Abithophel's counsel is

B. C. 1023.

8 ch. 15.

3 And I will bring back all the 7. people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

4 And the saying † pleased Ab-t Heb. salom well, and all the elders of was Israel.

5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise † what he

Baith.

right

35.

6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his fsaying? if not, † Heb. speak thou.

word.

7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath fgiven is not good at + Heb. this time.

counsell

8 For, said Hushai, thou know-ed. est thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be fchafed in their minds, as at Heb. bear robbed of her whelps in the bitter of field: and thy father is a man soul. of war, and will not lodge with Ju. 18.25. the people.

9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place and it will come to pass, when some of them be foverthrown at the † Heb. first, that whosoever heareth it fallen. will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a

ich.15.28.

ch. 15.

27, 36. Jos. 2. 4,

&c.

Jos. 15. 7.&18.16.

defeated by Hushaps than the counsel of Ahithophel For the LORD had tappointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

15 T Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Abithophel 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.

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz Istayed by En-roge!; (for they might not be seen to come into the city): and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

18 Nevertheless, a lad saw them. and told Absalom: butthey went both of them away quickly, and ch.16.5. came to a man's house "in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down. "SeeJos. 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.

Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, fas the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

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!

quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

22 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.

23 T 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 put his household in order, and "hanged himself and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

24 Then David came to 'Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

25 T 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 "tAbi

B. C. 1023.

B. C. 1023.

† Heb. multi

David giveth charge to Absalom. gail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom pitch-Or, ed in the land of Gilead. 27 T 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 Armiel of Lo-debar, and "Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 Brought beds, and basins, 31, 32. and earthen vessels, and wheat, 1 Ki. 2. 7. and barley, and flour, and parch-Or, ed 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.

CHAPTER XVIII. David viewing the armies in their march giveth them charge of Absalom, 1. 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 Alimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David. 33 David mournetl. for Absalom.

A ple 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, Joah'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.

30.

ch. 9. 4. ch. 19.

cups.

ch.16.2.

19.

Absalom is slain by Joab

country: and the wood fdevoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 T 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, Behoid, 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 would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should 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,†Beware that none Beware touch the young man Absalom. whoso13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

ever ye

be of, &c.

b ch. 21.

3b But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we 17. flee away, they will not care for Heb. us; neither if half of us die, will set their they care for us: but now thou heart artt worth ten thousand of us: on us. therefore now it is better that t Heb. thou fsuccour us out of the city. as ten 4 And the king said unto them, thousand What seemeth you best I will do. of us. And the king stood by the gate † Heb. side, and all the people came out be to by hundreds and by thousands, succour. 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.

† Heb. heart.

14 Then said Joab, 1 may not tarry thus with 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 oak.

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 (Jos.7.26. wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Is rael fled every one to his tent.

g Ge. 14. 17.

hSee ch. 14. 27.

15, 18.

t Heb. judged him

hand, &c.

↑ Heb. be a man of tidings.

18 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 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 notidings, because the king's son is dead.

David mourneth

21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

B C 1023.

tHeb. be what may.

22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But thowsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing thou hast no tidings ready? 23 But howsoever, said he, let conve 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.

25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone there is ti dings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the por-. ter, and said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

Or,

nient.

i2Ki.9.17.

↑ Heb. I see the run

t Heb.
By

loving.
&c.

† Heb. that princes

vants

27 And the watchman said, Methinketh the running of the. foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man,ning. and cometh with good tidings. 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, it All is well. Or, And he fell down to the earth Peace be or ser upon his face before the king, to thee. and said, Blessed be the LORD† Heb. thy God, which hath delivered Peace. up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 29 And the king said, t 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.

Heb.

shut up. ↑ Heb. Is there peace?

31 And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my ↑ Heb. lord the king: for the LORD hath Tidings avenged thee this day of all them is that rose up against thee.

32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The energies 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 up to the chamber overthe 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 con!

brought.

k ch.19.4.

are not to thee.

t Heb. to

the heart of thy servants Ge. 31. 3.

for Aosalom

CHAPTER XIX.

Joab canseth the king to cease his mourning, 1. 9 The Israelites are ear nest to bring the king back. 11 David sendeth to the priests to incite them of Judah. 18 Shimei is pardoned. 24 Mephibosheth excused. 32 Barzillai dismissed, Chimham his son is taken into the king's family. 41 The Israel ites expostulate with Judah for bring ing the king home without them.

AND it was told Joab, Behold, A the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

2 And the tvictory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved 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. 4 But the kingbcovered 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.

† Heb.

are ye

silent?

Sheba's revolt.

to him what shall seem good unto thee.

B. C. 1023.

† Heb.

choose.

38 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 t require of me, that will I do for thee. 39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Bar-f Ge. 31. zillai, and blessed him: and he 55. returned unto his own place. 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and 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 the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

Heb. Chimhan

8 ver. 15.

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is hnear of kin to h ver. 12. us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?

43 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 yet despise us, thatour advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And ithe words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

CHAPTER XX. By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba maketh a party in Israel, 1. 3 David's ten concubines are shut up in perpetual prison. 4 Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab. 14 Joab pursueth Sheba unto Abel. 16 A wise woman saveth the city by Sheba's head. 23 David's officers.

B. C. cir. 1022. d ch. 19.

13.
† Heb.
Call.

ch. 11. 11.1 Ki.1.

33. † Heb. deliver himself from our eyes. fch. 8.18. 1 Ki.1.38.

Amasa slain by Joah. 4 Then said the king to Ama sa, dt Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and bo thou here present.

5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord s servants and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities. and tescape us.

7 And there went out after him Joab's men, and the f Cherethites. and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the great stone whichisin Gibeon, Amass 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 went forth it fell out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? EMat. 26.5 And Joab took Amasa by the 49.Lu.22. beard with the right hand to kiss him.

47.

h1Ki.2.5.

ich. 2. 23.

doubled

10 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 tstruck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bíchri.

14 T And he went through all the tribes of Israel untok Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered him. together, and went also after

15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah,

and they least up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, 1 pray you, unto Joab, Come

311