The Wages of Sin: The Death of Absalom This lesson is entitled
"Grief" in the LifeWay curriculum Sunday School Lesson for
August 4, 2002 Background Passage: 2 Samuel 18:1-19:8 *Focal
Teaching Passages: 2 Samuel 18:1-18; 19:1-8 *The Death of
Absalom (18:1-18) As the threat of all out war between David and
Absalom became a reality, David "mustered the men who were with
him" and strategically organized them into three divisions (vv.
1-2). A general was appointed to command each section—Joab,
Abishai, and Ittai the Gittite—while David himself intended to
lead the mass of troops into the forest to face Absalom—"I
myself will surely march out with you." It is clear from the
language of this section that, though he was exiled from
Jerusalem, David still maintained a sizeable force of loyal men
who would gladly put their lives on the line for him. As the men
readied for battle, David’s commanders rejected his plan to
accompany them into the conflict—"You must not go out" (v. 3).
Their reasoning was that, since David