Lesson three: Jerusalem politics before Solomon took the throne.

1.         Read II Samuel 13:1 – 34.19:8. What was Amnon’s title/position (II Samuel 3:2)? What was the first thing Absalom said to Tamar when he saw her? What does this indicate about Amnon’s reputation? How much time elapsed between the time Amnon raped Tamar and the time Absalom killed Amnon? Did David have enough time to discipline Amnon? How do you think Absalom felt about David when he failed to do so? Was Absalom trying to hide the murder of Amnon? In front of whom did he originally plan to murder Amnon (v. 23)? Even if the king did not come were the people at the feast likely to tell the king?

2.         Read II Samuel 13:38 – 14:3 and 14:21 – 33. Did Absalom forget about the rape of Tamar (consider what he named his daughter in 14:27)?  Is Absalom accustomed to attracting attention (14:25 – 26)? How does he react to being ignored by the king and Joab (14:28 – 32)? Do Absalom’s actions in 15:1 – 5 surprise you? Did David discipline Absalom in an appropriate manner? Does David appear to have control of his own emotions in this situation? Does he appear to be in command of the situation or helpless?

3.                  What did Absalom do next (15:6 – 12)? Does David respond in the same helpless manner (15:13 – 22)? How did Absalom’s reputation in warfare compare with David’s (16:23 – 17: 14)? Should Absalom have let David escape? Does Absalom appear to know how to make good decisions about war? Can he even recognize good advice about war? Does David know how to handle an army (18:1 – 4)? Does he seem helpless anymore?

4.                  What did David command Joab concerning Absalom (18:5)? Did Joab obey this command (18:10 – 14)? Why did Joab offer the soldier rewards to kill Absalom? What does the soldier’s reply to Joab tell you about Joab’s reputation (18:12 – 13)? Does Joab try to defend his own reputation (18:14)? Is Joab patient or impulsive? Does Joab hesitate to murder Absalom even when the king specifically commanded him not to? How does David react to the news (18:32 – 33)? How does Joab react to this (19:1 – 8)? Is Joab concerned about David’s family or keeping the loyalty of the army (19:7)? What does David do (19:13)? How does Joab respond to this (20:9 – 10)? Who else did Joab murder (I Kings 2:5)?