Joab's artifice to CHAPTER XIV. B. C. 1030. Bons are dead: for Amnon only is dead. 34 But Absalom fled. And the 7 ver. 38. young inan that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came much people by the way of the hillside behind him. 35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: tas thy servant said, so it is. 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept fvery sore. 37 T But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. † Heb. accord ing to the word of thy servant. B. C. 1027. + Heb. upon the Face of the earth i Ge. 27. 13.1Sa.25 24.Mt.27. 25. kch. 3.28, 29. 1Ki.2. 33. ↑ Heb. with a great weeping greatly. † Heb. 1030. ch. 3. 3. Ammi 38 So Absalom fled, and went to *Geshur, and was there three Or, years. ch. 14. 23, 32. & 15. 8. 39 And the soul of king David hur. longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was bcomforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. Or, wus consumed. Ps. 84. 2. Ge. 38. SHARE CHAPTER XIV. Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah, by a parable to incline the king's heart to fetch home Absalom, bring-b eth him to Jerusalem, 1. 25 Absalom's beauty, hair, and children. 28 After two years Absalom, by Joab is) brought into the king's presence. NOW Joab the son of Zeruiahperceived that the king's. heart was toward Absalom. 12. 1027. a ch. 13. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, 39. and fetched thence a wise wo-b2 Ch.11. man, and said unto her, I pray 6. thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead: see Ru. 3. 3. 3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab dput the words in her a ver. 19. mouth. 41 And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, +fHelp, O king. 5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, "I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. Ex. 4. 15. that the revenger of blood multiply do not to destrey. 1 Nu. 35. 45.Ac.27. 34. bring Absalom home. 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 tupon the earth. 8 And the king said unto the woman,Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. 9 And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, ithe iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: kand the king and his throne be guiltless. 10 And the king said, Whosoeversaith aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more. 11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God,fthat thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they de stroy my son. And he said, "As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. 12 Then the woman said, Let 19. thine handmaid, I pray thee, m1Sa. 14. speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on. 13 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against "the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished. 1 Sa. 20. r 12. 1. 6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was fnone to part them, but the one † Heb. smote the other, and slew him. no deli7 And behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we verer between them. h Nu. 35. 19.De.19. 12. 14 For we Pmust needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him. 15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made meafraid: 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 15, 25, 28. deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. † Heb. for rest. ver. 20. ch. 19.27. Heb. to hear. 17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be tcomfortable: for Tas an angel of God, so is my lord the king fto discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee. 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 203 Absalom's return. 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 thine handmaid: 20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, taccording 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 tthanked the king: and Joab Heb. said, To-day thy servant know-blessed. eth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant. 23 So Joab arose "and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 1Or, thy. 24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let! him not see my face. So Ab-Ge 43.3. salom returned to his own house, ch. 3. 13. and saw not the king's face. And as Absalom there was not 25 T But in all Israel there † Heb. was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 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. a beauti- 6. See ch. 18. 18. 28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw ver. 24. not the king's face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have him sent 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 1025. Lu.15.20. CHAPTER XV. Absalom, by fair speeches and courte. sies, stealeth the hearts of Israel, 1. 7 Under pretence of a vow he obtaineth leave to go to Hebron. 10 He maketh there a great conspiracy. 13 David upon the news fleeth from Je rusalem. 19 Ittai would not leave him. 24 Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark. 30 David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping. 31 He curseth Alithophel's counsel. 32 Hushai is sent back with instructions. 1024. A this, that Absalom prepared ND it came to pass after ach 12.11. him chariots and horses, and bl Ki.1.5. fifty men to run before him. † Heb. 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy fcame to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee, 4 Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him Ju.9. 29. justice! fiSa.16.2. tnear mine, and he hath barley† Heb. 31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? 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 for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; 20, 21. hch.13.33 8 For thy servant, vowed a Yow hwhile I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusa lem, then I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 10 T 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, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, † Heb. 2Ch. 9. 8. Sa.3.18 17. 17. 15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall tappoint. 16 And the king went forth, choose. and all his household tafter him. Ps. 3, tit Heb. And the king left "ten women tle. which were concubines to keep ↑ Heb. the house. at his feet. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 22. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Che-ch. 8. 18. rethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. and 27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a dseer? 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 toJerusalem: and they tarried there. 30 T And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, fand goingup, wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went weeping. barefoot: and all the people Sch.19. 4. that was with him icovered eveEs. 6. 12. ry man his head, and they went hl8.20.2.4 up, kweeping as they went up. 31 T And one told David say. Je.14.3.4 ing, Ahithophel is among the Ps.126.6 conspirators with Absalom. And IPs.3.1,2. David said, O LORD, I pray thee, & 55. 12, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. &c. 23&17.14, 23. 19 T Then said the king to 'Itch. 18. 2. m eh. 16. 20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day Imake thee go up and down †Heb. with us? seeing I go "whither I make may; return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. thee wander 1 Sa. 23. Ru.1.16 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said,As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, Burely in what place my lord the 17. Pr.17. 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 17&18.24 Kidron, and all the people pass-Called, ed over, toward the way of the Jn. 18. 1. wilderness. "Jos.16.2 32 T And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then Pch.19.35 thou shalt be Pa burden unto me: 34 But if thou return to the ch.16.19 city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 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 the king's house, ch 17.15, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 16. ver. 27. 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. 24 And lo, Zadok also, and Jch. 16.2. ch 16.15 lam came into Jerusalem. Cedron. ch. 16.16 37 So Hushai, David's friend, 305 Shirnei curseth David. CHAPTER XVI. Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtaineth his master's inheritance, 1. 5 Shimei curseth David. 9 David abstaineth, and restraineth others, I from revenge. 15 Hushai insinuateth himself into Absalom's counsel. 20 Abithophel's counsel. AND when David was a little II. SAMUEL. B C. 1023. 2. B. C. 1023. Ahithophel's counsel. Pmy son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how Pch.12.11 much more now may this BenjaGe.15.4. mite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. tears. †Hebeye † Heb. past the top of the hill, be- arh.15.30 Or, hold, bZiba the servant of Me- 32. phibosheth met him, with a cou-bch. 9. ple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins,and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? dAnd 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. ch.15.23 & 17. 29. dch.19.27 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that per- Pr 18.13 tained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy t Heb. 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 fShimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed 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, thout bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and tbehold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. 1 do obeisunce. fch.19.16. 1Ki. 2. 8, 44. Or, he still came forth sed. and cur 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. 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. 14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed them, selves there. 15 T And Absalom, and all ch 15.37. the people the inen of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ch.15.37. t Heb. Let the king live "ch.19.25 Pr. 17.17. 16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? "why wentest thou not with thy friend? 18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. 19 And again, whom should I ch.15.34 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. ch.15.16 & 20. 3. "Ge.34.30 1 Sa.13.4. ach. 2. 7. Zec. 8.13. ↑ Heb. man of blood. De13.13 hJu.9.24, 56,57.1K bch12.13. 2.32, 33. 12. iSee ch.1 16.&3.28, 29.&4.11, behold thee in thy evil. 9 Then said Abishai the son 12. of Zerniah unto the king, Why ↑ Heb. t 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 ki Sa. 24. have I to do with you, ye sons 14.ch.9.8. of Zeruiah? so let him curse, Ex.22.28 because "the LORD hath said meh19.22 unto him, Curse David. "Who 1Pe.2.23. shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, see 2K 18.25.La. 3. 38. Ro.9.20. t Heb word. ch 15.12. 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 shall "the hands of all that are with thee be strong. 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; father's concubines bin the sight and Absalom went in unto his of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Abithophel, which he counselled in those days,was as ifaman hadinquired at the foracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. CHAPTER XVII. Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's, according to God's appointment, 1. 15 Secret intelligence is sent unto David. 23 Ahithophel hangeth himself. 25 Amasa is made captain. 27 David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions. MOREOVER, Ahitophel said unto Absalom, Let me now |