2Samuel 17
17Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, "Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.H302H559H53H977H8147H6240H505H376H6965H7291H310H1732H39152I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king,H935H3023H7504H3027H2729H5971H5127H5221H44283and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man's life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people."H7725H5971H376H1245H7725H5971H79654This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.H1697H3474H53H5869H2205H34785But then Absalom said, "Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let's see what he thinks about this."H559H53H7121H2365H757H8085H63106When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, "What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel's advice? If not, what do you suggest?"H2365H935H53H53H559H559H302H1696H1697H6213H1697H16967"Well," Hushai replied to Absalom, "this time Ahithophel has made a mistake.H2365H559H53H6098H302H3289H2896H64718You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won't be spending the night among the troops.H559H2365H3045H1H582H1368H4751H5315H1677H7909H7704H1H376H4421H3885H59719He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom's men are being slaughtered.H2244H259H6354H259H4725H5307H8462H8085H8085H559H4046H5971H310H5310Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.H1121H2428H3820H3820H738H4549H4549H3478H3045H1H1368H2428H112111"I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops.H3289H3478H622H622H1835H884H2344H3220H7230H1980H7128H644012When we find David, we'll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.H935H259H4725H4672H5168H2919H5307H127H582H3498H1571H25913And if David were to escape into some town, you will have all Israel there at your command. Then we can take ropes and drag the walls of the town into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down."H518H622H5892H3478H5375H2256H5892H5498H5158H1571H6872H467214Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "Hushai's advice is better than Ahithophel's." For the LORD had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!H53H376H3478H559H6098H2365H757H2896H6098H302H3068H6680H6565H2896H6098H302H5668H3068H935H7451H5315Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said to Absalom and the elders of Israel and what he himself had advised instead.H559H2365H6659H54H3548H302H3289H53H2205H3478H328916"Quick!" he told them. "Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him."H7971H4120H5046H1732H559H3885H3915H6160H5679H4057H5674H5674H4428H1104H597117Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David.H3083H290H5975H5883H3201H7200H935H5892H8198H1980H5046H3212H5046H4428H173218But a boy spotted them at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard.H5288H7200H5046H53H3212H8147H4120H935H376H1004H980H875H2691H8033H338119The man's wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.H802H3947H6566H4539H875H6440H7849H7383H1697H304520When Absalom's men arrived, they asked her, "Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman replied, "They were here, but they crossed over the brook." Absalom's men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem.H53H5650H935H802H1004H559H290H3083H802H559H5674H4323H4325H1245H4672H7725H338921Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. "Quick!" they told him, "cross the Jordan tonight!" And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed.H310H3212H5927H875H3212H5046H4428H1732H559H1732H6965H4120H5674H4325H302H328922So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.H1732H6965H5971H5674H3383H1242H216H5737H259H5674H338323When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.H302H7200H6098H6213H2280H2543H6965H3212H1004H5892H1004H6680H2614H4191H6912H6913H124David soon arrived at Mahanaim. By now, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River.H1732H935H4266H53H5674H3383H376H347825Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. (Amasa was Joab's cousin. His father was Jether, an Ishmaelite. His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab's mother, Zeruiah.)H53H7760H6021H6635H3097H6021H376H1121H8034H3501H3481H935H26H1323H5176H269H6870H3097H51726Absalom and the Israelite army set up camp in the land of Gilead.H3478H53H2583H776H156827When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim.H1732H935H4266H7629H1121H5176H7237H1121H5983H4353H1121H5988H3810H1271H1569H727428They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils,H5066H4904H5592H3335H3627H2406H8184H7058H7039H6321H5742H703929honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, "You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness."H1706H2529H6629H8194H1241H1732H5971H398H559H5971H7457H5889H6771H4057
2Samuel 18
18David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them.H1732H6485H5971H7760H8269H505H8269H39672He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Joab, one under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath. The king told his troops, "I am going out with you."H1732H7971H7992H5971H3027H3097H7992H3027H52H1121H6870H3097H251H7992H3027H863H1663H4428H559H5971H3318H3318H5893But his men objected strongly. "You must not go," they urged. "If we have to turn and run—and even if half of us die—it will make no difference to Absalom's troops; they will be looking only for you. You are worth 10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it."H5971H559H3318H5127H5127H7760H3820H2677H4191H7760H3820H3644H6235H505H2896H5826H5826H58924"If you think that's the best plan, I'll do it," the king answered. So he stood alongside the gate of the town as all the troops marched out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.H4428H559H5869H3190H6213H4428H5975H8179H3027H5971H3318H3967H5055And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: "For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom." And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.H4428H6680H3097H52H863H559H328H5288H53H5971H8085H4428H8269H6680H1697H536So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim,H5971H3318H7704H7125H3478H4421H3293H6697and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David's men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives.H5971H3478H5062H6440H5650H1732H1419H4046H3117H6242H5058The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.H4421H6327H6440H776H3293H398H7235H5971H3117H2719H3989During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David's men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air.H53H7122H6440H5650H1732H53H7392H6505H6505H935H7730H1419H424H7218H2388H424H5414H8064H776H6505H567410One of David's men saw what had happened and told Joab, "I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree."H259H376H7200H5046H3097H559H7200H53H8518H42411"What?" Joab demanded. "You saw him there and didn't kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero's belt!"H3097H559H376H5046H7200H5221H776H5414H6235H3701H259H229012"I would not kill the king's son for even a thousand pieces of silver," the man replied to Joab. "We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, 'For my sake, please spare young Absalom.'H376H559H3097H3863H8254H505H3701H3709H7971H3027H4428H1121H241H4428H6680H52H863H559H8104H5288H5313And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me."H176H6213H8267H5315H1697H3582H4428H332014"Enough of this nonsense," Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom's heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree.H559H3097H3176H6440H3947H7969H7626H3709H8628H3820H53H2416H42415Ten of Joab's young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.H6235H5288H5375H3097H3627H5437H5221H53H419116Then Joab blew the ram's horn, and his men returned from chasing the army of Israel.H3097H8628H7782H5971H7725H7291H310H3478H3097H2820H597117They threw Absalom's body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones over it. And all Israel fled to their homes.H3947H53H7993H1419H6354H3293H5324H3966H1419H1530H68H3478H5127H376H16818During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to carry on my name." He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom's Monument to this day.H53H2416H3947H5324H4678H4428H6010H559H1121H8034H2142H7121H4678H8034H7121H3117H53H302719Then Zadok's son Ahimaaz said, "Let me run to the king with the good news that the LORD has rescued him from his enemies."H559H290H1121H6659H7323H1319H4428H1319H3068H8199H3027H34120"No," Joab told him, "it wouldn't be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today."H3097H559H376H1309H3117H1319H312H3117H3117H1319H4428H1121H419121Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, "Go tell the king what you have seen." The man bowed and ran off.H559H3097H3569H3212H5046H4428H7200H3569H7812H3097H732322But Ahimaaz continued to plead with Joab, "Whatever happens, please let me go, too." "Why should you go, my son?" Joab replied. "There will be no reward for your news."H559H290H1121H6659H3254H3097H4100H7323H310H3569H3097H559H7323H1121H1309H467223"Yes, but let me go anyway," he begged. Joab finally said, "All right, go ahead." So Ahimaaz took the less demanding route by way of the plain and ran to Mahanaim ahead of the Ethiopian.H7323H559H7323H290H7323H1870H3603H5674H356924While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them.H1732H3427H8147H8179H6822H3212H1406H8179H2346H5375H5869H7200H376H732325He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, "If he is alone, he has news." As the messenger came closer,H6822H7121H5046H4428H4428H559H1309H6310H3212H1980H713126the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, "Here comes another one!" The king replied, "He also will have news."H6822H7200H312H376H7323H6822H7121H7778H559H376H7323H4428H559H131927"The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok," the watchman said."He is a good man and comes with good news," the king replied.H6822H559H7200H4794H7223H4794H290H1121H6659H4428H559H2896H376H935H2896H130928Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "Everything is all right!" He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Praise to the LORD your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king."H290H7121H559H4428H7965H7812H776H639H4428H559H1288H3068H430H5462H582H5375H3027H113H442829"What about young Absalom?" the king demanded. "Is he all right?" Ahimaaz replied, "When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn't know what was happening."H4428H559H5288H53H7965H290H559H3097H7971H4428H5650H5650H7200H1419H1995H304530"Wait here," the king told him. So Ahimaaz stepped aside.H4428H559H5437H3320H3541H5437H597531Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, "I have good news for my lord the king. Today the LORD has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you."H3569H935H3569H559H1319H113H4428H3068H8199H3117H3027H696532"What about young Absalom?" the king demanded. "Is he all right?" And the Ethiopian replied, "May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!"H4428H559H3569H5288H53H7965H3569H559H341H113H4428H6965H7451H528833The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son."H4428H7264H5927H5944H8179H1058H3212H559H1121H53H1121H1121H53H4191H5414H53H1121H1121
2Samuel 19
19Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom.H5046H3097H4428H1058H56H532As all the people heard of the king's deep grief for his son, the joy of that day's victory was turned into deep sadness.H8668H3117H60H5971H5971H8085H559H3117H4428H6087H11213They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle.H5971H935H1589H3117H5892H5971H3637H1589H5127H44214The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!"H4428H3813H6440H4428H2199H1419H6963H1121H53H53H1121H11215Then Joab went to the king's room and said to him, "We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves.H3097H935H1004H4428H559H3001H3117H6440H5650H3117H4422H5315H5315H1121H1323H5315H802H5315H63706You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased.H157H8130H8130H157H5046H3117H8269H5650H3117H3045H3863H53H2416H4191H3117H3477H58697Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before."H6965H3318H1696H3820H5650H7650H3068H3318H3885H376H3915H7489H7451H935H52718So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes.H4428H6965H3427H8179H5046H5971H559H4428H3427H8179H5971H935H6440H4428H3478H5127H376H1689And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, "The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country.H5971H1777H7626H3478H559H4428H5337H3709H341H4422H3709H6430H1272H776H5310Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?"H53H4886H4191H4421H2790H7725H4428H772511Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, "Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready.H4428H1732H7971H6659H54H3548H559H1696H2205H3063H559H314H7725H4428H7725H1004H1697H3478H935H4428H100412You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?"H251H6106H1320H314H7725H442813And David told them to tell Amasa, "Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place."H559H6021H6106H1320H430H6213H3254H8269H6635H6440H3117H8478H309714Then Amasa convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, "Return to us, and bring back all who are with you."H5186H3824H376H3063H259H376H7971H4428H7725H565015So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river.H4428H7725H935H3383H3063H935H1537H3212H7125H4428H5674H4428H5674H338316Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David.H8096H1121H1617H1145H980H4116H3381H376H3063H7125H4428H173217A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba's fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king. They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king's household across the river, helping him in every way they could.H505H376H1145H6717H5288H1004H7586H2568H6240H1121H6242H5650H6743H3383H6440H442818As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him.H5674H5679H5674H4428H1004H6213H5869H2896H8096H1121H1617H5307H6440H4428H5674H338319"My lord the king, please forgive me," he pleaded. "Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.H559H4428H113H2803H5771H2142H5650H5753H3117H113H4428H3318H3389H4428H7760H382020I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king."H5650H3045H2398H935H7223H3117H1004H3130H3381H7125H113H442821Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shimei should die, for he cursed the LORD's anointed king!"H52H1121H6870H6030H559H8096H4191H7043H3068H489922"Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!" David exclaimed. "Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution but for celebration! Today I am once again the king of Israel!"H1732H559H1121H6870H3117H7854H376H4191H3117H3478H3045H3117H4428H347823Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, "Your life will be spared."H4428H559H8096H4191H4428H765024Now Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes since the day the king left Jerusalem.H4648H1121H7586H3381H7125H4428H3808H6213H7272H6213H8222H3526H899H3117H4428H3212H3117H935H796525"Why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?" the king asked him.H935H3389H7125H4428H4428H559H1980H464826Mephibosheth replied, "My lord the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, 'Saddle my donkey so I can go with the king.' For as you know I am crippled.H559H113H4428H5650H7411H5650H559H2280H2543H7392H3212H4428H5650H645527Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refused to come. But I know that my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do what you think is best.H7270H5650H113H4428H113H4428H4397H430H6213H2896H586928All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?"H1H1004H3808H4194H582H113H4428H7896H5650H398H7979H6666H3426H2199H442829"You've said enough," David replied. "I've decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you."H4428H559H1696H1697H559H6717H2505H770430"Give him all of it," Mephibosheth said. "I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!"H4648H559H4428H3947H310H834H113H4428H935H7965H100431Barzillai of Gilead had come down from Rogelim to escort the king across the Jordan.H1271H1569H3381H7274H5674H3383H4428H7971H338332He was very old, about eighty, and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim.H1271H3966H2204H8084H8141H1121H4428H3557H7871H4266H3966H1419H37633"Come across with me and live in Jerusalem," the king said to Barzillai. "I will take care of you there."H4428H559H1271H5674H3557H338934"No," he replied, "I am far too old to go with the king to Jerusalem.H1271H559H4428H3117H8141H2416H5927H4428H338935I am eighty years old today, and I can no longer enjoy anything. Food and wine are no longer tasty, and I cannot hear the singers as they sing. I would only be a burden to my lord the king.H3117H8084H8141H1121H3045H2896H7451H5650H2938H834H398H834H8354H8085H6963H7891H7891H5650H4853H113H442836Just to go across the Jordan River with the king is all the honor I need!H5650H5674H4592H5674H3383H4428H4428H1580H157837Then let me return again to die in my own town, where my father and mother are buried. But here is your servant, my son Kimham. Let him go with my lord the king and receive whatever you want to give him."H5650H7725H4191H5892H6913H1H517H5650H3643H5674H113H4428H6213H2896H586938"Good," the king agreed. "Kimham will go with me, and I will help him in any way you would like. And I will do for you anything you want."H4428H559H3643H5674H6213H2896H5869H977H621339So all the people crossed the Jordan with the king. After David had blessed Barzillai and kissed him, Barzillai returned to his own home.H5971H5674H3383H4428H5674H4428H5401H1271H1288H7725H472540The king then crossed over to Gilgal, taking Kimham with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king on his way.H4428H5674H1537H3643H5674H5971H3063H5674H5674H4428H2677H5971H347841But all the men of Israel complained to the king, "The men of Judah stole the king and didn't give us the honor of helping take you, your household, and all your men across the Jordan."H376H3478H935H4428H559H4428H251H376H3063H1589H5674H4428H1004H1732H582H338342The men of Judah replied, "The king is one of our own kinsmen. Why should this make you angry? We haven't eaten any of the king's food or received any special favors!"H376H3063H6030H376H3478H4428H7138H2734H1697H398H398H4428H5375H537943"But there are ten tribes in Israel," the others replied. "So we have ten times as much right to the king as you do. What right do you have to treat us with such contempt? Weren't we the first to speak of bringing him back to be our king again?" The argument continued back and forth, and the men of Judah spoke even more harshly than the men of Israel.H376H3478H6030H376H3063H559H6235H3027H4428H589H1732H7043H1697H7223H7725H4428H1697H376H3063H7185H1697H376H3478
Dublin, OH
. Then you will be at peace with all the people."H7725
