The United Kingdom of Israel:
Saul, David & Solomon
Foreshadow Christ the King
Lesson 19 David Mourns the Death of Absalom
the Second Book of Samuel 18:19—19:40
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Rosarium Virginis Mariae (Rosary of the Virgin Mary)
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for The United Kingdom of Israel
cross references in The United Kingdom of Israel
next lesson: Dissension: Jacob’s Descendants Disagree
This material coordinates with Lesson 19 on pages 114–119 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.”
—the Second Book of Samuel 7:12–13
welcome to our in-depth study of Saul, David & Solomon
We invite interested groups and individuals to check out the sample first lesson from this 28-
lesson 
Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study. These online study pages link to our free lesson videos, as well as to a glossary and cross references in the biblical text. Other study aids include maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King has been granted an imprimatur and may be purchased from our website shop. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.
open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:
Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.
let’s review—the Second Book of Samuel 16:15—18:18
In Lesson 18 Good & Bad Counsel: Problems for Absalom, David’s errant son receives conflicting advice from Ahithophel and Hushai, two men who counseled David. Hushai remains loyal to David and manages to sway the course of events and send word of Absalom’s plans to David. He does this by reminding Absalom of David’s great military skill. Two of the prophecies issued as a consequence of David’s sin can be seen when Absalom has relations with 10 of David’s concubines who were left in Jerusalem, and when Absalom challenges his father’s military authority. Although Absalom gets wind of a plot against him, he’s unable to capture the young men sent to tell his plans to David. David and his followers flee across the Jordan to Mahanaim, where they set up a temporary base of operations. Absalom’s fighting forces are led by Amasa, the son of David’s sister Abigail. Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gittite each command a third of David’s army. At the urging of his troops, David agrees to remain in Mahanaim for safety, and he asks his commanders to deal gently with Absalom. David’s forces are victorious. Absalom’s hair gets caught in a tree in the forest, and his mule continues on, leaving Absalom hanging. He’s found by one of David’s men, who refuses to strike the king’s son. Joab has no such compunction, and he kills Absalom. Absalom is buried under a heap of stones in a pit in the forest.
map notes—crossing the Jordan River
In order to return to Jerusalem, David and his large retinue must cross the Jordan from Mahanaim in the area to the east known as the Transjordan. This turns out to be a significant event, with various factions maneuvering to secure a favorable position now that David is back in power. Before David can get serious about ruling again, he must deal with his sorrow over the death of his son. Any parent can understand such grief, but Joab is correct when he points out that the king’s mourning is demoralizing to the people who have been fighting to return David to the throne. Click on the map (right) to enlarge it. The original map is on page 119 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
what’s going on now with Judah? (18:40)
As Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps explains on the video overview 
for Lesson 19, “David Mourns the Death of Absalom,” Judah has good reason to be slow in returning to David. The people of Judah are, after all, the ones who first supported Absalom’s uprising against his father. David demonstrates political shrewdness when he sends priests to the elders of Judah and appoints Amasa as his military leader. David understands the way things work in his tribe, and he’s making 
a good attempt to unite the various factions. It’s also possible David has figured out that Joab stepped outside the lines as far as Absalom’s death goes. In that case, David well may have been looking for a replacement to lead his military.
The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study match the Scripture ranges for the sets of questions in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. You can follow along as Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 19, “David Mourns the Death of Absalom,” on pages 114–119 in the study book.
WHAT DO YOU THINK about Ahima-az lying to David?
In the Second Book of Samuel 18:20, Joab clearly tells Ahima-az that David’s son Absalom is dead. It’s for that reason Joab doesn’t want Ahima-az carrying tidings of the battle to David. After a Cushite has been sent to tell the news to David, Ahima-az also takes off running and beats the Cushite to Mahanaim, apparently ignoring Joab’s instructions.
? What expectation might Joab have concerning how David will react to news that Absalom is dead?
? Why do you think it is that Ahima-az seems so intent on being the one to tell the king about the outcome of the battle?
? Why might Joab be interested in ensuring that Ahima-az not be the one to tell David about Absalom’s death?
? Consider why Ahima-az seems to be unconcerned about how Joab might react to his disobedience.
? Although Ahima-az has been eager to tell David about the battle outcome, he lies when he says that he doesn’t know Absalom’s fate. What evidence in the biblical text suggests that David might not believe Ahima-az?
mourning is another way in which David resembles Jesus
St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559–1619), an Italian Capuchin and gifted linguist, was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Saint John XXIII in 1959. He compared David’s mourning over Absalom to Jesus’ mourning over the city of Jerusalem:
“The patriarch Abraham wept bitterly at the death of his wife Sarah; so did Isaac at the death of his mother. The people of Israel wept at the death of the high priest Aaron, and at that of the great prophet Moses. David likewise mourned the death of Absalom: ‘O Absalom my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom my son!’ In similar words Christ addressed himself to Jerusalem: ‘O Jerusalem, if only I might die instead of you; for I am ready to die for your salvation.’ David loved his son Absalom with a most tender love, even though he was wicked and sought to assassinate his father and usurp his kingdom. And so, David wept over his death and wished that he himself might have died in his place. Christ too loved Jerusalem and that is why he wept over it, wept to think that, like Absalom, it would be destroyed. Christ mourned over Jerusalem, and not only longed to die to save it but actually did die. But Christ’s greatest sorrow was that although he was going up to Jerusalem to die for its salvation, his death would, through its own fault, lead not to its salvation but to its greater condemnation.”
pray with the Psalms—another song of trust in the LORD
The opening verse of Psalm 17 identifies it as a prayer of David, and it takes very little effort to see in this 
Psalm evidence of some of the distress David experienced during his lifetime. It must have been especially trying for David to be told by Joab that in mourning Absalom’s death, the king was flirting with political disaster that could irrevocably harm God’s people. It’s to David’s credit that he takes Joab’s advice. The closing verses of Psalm 17 suggest that David isn’t counting on leaving material wealth to his children but instead is basing his hope for the future on the possibility of beholding the face of God. Prayed as part of Wednesday Vigils (Week I), Psalm 17 will be included as part of Lesson 7 The LORD Remembers His Holy Word 
in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, which is scheduled for publication in late summer of 2025.
WHAT DO YOU THINK about whether Absalom was anointed to rule?
The Second Book of Samuel 19:9–10 records that after the death of Absalom there’s strife throughout all of the tribes of Israel.
? In this section in the Second Book of Samuel, the phrase “all the tribes of Israel” excludes members of the tribe of Judah and refers to all of the other remaining descendants of Jacob. What reason can you suggest to explain why descendants of Judah are excluded?
? What might the people of Israel have to fear about the uncertainty of their political situation after the death of Absalom?
? What do the men of Israel apparently consider to be one of David’s greatest strengths as king?
? The biblical text records that the people of Israel claim to have anointed Absalom to reign over them. The two previous kings, Saul and David, both were anointed by a prophet acting on instructions from the LORD. Consider why the people might have thought that they could claim authority to anoint Absalom as their king.
? What do the people of Israel propose to do to get rid of the strife they’re feeling at the death of Absalom?
? List the pros and cons of their proposed solution?
? Consider whether you think that the people’s plan will achieve what they want.
WHAT DO YOU THINK about Joab & Amasa?
Politically speaking, Joab seems to have David’s back. While it’s uncertain from the biblical text whether David knows the role that Joab played in Absalom’s death, Joah displays great understanding of what’s at stake if David loses the people’s support before regaining control of the kingdom. That scenario appears clear to Joab, who doesn’t want to risk the catastrophe of someone else coming into power as king. Although David takes Joab’s advice, trouble is brewing.
? Consider whether you think that David knows the role that Joab played in Absalom’s death. What evidence can you see in the biblical text to support your viewpoint?
? What political advantage might David gain by replacing Joab with Amasa as commander over David’s own military forces?
? Compare David’s familial relationship to Joab with his relationship to Amasa, whom he refers to in the Second Book of Samuel 19:13 as his bone and flesh. Explain which of these familial relationships you think David is likely to regard as the closest and why.
? What might explain why the biblical text offers no information about how Joab reacts to being replaced by Amasa as military commander?
? How do you expect Amasa, who’s been in charge of Absalom’s forces before they were defeated, to feel about now being appointed commander of David’s troops?
why is the house of Joseph introduced?
In the Second Book of Samuel 19:16–17, we can see evidence of increasingly closer ties between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Shime-i, who previously cursed David, comes to meet David on David’s return to Jerusalem, and he brings with him a thousand supporters from the tribe of Benjamin. It’s of interest that Shime-i characterizes himself as a member of the house of Joseph rather than of the tribe of Benjamin. By so aligning himself with Joseph, Shime-i is distancing himself from any earlier identification with the tribe of Benjamin, of whom Saul was a leading member. Shime-i is playing up his weaker connection to Joseph, a figure highly regarded by all of the descendants of Jacob.
some intriguing ideas about lineage emerge
Although Benjamin and Joseph were brothers, Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh were adopted by Jacob and given Joseph’s share of territory in the land of Canaan. Shime-i’s claim to a connection to the house of Joseph is a bit of a stretch. He remains a member of the tribe of Benjamin, not of the half-tribe of Ephraim or of the half-tribe of Manasseh. Moving forward, the tribe of Benjamin will all but disappear when it’s essentially absorbed into the tribe of Judah. In the meantime, the most important member of the tribe of Benjamin has been Saul, so we’ll continue to see frequent mention of the house of Saul. This 
foreshadows something similar that happens when the house of David overtakes the line of Judah in importance. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis provides a closer look at the lives of Jacob’s sons.
a descendant of Saul
Mephibosheth is called “son of Saul” in the Second Book of Samuel 19:24, but he’s actually Saul’s 
grandson. Although dead, Saul still is considered to be the head of the family by virtue of his kingship, and he supplants Benjamin in importance. It’s significant that Mephibosheth claims loyalty to David, reinforcing the link between the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. To learn more about the people and places that appear in the biblical text, visit our online glossary.
mercy—you could look it up in our archives
In Second Book of Samuel 19:22, David responds in mercy to Abishai’s suggestion that Shime-i be put to death for cursing David. To learn more about the Hebrew roots of the word “mercy,” read Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.
the exchange between Barzillai & David
The end of the nineteenth chapter in the Second Book of Samuel records a surprising exchange between David and Barzillai the Gileadite. Barzillai says David can do whatever seems good to him, echoing a prevalent Old Testament idea that the king (prior to Saul this would have been God) is able to determine the best course of action in any given situation. David responds by saying that he’ll do whaterver seems good to Barzillai. In the Second Book of Samuel 19:37–38, Barzillai gets to determine Chimham’s fate. In doing what seems good to Barzillai for Chimham, who is Barzillai’s son, David emphasizes the importance of honoring family ties, and especially of honoring fathers.
the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this Catholic study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however including the passage in this lesson from the Second Book of Samuel 18:19—19:40.
ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing extra information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun that appears in the primary biblical text for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a particular passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the relevant 
cross references—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.
ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. 
This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.
wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following link is to a reading from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV reading provides an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical text. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
the Second Book of Samuel 18:19—19:40 (NIV)
close with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the 
scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can use the following prayer based on the biblical text in this lesson in the study book The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
O God, you are merciful and loving
in determining just punishment for sin.
Grant us the humility to accept
difficult situations we bring on ourselves
and help us to remain faithful
throughout all the challenges in our lives.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
who humbly accepted your will for his own life
in order that all men and women may have
the opportunity for eternal life. Amen.
Lesson 20 Dissension: Jacob’s Descendants Disagree—the Second Book of Samuel 19:41—21:20
Lesson 18 Good & Bad Counsel: Problems for Absalom—the Second Book of Samuel 16:15—18:18
you also may like our study of Scripture & the Rosary (digital only)
Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels, a 26-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, looks at the biblical foundations of the Rosary. The study includes lessons on Pope St. John Paul II’s Rosarium Virginis Mariae (Rosary of the Virgin Mary), the Apostles’ Creed, and the Luminous Mysteries as well as the original 15 Mysteries of the Rosary. Color photographs of stained glass windows depict key scenes in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Free digital lessons rotate throughout the year on our website.
start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. 
Information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer questions. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer
*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?
Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online study pages for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.
The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.
Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.
You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.