Deceit in 1 & 2 Samuel: Absalom

Absalom slays Amnon to avenge his sister Tamar.  2 Samuel 13:24-28 reads, “And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 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.  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?”  But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.  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.”  Some would be quick to conclude that Absolom never lied because all he did was ask permission and request that Amnon go with them.  Yet, the entire dialogue was designed to get Amnon out in the open so his servants could kill him.  It wasn’t a little walk in the park for brothers to be together.   This is one of many like it that illustrate how deception can take place without any falsehood literally proceeding out of one’s mouth.   

Another example of Absalom’s deception is in 2 Samuel 15:1-7.  It reads,  “After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.  And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,”  Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.”  Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”  And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.deceiving when he begins his conspiracy to become king.”  He stole the hearts of the people with his cunning pretentions to care for the people.  Yet, he was only interested in winning a political victory over his father.   His intent and purpose was to steel the kingdom from his father by gaining the confidence of the people and his interest in justice, while putting doubt into their hearts about David’s effectiveness as king.   These are just as despicable and sinful as speaking telling a lie by speaking a falsehood with the intent to deceive.