David had fought in many battles and was an
experienced military strategist. Like any good leader, he also needed to know
how many men he had so that he could organize his force. Hence the first thing
he did was to count the number of men with him. Then he effectively divided
them into three groups. He appointed Joab to lead one group, Abishai the other,
and Ittai to lead the third group. Of the three commanders, Ittai who was
a Philistine was the newest addition. Earlier in 2 Samuel 15, we were told that
Ittai wanted to join the king when he was departing Jerusalem. David was
reluctant to involve him at first seeing that he was a foreigner and saw no
reason why he should want to wander with him as a fugitive. So he tried to
persuade him to return and serve Absalom, but Ittai insisted on following him. In
2 Samuel 15:21 he told David, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the
king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or
for life, there also your servant will be.” He was a loyalist. So The king was
persuaded to include him in his band of 600 men, fleeing from Absalom.
David
wanted to lead his men into the battle, but the people loved him and
valued him too much to let him put himself at risk. According to
Ahithophel’s strategy, David would be their main target and focus. So his
men persuaded him to remain in the city in safety with whatever number they
would leave behind to protect him. They could surmise that he would certainly
be the main object of Absalom’s attack. So they refused to let him go out and
confront Absalom and his men. David reluctantly agreed. They probably also knew
that the king’s emotion for his son would come in the way as they confront
Absalom. They were spot on. For as they were leaving for the fight, David was
heard to tell Joab, Abishai, and Ittai to “Deal gently for my sake
with the young man Absalom.” What he said was heard by his people. Despite all
that heartaches Absalom had brought him, David still loved his rebellious son.
This is the heart of a father and the reason why they felt he should not join
them in the battle.
Try
to stand in David’s shoes and one will realize the dilemma he faced. David was
not known to be a disciplinarian. This was one of the reasons that led him to
this point in his life. He failed to discipline Amnon for raping his
half-sister Tamar. Because nothing was done to punish him, Absalom, her
brother, took matters into his hand and murdered Amnon. David also did not deal
with Absalom rightly but allowed him to return to Jerusalem. The latter then
took advantage of the situation to usurp his throne. Now he was on the run and
even then, he was still reluctant to see the son receive severe punishment. We
learn that being emotional often makes it hard for us to make the right
decision. Much as we love our children, discipline cannot be spared if we want
to see them maturing uprightly. We must show love, and love requires that we
chasten to bring out the best in them. The Bible tells us that those whom God
loves, He chastens. We are also told not to spare the rod. To spare the rod is
to hate the child. Remember the maxim that says, a stitch in time saves nine.
Love by all means, but remember that to love is to correct any wrong
as well.
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