2 Samuel 17:24

THE DEPLOYMENT OF DAVID'S AND ABSALOM'S FORCES

"Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had married Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead."

"David came to Mahanaim" (2 Samuel 17:24). This city was well located for a temporary capital, being situated in the midst of a very productive and fruitful area. Besides that, Abner had chosen it as the capital for Mephibosheth, indicating that it could easily be defended from attack and that it was strategically located. The same reasons commended it to David as his choice of a temporary location.

"Amasa ... the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite who had married Abigal the daughter of Nahash, the sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother" (2 Samuel 17:25). "Both Abigal and Zeruriah were David's sisters, daughters of Jesse; and the only probable way of reconciling this with 1 Chronicles 2:16-17 is to suppose that Nahash was Jesse's wife. If Zeruiah and Abigal were David's sisters only by the mother, then Nahash might be the name of her first husband."[23] There are many problems of this nature in the O.T. that defy any dogmatic solution because of the limited nature of the information provided.

As Payne noted, "These last two paragraphs show how everything was going David's way. He had plenty of time to organize and received ample provisions from the people; whereas, Absalom lost his most competent advisor and had to put up with an incompetent as his general."[24]

Due to the foolish decision of Absalom, a bloody war was now inevitable, involving all the people.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE RALLIED TO DAVID AT MAHANAIM

Absalom's popularity was not nearly as universal as he probably supposed, as indicated by the following: