And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there. 14 dust. 15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and 16 Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the 17 king. God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to 18 thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, 19 choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should Í serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence. 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 22 of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto 23 his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the 2 oracle of God so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. 17 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night and I will 2 come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid : and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: 3 and I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is 4 as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying 3 pleased 5 Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise 4 what he saith. 6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; 7 speak thou. And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath 86 given is not good at this time. For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be 7 chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not 9 lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place and it will come to pass, when some of them be 8 overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that 10 follow Absalom. And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, 11 and they which be with him are valiant men. 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 9 that thou go to battle in thine own 12 person. 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 13 the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one. Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we 14 will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there. 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 10 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 16 counselled. 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 swal17 lowed up, and all the people that are with him. Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went 18 and told them; and they went and told king David. Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went 19 down. And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and 20 spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimnaaz 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 21 to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, after they were departed, 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 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan. 22 you. 23 Then David came to Mahanaim. And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and 2 put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and 25 all the men of Israel with him. And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was 9 Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of 5 Nahash, sister to Zeruiah 26 Joab's mother. So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. 24 27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel 28 of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, brought beds, and 6 basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and 29 beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, 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. 18 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth a third 2 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 3 with you myself also. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not 7 care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us but now thou art 8 worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is 4 better that thou 9 succour us out of the city. 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 against Israel: and the battle was in 7 the wood of Ephraim; where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand 8 men. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and 9 the wood 10 devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. And 10 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. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom 11 hanged in an oak. 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 would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. And the man said unto Joab, Though I should 11 receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 12 Beware that none touch 13 the young man Absalom. Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against 1 Heb. done. 2 Heb. gave charge concern- 3 Or, Jether an Ishmaelite. 5 Or, Jesse, 1 Chron. ii. 13. 16. 7 Heb. set their heart on us. 10 Heb. multiplied to devour. 11 Heb. weigh upon mine hand. 12 Heb. Beware whosoever ye be of, &c. B.C.1023. 2 SAMUEL XIX. mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself 14 wouldest have set thyself against me. Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus I with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of 15 Absalom, while he was yet alive in the 2 midst of the oak. 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 17 Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: 18 and all Israel fled every one to his tent. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken 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 20 tidings, how that the LORD hath 3 avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings Then said Ahimaaz the son of another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is 21, 22 dead. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. And he said unto Zadok yet again to Joab, But 5 howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou 23 hast no tidings 6 ready? But howsoever, said he, let me run. 24 him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 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 25 a man running alone. 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 the watchman saw another man running: and the 26 and drew near. watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. 27 And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, 7 Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, 89 All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath 10 delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against 29 my lord the king. And the king said, 11 Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I And he turned aside, and stood still. 30 saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. And the king said unto him, 31 Turn aside, and stand here. behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, 19 Tidings, my lord the king: for the 32 LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. 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 33 thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went 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, Ó Absalom, my son, my son! And the AND it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. 19 And the 13 victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for 2, 3 the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. But the king covered his face, and the king people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal 4 away when they flee in battle. cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 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 6 of thy concubines; 14 in that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. S Heb. judged him from the 4 Tieb, be a man of tidings. 5 Heb. be what may. 6 Or, convenient. 7 Heb. I see the running 8 Or, Peace be to thee. 10 Heb. shut up. 02 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 7 this day, then it had pleased thee well. 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 8 thee than all the evil that befel thee from thy youth until now. Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent. 9 AND all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israèl, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for 10 Absalom. And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? 11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the 13 last to bring back the king? And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the 14 host before me continually in the room of Joab. And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word 15 unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and 17 came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over 18 Jordan before the king. And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of 19 Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; and said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of 20 Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the 21 house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he 22 cursed the LORD's anointed? And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day 23 king over Israel? Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him. 24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the 25 day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto 26 him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king 28 is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore 29 have I yet to cry any more unto the king? And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide 30 the land. And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan 31 1 Heb. that princes or servants are not to thee. 2 Heb. to the heart of thy servants. 3 Heb. are ye silent? 4 Heb. the good in his eyes. 5 Heb. men of death. B.C. cir. 1022. 2 SAMUEL XX. And the king said 32 with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance 33 while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in 34 Jerusalem. And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I 35 should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the 36 king? Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why 37 should the king recompense it me with such a reward? Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go 38 over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt 2 require of me, 39 that will I do for thee. And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned 40 unto his own place. Then the king went on to Gilgal, and 3 Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought 42 the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan? And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all 43 of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift? And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. 20 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he 9 went forth it fell out. And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? 10 And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and 10 struck And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after 11 Sheba the son of Bichri. 1 Heb. How many days are the years of my life? 2 Heb. choose. 3 Heb. Chimhan. 9 Heb. deliver himself from our eyes. 10 Heb, doubled not his stroke." |