Joab said, "I'm not going to wait like this for you." So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. – 2 Samuel 18:14

Today's Scripture Reading (September 25, 2022): 2 Samuel 18

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, one of the many unanswered questions is what happens to Prince Andrew. Andrew has recently become the embattled Prince, with his image nearly destroyed by his connection with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the accusation of sexual assault and battery by a woman who claimed to be seventeen at the time of the incident. In Scotland, a heckler was arrested for disturbing the peace when he yelled at Prince Andrew as he passed by following his mother's coffin, calling him a "sick old man."

Andrew's troubles have resulted in the Queen removing his "His Royal Highness" title and the Prince's military titles, yet his mother kept him employed as part of the family. Queen Elizabeth had a soft spot for her third-born child. It is a soft spot that his brothers and sister don't have. Rumors have argued that King Charles III and the rest of the family might cut off their disgraced brother and uncle. At Prince Philip's funeral, the Queen instructed none of the family to wear their military uniforms so Prince Andrew would not be embarrassed by being the only one in civilian clothes. It is an order that King Charles III would not repeat.

But cutting off Andrew might bring other unfortunate outcomes, such as Andrew writing a tell-all book to support his lifestyle. So, it might be smarter to pay Andrew to live out the rest of his life in obscurity, out of the public eye. Yet, it is fairly obvious that, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the protection Andrew had once enjoyed has been removed. And life will not be as easy as Andrew had enjoyed during the reign of his mother.

David had not been included in the party that was going out to chase Absalom. The excuse was that they needed to protect David because he was more valuable alive, even if that meant a thousand soldiers had to die. But that was just an excuse. The reality was that Joab didn't believe that David could do what needed to be done. And he was right. David had told his commanders to react gently when they found the King's son.

But that was not what Joab believed. Joab believed that David had been overly indulgent with all of his children, including Absalom. Absalom had been given many chances to prove that he was a good person. What Absalom had established was that he was a rapist, a murderer, and a traitor. So, Joab believed that what Absalom, and the nation, needed was justice, not mercy. And when Joab discovered Absalom in a vulnerable position, Joab was not afraid to take advantage of the moment and supply his kind of justice, even if the King had ordered him to be merciful. 

Today's Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 19