2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, If pray then, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that nad a long time mourned for the dead: 3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in ner mouth. 5 And the king said unto her, What aileth |1 thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead. 6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.' 7 And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill nim, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth. 8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee. Absalom returns to Jerusalem. up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his ing to the banished be not expelled from him. B. C. 1032 o with a p c.3.3. q or, Am- r c.14.23. 8-was con- t Ge.37.36. r 15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid. 16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. 17 Then thy handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: A. M. 27. for as an angel "of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee. B. C. 1027. a c. 13.39. b 2 Ch.11.6. c 1.8a. 20.41. d save. 121,&c. verer be- & De 19.12. the earth. i Ge.27.13. IS 25.24. c.3.28. 1 Ki.2.23. k that the revenger of blood do not multiply to destroy. Nu.35.19. m 1 Sa. 14. n c. 13.37, 18 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. 19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid: 20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. 21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and 30 Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of y his servant. 25 ¶ But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of Nu.35.24. his head there was no blemish in him. $ Le. 26.10. 32. 26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight. 27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance. 28 ¶ So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him. Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? B. C. 1027. h Ge. 45. 15. Lu.15.20. David flees from Jerusalem hold after him. And the king left ten women which were "concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people 32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good AM. 2980. after him, and tarried in a place that was far for me to have been there still now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. 33 So Joab came to the king, and told him : and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king h kissed Absalom. B. C. 1024. a c.12.11. b 1 Ki.1.5. c to come. off. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before thee from the king. d or, none the king 5 And it was so, that when any man came at his nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. u c. 12.11. ve.8.18. w c.18.2. X wander 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 7 And it came to pass after forty years, in going. that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, y 18a. 23.13. let me go and pay my i vow, which I havez Ru. 1.16, vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. h 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 17. Pr. 17.17. 18.24. Ac. 11.23. a Ro. 12.15. b called 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absa-c.16.2 lom reigneth in Hebron. 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called: and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. d Nu.4.15. 433,4 63.1,2 Nu.14.8. c. 22.20. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counseller, from his city,h1 even from " Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong: for the people increased continually with Absalom. 13 ¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The P hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. and weeping. c.19.4. Es. 6.12. 1 Is. 20.2,4. 19 T Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, * As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over; the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. с d 24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: 26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in f thee: behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. 30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. Shimei curses David. 2 SAMUEL.-CHAP. XVI., XVII. Hushai's counsel accepted. B. C. 1021. I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou | A. M. 2963. for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. v c. 17.5.14. w c.17.15, 16. 35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of x ver.27. the king's house, thou shalt tell it TM to Zadok | y ₫ 16.15, and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear. 16. 1Ch.27. 33. a c.15.30, 32. b c.9.2 37 So Hushai, David's friend, came into IS 17.17, Archite, David's friend, was come unto Abthe city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. CHAPTER XVI. 1 Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtaineth his master's inheritance. 5 At Baburim, Shimei curseth Davi 9 David with patience abstaineth, and restraineth others, from revenge. 15 Hushai insinuateth himself into Absalom's counsel. 20 Abathophel's counsel. b 18. 25.18. d c.17.29. e c. 19.27. Pr. 18.17. f do obei sance. g c.19.16, &c. 1 Ki.2.44, &c. AND when David was a little past the top 3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. 5 ¶ And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was & Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed i still as he came. 6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: blood. k c.1.16. 3.28,29. 4.8..12. 1 thee in thy evil. m c.98. n Ex.22.28 o 1 Pe.2.23. p La. 3.38. q Job 9.12 Ro.9.20. r Ge. 15.4. 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD Phath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day U c.15.33,34. z c. 15.12. a 1 Sa.27. 12. b c.2.7. Zec. 8.13. 20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. 21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then a shall the hands of all that are with thee be Strong. 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. 11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. n 12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there. 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had P appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. 15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge 'not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. V p com manded. q Job 5.12, Lu 168 c.15.28. uc.15.27,36 Jos 15.7. wc. 16.5. x Jos.2.6, &c. y Ex.1.19. ver. 15,16. a done. bc.15.12. c gave charge concern ing his 2 Ki.20.1. P5.10. 55.23. e c.2.8. for, Je ther, an Ishmaelite. 17 Now "Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by ▾ En-rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told❘g Abigal. them; and they went and told king David. W h1 Ch.2.16, 17. 1 Ch.2.13, 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away or Jesse. quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down. 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. 16. J c.10.1. k c. 12. 29, 30. David's charge to the army. Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. 27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that iShobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 Brought beds, and "basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, 29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness. 1 David, viewing the armies in their march, giveth them charge of Absalom. 6 The Israelites are sore smitten in the wood of Ephraim. 9 Absalom, hanging in an oak, is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit. 18 Absalom's place. 19 Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David. 33 David mourneth for Absalom. AND David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. 3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city. 4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. 6 So the people went out into the field IKI.2.7. against Israel: and the battle was in the wood & of Ephraim; 1 c.9.4. m c.19.31, 20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 And it came to pass, after they were de-b c.2.17. parted, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you. 8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. 10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. 11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I 12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth myk ver.5. hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 1 Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against my own life: form there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me. Beare whosoever m c. 14.19, n before. o heart. 14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with p Jos 7.26. thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the vak. 15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid P a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent. 18 q Ge.14.17. 8P 49.11. t judged him from the hand. u be a man David's lamentaion for him. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath d delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. 30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 33 And the king was much moved, and went of tidings up to the chamber over the gate, and wept : and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! v be what w or, con- x Jn.20.4. Is. 21.11, 7. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken y Ki.9.17. and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place. 19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. 20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead. z I see the CHAPTER XIX. 1 Joab causeth the king to cease his mourning. 9 The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back. 11 David sendeth to the priests to incite them of Judah. 13 Shimei is pardoned. 24 Mephibosheth excused. 32 Barzillai dismissed, Chimham his son is taken into the king's family. 41 The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them. AND it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mournetha for Absalom. 2 And the victory that day was turned into a Ki 1.42 mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved 23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. b 25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. k c. 19.4. 1 Ro.5.7,8. a Pr. 17.25. salration or deliver ance. e c.15.30. d c.18.33. for his son. 3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. d 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. 8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Bee by loving. hold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent. |