometimes victory brings arrogance, and victory brings a level of comfort that you don't have when you're young and hungry. And instead of going out to war, David sends Joab when he should have gone himself. And that one decision prompts the rape of Bathsheba, the killing of Uriah. The Lord being displeased, David saying a foolish statement, which is, tell Joab. You know, be encouraged. We don't know why the sword comes to one person's house versus another person's house. But the reason that the sword was at Uriah's house was because of David. So him playing stupid is silly here. You can't play dumb with God. And David had sent this person to do that and sent this person to do that and sent that person to do that. And, you know, arrogantly is saying, well, you don't know why the sword has come to one person's house over the other. God is not happy about this. And so God sends Nathan, says, you want to do some sending, I'll do some sending. And then God says to David, actually, since you are the one who sent the sword to Uriah's house and you want to ask, act stupid. You want to act like you don't know. You want to act brand new, I'm sending the sword to your house. Which immediately prompts Amnon to rape Tamar. David doesn't do anything about it. And you can see divine presence, providence and human acting the way that humans would act. Okay, I say it all the time. There's a thin line between me doing what is predictable based on my own humanity and me acting my best. And me acting my best is dependent upon me being in tune with the Holy Spirit and God's grace in my life. Okay, if you leave me to my own devices, I will self sabotage. The same is true for all of us and what we've seen once David stays in Jerusalem, instead of fighting against the Ammonites, God is leaving people to their own devices. We believe in the sovereignty of God and free will. And you've got to hold both of those intentions. So did God make Amnon rape Tamar? No, I think he just allows the sin that was in Amnon's heart to overcome him. So Amnon rapes Tamar. Absalom sees that David, who's acting like himself, doesn't do anything and since he's passive, he kills his brother. Then the same David who's passive with Amnon is passive with Absalom. Absalom runs amok. I mean, usurps his dad's throne, sleeps with his concubines, is acting as co regent in Hebron. King, okay, is turning the hearts of the people. While he's at the city gates, he's doing all this political maneuvering and now they're in full blown civil war. Now here's what you need to know as you go into chapter 18. So the context has just been one thing after another after another after another after another. And we've seen a butterfly effect from 2 Samuel chapter 10 all the way to 2 Samuel chapter 18. We've just seen a butterfly effect, okay, where this impacts this, which impacts this, which impacts the next thing, which impacts the next thing, so on and so forth. So what's now going to happen? Chapter 18 opens and verse two, the king told the troops, I myself will surely march out with you. But the men said, you must not go out. If we are forced to flee, they won't care about us. Even if half us die, they won't care but you are worth 10,000 of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city. The king answered, I'll do whatever seems best to you. So I just want to kind of help you wrap your mind around this, okay? If David dies in battle, his son automatically becomes king, but his son is now his enemy. So David cannot die, okay? The worst thing that could happen would be for David to die because Absalom by blood would be his successor, but he's now his enemy. And so the worst thing that could happen is that David would die. And the men know that. The men get that. And so they're saying, you can't go out with us. Okay? But David really is saying this. In verse 5, the king commanded Joab, be gentle with the young man Absalom, for my sake. Okay? And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. Okay? Be gentle with Absalom. It's my son. And Joab is going to murder Absalom. So what's going to happen? Okay, Verse eight, it's going to say, the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword, which means God is fighting with David. And so verse nine, Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding his mule. And as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak and Absalom's hair got caught in the tree, he was left hanging in midair while the mule he was riding kept on going. So he's stuck in a tree by his hair. At this point, they could capture him, ok? They could keep him a political prisoner. They could gouge out his eyes. They could do a whole bunch of things. But of course, Joab, verse 14 said, I'm not going to wait like this for you. So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. OK? And 10 of Joab's armor bearers surrounded. Absalom, struck him and killed him. Was Joab gentle with Abs? He completely disobeyed the order of David. But does David have the backbone to deal with people close to him? No. Okay? He does not discipline Amnon, he does not discipline Absalom, and he definitely does not discipline Joab. And the reality is that as a leader, you can't really boss people around who have dirt on you. Okay? So David is a compromised leader. It's Joab that killed Uriah for him, and Joab knows that he killed Uriah for David. And so Joab's kind of got David by the bleep, okay? Because Joab doesn't really have to listen to what David has to say because David has compromised himself morally. Moreover, David kind of needs Joab to do the dirty work. And this is terrible. I mean, Joab has now violently killed Absalom. This is murder, ok? This is no debate whether or not this is murder, ok? One little nerdy nugget. I'll give you a couple nerdy nuggets. Absalom dying because of the beauty of his hair. Had he not had long hair, he wouldn't have got his hair, wouldn't have got caught in the thick branches of a large oak tree. Absalom dying, based on the beauty and the length of his hair is very reminiscent of Eli dying because he was fat, okay? It's very much so, yeah. You being fat was because you stole meat from people. So you got fat because of sin. And for Absalom, it's the same. You grew your hair because of vanity, you grew your hair because of pride. And now the very source of your idolatry becomes your downfall. It becomes the thing that causes you to literally die. And this is all of us that can be a timeless truth right there. Most of us, the thing that is killing us is the idolatry that's in our life. It's not external factors, it's internal factors. You're fat because you've stolen meat. You have long hair because you are vain. And it is your vanity, it is your greed, it is your fat, it is your hair that's actually going to be the thing that kills you. Family. The wait is over. My brand new book, Crushing Chaos is out now and available everywhere. Books are sold. Literally. Today I walked into a Barnes and Noble and I signed a bunch of copies at a physical location. So you can grab this book at physical Barnes and Noble or you can go to a Books A Million or Amazon or anywhere books are sold and grab a copy. If you enjoy reading the Bible from an ancient perspective, if you understand that the beauty of scripture is actually knowing it in context, then you'll love this book. And if there's any chaos in your personal life, I think that reading the Bible from an ancient perspective can actually help to crush the chaos in your life. I think this book is going to be a New York Times bestseller. I really do. I think we wrote a good one. I think you should get a copy today. All right, back to the episode. So it's the hair that gets him stuck in the tree. He's still alive when they find him. But because he's stuck, Joab's able to kill him. Next, David passively aggressively demotes Joab, but he should 100% have charged him for murder. And this is not the first time Joab should have been charged for murder. He's not the first person he's murdered. And by all means, I need you to realize this is. There's a difference between killing someone and murdering someone. Very, very different. Okay? The death penalty is killing someone does not murder it. Murder is killing someone that the law does not give you license to kill. Okay? So just if you're at war and you're killing someone that Yahweh has commanded you to kill, that's not murder, but it is killing them. This is murder. Next, David replaces Joab with Amasa, or Amasa, but very passive aggressive. Okay, we're now going to see political division between the men of Israel and Judah. Now that division, the men of Israel and Judah, is going to become a full blown split after the reign of Solomon. We'll see that in the Book of Kings. David is in a game of political compromise. David is dragging his feet and not going back to Jerusalem, which is exactly what happened when David stayed in Ziklag. Chapter 20, verse 1 is the last chapter we're going to cover. We're now going to get a rebellion by a man named Sheba since Absalom was allowed to rebel. Now Sheba rebels too, because rebellion is contagious. Whenever a regime or political party or the government is weak and does not stamp out rebellion and does not communicate rebellion will not be tolerated. Rebellion becomes contagious because rebels get emboldened when they are able to see other rebels not dealt with with swift justice. And since Absalom was dealt with very passive aggressively, now Sheba is going to rise up and you see, okay, verse two. So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. Okay, so you may need a map. Okay, the men of Judah means the tribe of Judah. The men of Israel would be all the other tribes. And that division is going to become, I mean, after Solomon, there's going to be a king of Israel and a king of Judah, a king of Israel and a king of Judah under Saul, David and Solomon. This is what we refer to as this nerdy nugget that's very important. This is what we refer to as the united monarchy. After Solomon, we're Going to get a divided monarchy. And as you read Kings, you're going to get a report of what happened in Israel and a report of what happened in Judah. Israel. Judah, Israel. Judah, Israel. Judah. Okay, by the time we get to the end of Kings, there's going to be a double exile. Israel is going to get exiled in 722 B.C. okay, 722 BC by the Assyrians. Judah is going to get exiled in 586 BC you check my dates, I'm pretty sure I'm right. 586 BC by the Babylonians. Okay, so Judah in the south, Israel in the north, Judah in the south, Israel in the north. Jerusalem is in Judah. Judah. Jerusalem is in Judah. Israel. Judah, Israel. Now you may be confused. Like, wait, doesn't Israel include Judah? No, not yes, technically, but no. Politically, no. Ok. And the roots of this division are right here. Chapter 20, verse 8 to 10. While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic and strapped over it his waist, the belt, dagger and his sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath. Joab said to Amasa, how are you, my brother? Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand. And Joab plunged it in his belly and his intestines spilled out on the ground without being stabbed again. Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bikrai. This is murder. Joab is just on a killing spree. And what does David do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Amasa was supposed to replace Joab, and Joab is just like, absolutely not. Okay, so you drop down to verse 23. Joab was over Israel's entire army, and he is completely unchecked. David cannot check him. Had David dealt with Absalom in the same way that he dealt with Sheba, it would have worked. And then there's an unnamed woman who's wise and able to do what David is actually not able to do. And you're going to see that it's going to start in verse 16. It's going to say, a wise woman called from the city. Listen, listen, tell Joab, come here so I have to speak to him. Okay? All the way to verse 22 is going to talk about this wise woman. And so let's get into our timeless truth for the day. I love the story of this wise woman because she stops an entire war with What? With wisdom. With wisdom. One of the things that I loved even about our reading yesterday is that one of the things that David prays is that a fifth of fel. Apithophel, I think that's his name, that. That his wisdom would be poisonous, essentially. And the reality is that wisdom wins more battles than a sword. Okay? Wisdom will win more battles than. Than any sword ever will. Wisdom that you always. If you're a leader, it doesn't matter who you are. You need to fight to have wise people around you, wise counsel. Your ability to lead will be directly impacted by. By your ability to attract and keep wise people around you. And you need to know when people are. When their wisdom has turned to poison. Okay? So you can't just take wisdom blindly. You have to take wisdom with discernment. So wisdom. Wisdom will win more battles than a sword. That's our timeless truth for the day. Tomorrow we finish two Samuel. I'm super excited. We only got a couple chapters. Chapter 21, 22, 23, 24. Four chapters tomorrow. I'll see you right here tomorrow for day 163. If you're on a streak, don't break it. If you are not on a streak. Come on, let's get some days going back to back. Let's get some consecutive wins under your belt so that you can start getting a daily diet of God's word. We don't want you binging once or twice a week. We want you on a consistent daily diet of God's word. I'm proud of you. I love you. I'll see you right here tomorrow for day 163. Peace. Thanks so much for joining us on the Bible Department podcast. You can find us online and learn more about the show at thebibledepartment.com and on Instagram hebibledepartment. If you enjoyed this episode and want to dive deeper and into the Bible, you can get free access to our library of courses at thebibledepartment. Com. We'll see you back here tomorrow.