David's Palace is circled on the lower right side of this map of Jerusalem
Israel rural wilderness
David's Palace was built using Phoenician architecture, drawing by Eilat Mazar
View from David's Palace - artistic rendition
Phoenician Column found in David's Palace
View looking outside from David's Palace archaeological dig
View of Old City Jerusalem Today
Views from David's Palace archaeological dig
Views from David's Palace archaeological dig. Kidron Valley. As if you were looking from David's window.
Looking into David's Palace Excavation, before the roof was put over it
Looking at the David Palace Excavation currently
Biblical Archaeological Review Magazine did a great article.http://www.bib-arch.org/e-features/king-davids-palace.asp Many More Archaeological Artifacts are Found and Displayed in The Link.
2 Samuel 13:23-39
23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
Ms. Eilat Mazar is heading the Shalom Center's Institute of Archeology. And she is the niece of Israel's second and only three-term President, Yitzhak Ben Zvi. She is a third generation archaeologist.
Today we love reading all about David & learning about the man anointed of God. What did Absalom learn from living with King David? Patience. David waited patiently for God to act. Absalom, with revenge and hate in his heart, turned patience into stealth.
We live in a time when sometimes the media mocks Christian values. David was living his worst nightmare, his virtues and his sins, were being mirrored back at him. David led men to become better. David forgave men turning their back on him during his exile years. David did not kill Saul's sons - 3 were killed in battle. Saul's sons, by his concubine, were giving to the Gibeonites to prevent war and, later, David had their bones gathered up after their mother continued to protect their remains.
In a day of violence, perhaps Absalom saw David's quest to be kind to Saul (as a King of Israel), and Saul's legitimate children, while not kind at all to Saul's concubine's children as hypocrisy. David, after all, had several wives because his first wife was taken back by her father, Saul. David never did have children with his first wife.
Nathan, the prophet, told David sin would fall upon his household for killing Bathsheba's husband and committing adultery. Without trust, everyone begins to watch out for their own plans and self-interests. David's nephew, Jonadab, discusses the murderous plot before the messenger arrives. Jonadab also told Amnon how to maneuver David's daughter into a rape situation.
David, for the first time, as he ages, seems to be more interested in his comfort than treating his children in a righteous manner. Maybe David feels all he does to try to help his children is futile. Rape seemingly unpunished. A daughter's future left to what? Murder forgiven to hold a murderer to his affections and trust. Absalom set up for murder by David's General Joab. David seems completely unaware of the plotting around him. For all of the intrigue, it is still in God's hands to fulfill His plans for David.
David is older, he has more guilt, he has more responsibilities, he works to grow God's Israel and has fallen down in his ability to father those who need him most.
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Psalm 118
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Life has stages of victory and defeat, we never rest in one place. Yet redemption from God, our Father, when we rest in Him, is assured victory.
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