2Samuel 16-18; Psalms 91

2Samuel 16

David and Ziba

16When David had gone a little beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth

, was waiting there for him. He had two donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine.H1732H4592H5674H7218H6717H5288H4648H7125H6776H2543H2280H3967H3899H3967H6778H3967H7019H5035H31962"What are these for?" the king asked Ziba. Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness."H4428H559H6717H6717H559H2543H4428H1004H7392H3899H7019H5288H398H3196H3287H4057H83543"And where is Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson?" the king asked him."He stayed in Jerusalem," Ziba replied. "He said, 'Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.'"H4428H559H113H1121H6717H559H4428H3427H3389H559H3117H1004H3478H7725H4468H14"In that case," the king told Ziba, "I give you everything Mephibosheth owns." "I bow before you," Ziba replied. "May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king."H559H4428H6717H4648H6717H559H7812H4672H2580H5869H113H4428

Shimei Curses David

5As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul's family.H4428H1732H935H980H3318H376H4940H1004H7586H8034H8096H1121H1617H3318H7043H33186He threw stones at the king and the king's officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him.H5619H68H1732H5650H4428H1732H5971H1368H3225H80407"Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!" he shouted at David.H559H8096H7043H3318H3318H1818H376H376H11008"The LORD is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul's clan. You stole his throne, and now the LORD has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!"H3068H7725H1818H1004H7586H4427H3068H5414H4410H3027H53H1121H7451H1818H3769"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?" Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. "Let me go over and cut off his head!"H559H52H1121H6870H4428H4191H3611H7043H113H4428H5674H5493H721810"No!" the king said. "Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the LORD has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?"H4428H559H1121H6870H7043H3068H559H7043H1732H559H621311Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn't this relative of Saul

have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do it.H1732H559H52H5650H1121H3318H4578H1245H5315H1145H3240H7043H3068H55912And perhaps the LORD will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today."H3068H7200H5869H6040H3068H7725H2896H7045H311713So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing as he went and throwing stones at David and tossing dust into the air.H1732H582H3212H1870H8096H1980H2022H6763H5980H7043H1980H5619H68H5980H6080H608314The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River

.H4428H5971H935H5889H5314

Ahithophel Advises Absalom

15Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.H53H5971H376H3478H935H3389H30216When David's friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. "Long live the king!" he exclaimed. "Long live the king!"H2365H757H1732H7463H935H53H2365H559H53H2421H4428H2421H442817"Is this the way you treat your friend David?" Absalom asked him. "Why aren't you with him?"H53H559H2365H2617H7453H1980H745318"I'm here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the LORD and by all the men of Israel," Hushai replied.H2365H559H53H3068H5971H376H3478H977H342719"And anyway, why shouldn't I serve you? Just as I was your father's adviser, now I will be your adviser!"H8145H5647H6440H1121H5647H1H6440H644020Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, "What should I do next?"H559H53H302H3051H6098H621321Ahithophel told him, "Go and sleep with your father's concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you."H302H559H53H935H1H6370H3240H8104H1004H3478H8085H887H1H3027H238822So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father's concubines.H5186H53H168H1406H53H935H1H6370H5869H347823Absalom followed Ahithophel's advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.H6098H302H3289H3117H376H7592H1697H430H6098H302H1732H53

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.H1697H3474H53H5869H2205H3478

Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

5But 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!H53H376H3478H559H6098H2365H757H2896H6098H302H3068H6680H6565H2896H6098H302H5668H3068H935H7451H53

Hushai Warns David to Escape

15Hushai 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

Absalom’s Defeat and Death

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.H53H2416H3947H5324H4678H4428H6010H559H1121H8034H2142H7121H4678H8034H7121H3117H53H3027

David Mourns Absalom’s Death

19Then 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!"H4428H559H3569H5288H53H7965H3569H559H341H113H4428H6965H7451H528833

The 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

Psalms 91

91Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.H3427H5643H5945H3885H6738H77062This I declare about the Lord. He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.H559H3068H4268H4686H430H9823For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.H5337H6341H3353H1942H16984He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.H5526H84H3671H2620H571H6793H55075Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.H3372H6343H3915H2671H5774H31196Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.H1698H1980H652H6986H7736H66727Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.H505H5307H6654H7233H3225H50668Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.H5869H5027H7200H8011H75639If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,H7760H3068H4268H5945H458310no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.H7451H579H5061H7126H16811For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.H4397H6680H8104H187012They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.H5375H3709H5062H7272H6813You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!H1869H7826H6620H3715H8577H742914The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.H2836H6403H7682H3045H803415When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.H7121H6030H6869H2502H351316I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”H753H3117H7646H7200H3444

2Samuel 16-18; Psalms 91 - Prayer Tents