23. And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had
sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and
Absalom invited all the king's sons.
24. And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy
servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee,
and his servants go with thy servant.
25. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all
now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him:
howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
26. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon
go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go
with thee?
27. But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the
king's sons go with him.
28. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now
when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto
you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I
commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
29. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had
commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat
him up upon his mule, 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 his garments, and lay on the
earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes
rent.
32. And Jonadab, 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 appointment of Absalom this hath been 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.
34. But Absalom fled. 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, Behold, the king's sons
come: as 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 very sore.
37. But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud,
king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38. So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three
years.
39. And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom:
for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
Chapter 14
1. Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart
was toward Absalom.
2. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman,
and said unto her, I pray 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:
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 spake to the king, she fell on
her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, 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.
6. And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together
in the field, and there was 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 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 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,
the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the
king and his throne be guiltless.
10. And the king said, Whoever saith ought 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, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of
blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy 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 thine handmaid, I pray thee, 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.
14. For we must 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 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 his handmaid out of the
hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together
out of the inheritance of God.
17. Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall
now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord
the king to 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 ought 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, according 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 thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant
knoweth 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.
24. And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let
him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house,
and saw not the king's face.
25. But in all Israel there 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.
28. So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not
the king's face.
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 mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire.
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 I 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. So 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
kissed Absalom.
Chapter 15
1. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared 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 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, 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 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 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 my vow, which
I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
8. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in
Syria, 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.
10. 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, that
were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they
knew not any thing.
12. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's
counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered
sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people
increased continually with Absalom.
13. And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of
the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14. And David said unto all his servants that were with him at
Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else
escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake
us suddenly, and 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
appoint.
16. And the king went forth, and all his household after him.
And the king left ten women, which were concubines, 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.
18. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the
Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites,
six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on
before the king.
19. Then said the king to Ittai 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 yesterday, should I this day make
thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may,
return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be
with thee.
21. And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth,
and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord
the 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 Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way
of the wilderness.
24. And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him,
bearing 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
will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his
habitation:
26. But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here
am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27. The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a
seer? 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 to
Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30. And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as
he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot:
and all the people that was with him covered every man his
head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31. And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the
conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray
thee, turn 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 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 unto me:
34. But if thou return to the 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, thou shalt tell it to
Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
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.
37. So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom
came into Jerusalem.
Chapter 16
1. And when David was a little past the top of the hill,
behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a
couple 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? And 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.
4. Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that
pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech
thee that I may find grace in thy 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
Shimei, 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,
thou 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,
behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a
bloody man.
9. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why
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 have I to do with you, ye sons of
Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto
him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou
done so?
11. And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold,
my son, which came 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 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 themselves there.
15. And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to
Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
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 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.
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; and
Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of
all Israel.
23. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those
days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so
was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with
Absalom.
Chapter 17
1. Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now 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 and weak handed,
and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with
him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
3. And I will bring back all the 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 Absalom well, and all the elders of
Israel.
5. Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let
us hear likewise what he saith.
6. And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him,
saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we
do after his saying? if not; speak thou.
7. And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel
hath given is not good at this time.
8. For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that
they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a
bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a
man of war, and will not lodge with 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 overthrown at
the first, that whosoever heareth it 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 lion, shall utterly melt: for all 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, as 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 than the counsel of Ahithophel.
For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of
Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil
upon Absalom.
15. 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 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 stayed by Enrogel; 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
both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in
Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went
down.
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.
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, 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, Arise, 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. 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. 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 Abigail the daughter of Nahash,
sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
26. So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
27. 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 Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the
Gileadite of Rogelim,
28. Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat,
and barley, and flour, and parched 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 18
1. And David numbered the people 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, Joab'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.
3. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we
flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us
die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten
thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour
us out of the city.
4. And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will
do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people
came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying,
Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with
Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the
captains charge concerning Absalom.
6. So the people went out into the field against Israel: and
the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7. Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of
David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of
twenty thousand men.
8. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the
country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the
sword devoured.
9. 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, Behold, 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 touch the young man Absalom.
13. 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.
14. Then said Joab, I 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
wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all
Israel fled every one to his tent.
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 no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
21. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast
seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But
howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And
Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou
hast no tidings ready?
23. But howsoever, said he, let 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 tidings in his mouth. And he
came apace, and drew near.
26. And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman
called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running
alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27. And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the
foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.
And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good
tidings.
28. And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And
he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and
said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up
the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29. And the king said, 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.
31. And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord
the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all
them that rose up against thee.
32. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe?
And Cushi answered, The enemies 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 over
the 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 son!
Chapter 19
1. And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth
for Absalom.
2. And the victory 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 king covered 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.
8. Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto
all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the
gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel
had fled every man to his tent.
