Unspoken (16 page)

A few days later, Bathsheba was startled by the sound of screaming and wailing. She ran from her room, terrified that something had happened to David. Solomon intercepted her, his face pale, his eyes wide with shock and fear. “A messenger just came and said that Absalom has struck down all the brothers who attended the sheepshearing. Not one of them remains!”

She went cold, her mind racing. If Absalom had dared such a thing, she knew what he would dare next. “Find your brothers and go to your father. Stay at his side!”

Absalom was after the throne, and the only way he could take it would be to wage war against David.

The palace was in an uproar, women screaming and wailing, men standing about in torn garments while David lay prostrate and weeping upon the floor.

More news arrived. Only Amnon was dead. One by one, David’s sons rode home on their donkeys, repeating the story of how David’s heir had been merry with wine when Absalom set his men upon him, watching in glee as his brother was stabbed repeatedly until dead.

David gathered men to go after Absalom, but his son fled to Geshur and took refuge in the home of his mother’s father, King Talmai.

Bathsheba often thought about what had happened at the sheepshearing. She tried to think as her grandfather would. There were three reasons why Absalom would murder Amnon: to avenge his sister, to openly defy his father, and to declare himself heir to the throne of Israel. David’s remaining sons were now stricken with fear of Absalom. They knew he was ruthless in his quest for vengeance and power.

Would Absalom have killed David if he had gone to the sheepshearing? Surely a son would stop short of murdering his own father!

David talked continually about going out against him. He talked and talked . . . but did nothing.

Three years passed. Reconciled to Amnon’s death, David dismissed the notion of war, for his spies reported that Absalom had not gathered an army around him in Geshur. David concluded that Amnon’s murder had been an act of revenge over Tamar, not a bid for the throne. Bathsheba knew David’s mind was still fixed upon Absalom. Her husband was torn by love for this wayward son and anger over the young man’s actions.

“Your son waits to be forgiven,” Joab told the king. Bathsheba sensed that her husband was waiting for any excuse to welcome Absalom home again. Without an army and allies, he wouldn’t succeed in taking the crown from David, but Bathsheba still didn’t feel he was trustworthy. She said nothing against Absalom, of course, knowing anything she said would be misconstrued. What good would come of her speaking her mind when David still grieved over his absence and listened so eagerly for any news of him? No, all she could do was to make certain he knew he did have sons who sought God’s favor and would stand with their father against all enemies.

Whenever David sent word he wanted to spend an evening with her, she made certain Solomon and his brothers joined them for a time. David always enjoyed talking with them, and she wanted him to see and take comfort in his only godly sons.

The palace was changing.

David ordered several houses built in an attempt to keep peace among his women. Ahinoam continued to mourn Amnon while Maacah pleaded Absalom’s cause so long and loud that David finally refused to see her anymore.

Solomon and his brothers often spent their afternoons with Bathsheba. She loved to hear them talk over the things they were learning from Nathan. They were astute in other areas as well. They knew what was happening in Jerusalem while she, dwelling within the walls of the palace, knew so little. It was her sons who informed her that Absalom would soon be returning to Jerusalem.

“Has your father pardoned him?”

“Not exactly,” Solomon said. “I was in court the other day when a Tekoite widow came forward, claiming a clan wanted her to hand over her son who had killed his brother. She said if she did so, they would kill him as well and she would have no sons. Abba agreed to protect the heir. Then he realized the story was a ruse.”

“A ruse?”

“Joab put the words in her mouth.”

Disturbed, Bathsheba stood and moved away. Joab again. Was Joab sending the king another message:
Bring Absalom back or I stand with him against you?

“My father would be wise to keep Absalom close so he can watch him,” Solomon said.

“Yes, he would.” She looked back at him. “Speak with Nathan about this. See what he has to say!” She intended to pray that David would not give in to his volatile emotions again. Joab had manipulated him, but retaliation would serve no purpose.

When David was told that Absalom was coming up the mountain to Jerusalem, he struck a blow against Joab. “Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence.” David had slammed the door of reconciliation in his son’s face in order to put Joab in his place.

When Bathsheba heard what David had done in anger, she grieved. How long before Absalom’s pride demanded retribution? And how many would die when he lashed out again? The word of the Lord given through Nathan so many years before stood: the sword would be a constant threat to David’s family.

It took two years for the fire in Absalom’s heart to come out into the open.

“Absalom set fire to Joab’s field,” Shobab told Bathsheba one afternoon as she talked with her growing sons.

Solomon shook his head. “It’s only a matter of time now before Joab comes to Abba and pleads our brother’s case,” Solomon said grimly.

“If your father reconciles with Absalom, it can only be good for the nation.” She wished for an end to familial hostilities. The breech with his eldest surviving son depressed David and divided the people. Many felt Absalom justified in killing Amnon because the king had not acted according to the Law in avenging the rape of Absalom’s sister. Others said David’s inaction was a sign of indecision, not mercy. An indecisive king was a weak king, open to the schemes and machinations of enemies, and David had enemies on all sides. Only God could protect him and keep him on the throne.

“No good will come of this, Mother,” Solomon said. “If Absalom dared to set fire to Joab’s field, what more will he dare besides?”

“Are you implying he will stand against the king?”

“He’s too shrewd to be so open. And he needs allies. Joab won’t stand with him now. But you know better than I how proud Absalom is.”

Shimea laughed. “I heard he weighs his hair every time he cuts it!”

“His beauty has made him vain,” Bathsheba said quietly.

“Everyone is charmed by his good looks, but he’s filled with deceit. Abba ordered him to his own house two years ago, and that command hasn’t changed. Two years is more than enough time to stoke the fires in Absalom’s belly.”

Bathsheba searched for reasons to hope for peace. “Absalom is heir to the throne. He needs to be patient. He has nothing to gain by dividing a nation he will one day rule.”

Solomon laughed without humor. “The only time I’ve seen my brother show patience was during the two years he plotted the murder of Amnon.”

She rose. “We will speak no more of this now.” She couldn’t bear it. “Keep your eyes open and tell me what you see and hear.” She knew if Absalom ever challenged David and won, her life and the lives of her sons would be forfeit.

Solomon bowed his head. Bending down, he kissed her cheek. He started to say something more, but she put her fingers over his lips. “Speak with the prophet Nathan about your concerns,” she said. “Seek the counsel of the Lord.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She kissed him and each of her sons and watched them leave.

Lord God, protect my sons. Let the sins of the past fall on my head and not on theirs.

David heard Joab’s plea and allowed Absalom to come before him, but the kiss he bestowed upon his son was less in affection than official pardon. Soon after, Bathsheba heard that Absalom had taken to riding in a horse-drawn chariot with fifty men running before him as though he were already king. He rose early and went down to stand by the gate road, intercepting those who came to Jerusalem to have their cases heard before the king, telling them he was the only one who would listen and judge justly, and making promises only a king could fulfill.

When he came before David and asked to go to Hebron to fulfill a vow he’d made, David let him go, too preoccupied with his own comforts and pleasure to sense Absalom’s true motive.

Absalom left Jerusalem with two hundred invited guests and declared himself king in Hebron. “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you,” David was told by messengers.

And now Absalom was on his way to Jerusalem, with an army, to take the throne from his father.