Absalom’s Defeat: 18:1–5  David’s forces may have been more limited than he had been used to in recent times, but he and Joab were skilled in making the most of limited resources and in fighting battles where they were outnumbered. The description of his army’s structure leaves the impression that these are well-organized professional forces, as opposed to Absalom’s perhaps more haphazard arrangements. We are given only an outline, but the campaign appears to have been well-organized. David intended to lead his troops in person, but his men were able to dissuade him from this. There is recognition, perhaps responding to Ahithophel’s counsel of Absalom, that David’s personal safety was vital. If he was killed, then, as Ahithophel had recognized, Absalom would be king.

Although David is not t…