Absalom flieth to Talmai. commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man 13 gat him up upon his mule, t and fled. 30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

31 Then the king arose, and tare u his garments, and lay v on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

32 And Jonadab w the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the 14 appointment of Absalom this hath been

15 determined from the day that he

forced his sister Tamar.

33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

31 But Absalom fled. y And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

35 And Jonadab said unto the king, 1 Save. Behold, the king's sons come: 16 asd ch.12. 1.&c. thy servant said, so it is. 2 no deliverer between. e De.19.12.

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 17 very sore.

37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, z the son of 18 Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, aand was there three years. 39 And the soul of king David 19 longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted b_concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. CHAPTER XIV.

Absalom by Joab is brought into the king's presence.

Now

W Joab the son of Zerniah perceived that the king's heart was toward a Absalom.

2 And Joab sent to Tekoah,b and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on

face of the

earth.

ƒ Ge.27.13.

1Sa.25.24. g ch.3.28.

1Ki.2.33. 4 that the revenger of

blood do
not mul
tiply to
destroy.
h Nu.35.19.
i 1Sa. 14.45.
Jer.4.2.

k ch.13.37,38.
I Job 34.15.
Ps. 90.3, 10.
He.9.27.
or, because

God hath not taken away his life, he

hath also devised.

The widow's parable. spake to the king, she fell c on het face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, 1 Help, O king.

5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, Id am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was 2 none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

7 And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver e him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we 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 upon the 3 earth.

8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

9 And the woman of Tekoah said

unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me,ƒ and on my father's house: and the king g`and his throne be guiltless.

10 And the king said, Whosoever saith 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, 4 that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of h blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As i the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. An 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.k

14 For we must needs die, l and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; 5 neither doth God respect m any person: yet doth he devise means n that his banished be not expelled o from him.

15 Now therefore that I am come

not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 And when the woman of Tekoah

Mat.22.16.

Acts 10,34.
Rom.2.11.

n Nu.35.24.

o Le.26.40. Is.50.1,2, La.3.31,32,

the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: 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 deliver

Absalom's return.

1 hear.

6 for rest. 17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now p ch.19.27. be 6 comfortable: for as an angel p of God, so is my lord the king to 7 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, or, thy. 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 aught that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he g 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, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.

21 T And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

9 ver.3.

• blessed.

9

r ch.13.37.

s Ge.43.3. Ex. 10.28.

10

And as Absalom there was not a beautiful man in all Israel to praise greatly.

t Is. 1.6.

u ch.18.18.

v ver.24.

22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and 8 thanked the king: and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my w Ju. 15.4,5. lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of 9 his servant. 23 So Joab arose, and went to Geshur, r and brought Absalom to

Jerusalem.

24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face.s So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

x Ge.45.15.

Lu. 15.20.

(CHAP. 15.)

a ch.12.11.

b 1Ki.1.5.

1 to come.

or, none

will hear thee from the king downward.

c Pr.30.11,17.

25 10 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Ab-2 salom for his beauty: from t 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 u unto Absalom there were ƒ Jer.9.3,5. born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

Meeting of David and Absalom. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him 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 near 11 mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire.w And Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 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 1 come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still : now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.

33 Só Joab came to the king, and told him and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king x kissed Absalom. CHAPTER XV. Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, stealeth the hearts of Israel.

ND a it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared b him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

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 I came 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, tly matters are good and right; but 2 there is no man deputed of the king c to hear thee.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh d 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 justice!

5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment. So e Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay f my vow,g which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshurħ in Syria,

Absalom's conspiracy. saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

65.12,14. 10 T But Absalom sent spies m Jos. 15.51. throughout all the tribes of Israel, m Jos. 15.51. saying, As soon as ye hear then Ps.3.1,2. sound of the trumpet, then ye shall o ver.6. say, Absalom reigneth i in Hebron. Ju.9.3. 11 And with Absalom went twop ch.19.9. hundred men out of Jerusalem, that 3 thrust. were called; and they went in their 4 choose. simplicity, and they knew not any s at his feet. thing.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahitho- 9 ch.12.11. 16.21,22. phel the Gilonite, David's counsel

lor, from his city,even from Giloh,mr ch.8.18. while he offered sacrifices. And the s ch.18.2. conspiracy was strong; for the peo-6 wander in ple n increased continually with going. Absalom.

t 1Sa.23.13.

Ahithophel's counsel cursed. 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 v with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook 7 Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.w

24 T And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing a the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out

of the city.

25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city; if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he y will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:

26 But if he thus say, I have no

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee;p for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and 3 bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall 4 appoint.

Pr. 17. 17.

18.24. Mat.8.19,

20.

21.13.

Rev.2.10.

v Ro.12.15. * called Cedron, Jno. 18. 1.

16 And the king went forth, and w ch.16.2. all his household 5 after him. And x Nu. 4. 15. the king left ten women, which were | y Ps.43.3,4. concubines, q to keep the house. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

63.1.2. Is.38.22. z ch.22.20.

Nu. 14.8. 18 And all his servants passed on JKI. 10.9. beside him; and all the Chereth-a 1Sa.3.18. ites, r and all the Pelethites, and b 18a.9.9. all the Gittites, six hundred mene ch. 17. 16. which came after him from Gath, s going up, passed on before the king.

and weeping.

d ch.19.4. Es.6.12.

e Is.20.2,4.

19 Then said the king to Ittai s the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 20 Whereas thou camest but yes-f Jer. 14.3,4. terday, should I this day make thee g Ps. 126.6. 6go up and down with us? Seeing A ver. 12, got whither I may, return thou,|i ch.16.23. and take back thy brethren: mercy 17.14,23. and truth be with thee. k Job 5.13.

21 And Ittai answered the king, 1 Jos. 16.2. and said, u As the LORD liveth, and m ch.1.2. as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall n ch. 19.35. be, whether in death or life, even o ch. 16. 19. there also will thy servant be.

22 And David said to Ittai, Go and

pch.17.5, 14.

28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, c until there come word from you to certify me.

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. 30 T And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, 8 and wept as he went up, and had his head d covered, and he went barefoot': e and all the people that was with him covered f every man his head, and they went up, weeping, g as they went up.

31 T And one told David, saying, Ahithophel h is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turni the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness./

32 ¶ 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 m his coat rent, and earth upon his head :

33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden ʼn unto me :

34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, Io 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 p defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the

Shimei curseth Davil.

r ver.27.

Ahithophel's counsel.

9 T Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog i curse k my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

10 And the king said, What I have to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD m hath said unto him, Curse David. Whon shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

CHAPTER XVI.

5 Shimei curseth David. 9 David with patience abstaineth from revenge.

A

a ch. 15,30,32. b ch.9.2.

18.

25.18.

d ch.17.29.

e ch.19.27. Pr. 18.17.

1 do obei

sance.

1Ki.2.44,

ND when David was a little past the top of the hill, a behold, Ziba b the servant of MephiDosheth met him, with a couple of fch.19.16, asses saddled, and upon them c two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

&c.

2 still came forth and cursed.

28. Pr.26.2.

2 And the king said unto Ziba, g Ps. 109. 17, 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

Ec. 10.20. Mat.5. 11, 12.

young men to eat; and the wine, 3 man of that a such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said e 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.

blood.

A ch.1.16.

3.28.29. 4.8-12.

4 thee in thy

evil.

4 Then said the king to Ziba, Be-i ch.9.8. hold, thine are all that pertained k Ex.22.28. unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, 1Pet.2.23. I 1 humbly beseech thee that I may

find grace in thy sight, my lord, Ŏm Lam.3.38. 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 Shimei,f the son of Gera: he came 2 forth, and cursed g 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.

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came o forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

12 It p may be that the LORD will look on mine 5 affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good q 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 6 cast dust.

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there. 15 T And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 And it came to pass, when r 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?s 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 Is rael choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

19 And again, whom should 1 serve? should 1 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 T Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, t Give counsel among you what we shall do.

21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's conbines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then u shall the hands v of all that are with thee be strong.

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in w unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days,

said

(CHAP. 17.)

a ch. 16. 14. De.25.18.

is overthrown. 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will dra w 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

choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2 And I will come upon him while he is weary a and weak-handed, and will make him afraid : and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king b only.

3 word.

4 counselled.

3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: 5 bitter of so all the people shall be in peace.

4 And the saying I pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what 2 he saith.

6 And when Hushai was come to Absaloni, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his 3 saying? if not; speak thou.

7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath 4 given is not good at this time.

soul.

Ju. 18.25.

Pr. 17.12.
Hos. 13.8.

fallen.

d Jos.2.11.

€ 1Sa. 18. 17.

Heb. 11.34.

f Cant.3.7.

g Jos.11.4. 1Ki.20.10.

thy face, or, presence go.

8 For, (said Hushai,) thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be 5 chafed in their minds, as a bear c robbed h ch.15.31, of her whelps in the field; and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

8

&c.

of Ahithophel. For LORD had 8 appointed to defeat the good k 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 Ahithophel 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 m of the wilderness, but speedily pass over: lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

17 Now n Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; o (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: but they went came to a man's house in Bahuboth of them away quickly, and rim,p which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

19 And g the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not

ed.

9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and iti Job 5. 12,13. will come to pass, when some of them be 6 overthrown at the first. k Lu. 16.8. that whosoever heareth it will say, 1 Pr.6.4,5. There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

m ch, 15.28.

10 And he also that is valiant, n ch. 15.27,36. whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: d for all Is- o Jos. 15.7. rael knoweth that thy fathere is a p ch.16.5. mighty man, and they which be with him fare valiant men.

11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, asg the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that 7 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

20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, r They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 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, | Ariše, s and pass 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 9 followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, t and 10 put his household in