Why did the man refuse to harm Absalom despite Joab's offer? Setting the Scene • After years of rebellion, Absalom is caught “hanging in an oak” (2 Samuel 18:9). • Joab’s warrior finds him first; Joab instantly offers “ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt” (v. 11) to whoever will kill the rebel prince. • The unnamed soldier replies with the words that answer our question: “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’” (2 Samuel 18:12) David’s Order Was Crystal-Clear “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” (2 Samuel 18:5) Every soldier, from commander to footman, had heard it. Obedience was not optional; it was the direct instruction of Israel’s God-appointed king. Three Motives Behind the Soldier’s Refusal 1. Loyalty to the King • The order came from David himself. Ignoring it would be treason, however enticing the reward. • 2 Samuel 18:13 underscores his concern: “If I had jeopardized my own life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.” He knows David would discover the truth and hold him accountable. 2. Reverence for God-Given Authority • Similar scenes appear earlier in Israel’s history: – David refuses to strike Saul: “I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 24:6) – David rebukes Abishai for wanting to kill Saul again in 1 Samuel 26:9. – David executes the Amalekite who claimed to kill Saul (2 Samuel 1:14-16). • The soldier mirrors that same conviction: harming the king’s son would be an offense against the God-ordained monarchy. 3. Personal Integrity Above Profit • “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands…” Money cannot purchase disobedience rooted in conscience. • Proverbs 11:3: “The integrity of the upright guides them.” The warrior chooses integrity over riches. Scriptural Echoes and Connections • Exodus 20:13: “You shall not murder.” The sixth commandment stands behind his refusal. • Romans 13:1-2 later affirms the principle: “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been appointed by God.” Obedience to rightful authority honors the Lord. • Ecclesiastes 12:14: “For God will bring every deed into judgment.” The soldier weighs eternal accountability above temporary gain. Lessons We Can Carry Forward • Clear commands from God or God-appointed authority leave no room for compromise. • Integrity is demonstrated when we resist pressure—monetary, relational, or cultural—to break God’s revealed will. • Respect for authority is not blind allegiance to men but reverence for the God who established order. • The cost of obedience may seem high, yet the cost of disobedience—both temporal and eternal—is far higher. Absalom’s tragic end highlights Joab’s ruthlessness, but this unnamed soldier shines as a quiet example of steadfast obedience and godly fear—proof that even in turbulent times, righteousness is possible for those who honor the King’s word above all. |
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