NOTES for 2 Цар 18:9-19:4
The relationship between David and Absalom, father and son, is so understandable and familiar. It is no longer possible to tell who is to blame or who first hurt the other. Was the father unjust and inattentive, or was the son vain and ungrateful? It is virtually impossible to sort out human relationships: if you are not one of the people involved, you simply cannot know everything; if you are one of the combatants, you usually consider yourself right or find excuses for your actions. However we may assess this conflict, the father's behavior is astonishing: no matter how much grief Absalom brought him—rebellion, war, the division of the people—none of it was to prevent the rebellious child's life from being spared. Everything had already been forgiven, even while the outcome of the struggle between father and son was still uncertain. The king's victory turns into terrible grief for the father: his son is dead, and nothing can comfort David. For us he is a vivid example of a person's ability to follow at least two of the Beatitudes: he is merciful, and he mourns.