(1) 3 persons:
a. Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth (the crippled son of Jonathan) v.1-4. He fabricated the story (19:24-29) to put the enmity between Mephibosheth and David so that he got everything that was Mephibosheth v.4.
b. Shimei, a man from Saul's extended family v.5. He yelled curses to David and said,
v.8 The LORD has punished you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!”
(BKC) This was untrue, of course, for David had not raised his hand against Saul, whom he regarded as the anointed of the Lord, but had taken every measure to deal graciously with Saul’s survivors.
He observed the disaster in David's house, but the reason for the disaster was fabricated. It was not due to whatever David had done to Saul's family, but due to David's adultery (12:10). His interpretation was wrong and totally biased.
He observed the disaster in David's house, but the reason for the disaster was fabricated. It was not due to whatever David had done to Saul's family, but due to David's adultery (12:10). His interpretation was wrong and totally biased.
c. Ahithophel, the former counselor of David, now being the counselor of Absalom. He gave advice to Absalom solely based on the strategic standpoint: how to strengthen the position of Absalom in front of his followers, even if the advice was highly immoral and shameful.
16:21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Have sex with your father’s concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.”
(ZIBBC) Lie with your father’s concubines (16:21). In the ancient Near East a king’s wives and concubines were regarded as indicative of his power and position (see comment on 3:7).
3:7 7 掃羅有一妃嬪，名叫利斯巴，是愛亞的女兒。一日，伊施波設對押尼珥說：“你為甚麼與我父的妃嬪同房呢？”A king’s wives and concubines reflected his power and position, often involving political alliances through marriage. Thus for an outsider to sleep with one of these women was, among other things, a direct assault on the king’s status and position. In the Bible, to sleep with a royal wife or concubine was tantamount to usurping the throne (2 Sam. 16:21–22), and merely to ask to marry a concubine of a deceased king was considered treason (see esp. 1 Kings 2:22 所羅門王對他母親說：“為何單替他求書念的女子亞比煞呢？也可以為他求國吧！他是我的哥哥，他有祭司亞比亞他和洗魯雅的兒子約押為輔佐。”Their acquisition often involved diplomacy or conquest. For an outsider to sleep with a member of the royal harem, therefore, was a direct affront to the monarch and tantamount to usurpation
However, Absalom was David's son. Having relationship with your father's wives were prohibited by the Law. (Lev 20:11) (NAC). Plus, Ahithophel advised Absalom to do that publicly. That was unthinkable. It fulfilled the curse Nathan told David after his adultery 12:11-12.
Ahithophel's advice must be highly effective, because the Scriptures said,
16:23 In those days Ahithophel’s advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel.
(2) Reflection: Ziba appeared to be a friend to David, but he lied to David so that he got himself the benefits. Do I just appear to be helpful, but just want to gain benefit for myself?
(2) Reflection: Ziba appeared to be a friend to David, but he lied to David so that he got himself the benefits. Do I just appear to be helpful, but just want to gain benefit for myself?
Shimei cursed David and physically abused him based on some biased assumption. David did not correct him because he was a man of bloodshed (although not the same man that Shimei meant). But am I like Shimei and have false interpretation of people based on my biased assumption.
In the midst of all these, David waited for God's mercy. 16:12 Perhaps the LORD will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse.” Are you brought down by people around you? David believed that when God noticed the afflictions heap up on him He would grant him good. Who do I turn to in my affliction? Or do I just focus on the affliction and not the Lord?
The last person, Ahithophel, established an irreversible enemity between David and his son. All 3 of them brought harms to David and one more than the other. Ahithophel hurt David most.
On the other hand, Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel probably because he was smart and his strategy worked well. However, do those advices stand in front of God? Are we also guilty to employ ways that work well, but not right in the eyes of God? When something works well it is not necessarily something right in God's eyes.
After Scripture mentioned about David in v.14, he was absent in the rest of the passage until 17:22. But God is not absent in any time. Ahithophel's immoral and irreversible advice is not outside of God's plan.
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