LESSON XLVI

ABSALOM'S REVOLT

David's favourite son, Absalom, is exiled for a crime, but soon allowed to return. In revenge he makes a conspiracy against his father, who flees from Jerusalem into Gilead.

2 SAMUEL XIII. 23-XVI. 14

13 23 And it came to pass that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I 5 pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome unto thee. And he pressed him howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, 10 Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.1 And Absalom 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 ? 15 be courageous, and be valiant. 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. And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's 20 sons, and there is not one of them left. Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; 25 for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this

1 After him add And Absalom made a feast like the feast of a king (S).

hath been determined 1 from the day that he dishonoured his sister Tamar. 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. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came 30 much people by the way of the hill side behind him.2 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons are come : as thy servant said, so it is. 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. But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

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38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto 40 Absalom for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

14 1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself 45 to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, I pray thee, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead and go in to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth. And when the woman of Tekoa spake 3 to the king, she fell on 50 her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the 55 one smote the other, and killed him. 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 so destroy the heir also: thus shall they quench my coal which is left, and shall leave to my 60 husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth. [15] Now therefore seeing that I am come to speak this word unto

1 For for by . . . determined read for upon the face of Absalom there hath been a scowl.

2 For by the . . . him read down the hill on the road to the two Beth-horons.

3 For spake read came (S).

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 65 be that the king will perform the request of his servant. For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. Then thine handmaid said, Let, I pray thee, the word of my lord the king be comfortable: for as an angel of 70 God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and the LORD thy God be with thee. [8] And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. And the woman of Tekoa said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house and the king and 75 his throne be guiltless. And the king said, Whosoever saith aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there 80 shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak a word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on. And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one which is guilty, in 85 that the king doth not fetch home again his banished one.

any more.

For

we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God take away life, but deviseth means, that he that is banished be not an outcast from him.1 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, 90 Hide not from me, I pray thee, aught that I shall ask thee.

And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. And the king said, Is 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 95 the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid to change the face of the matter 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. And the king said unto 100 Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. And Joab fell to the ground on

1 For neither . . . him read but God will not take away the life of him that deviseth means whereby he that is banished may not remain banished from him.

his face, and did obeisance, and blessed 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 performed the request of his servant. So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought 105 Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned

to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

28 And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem; and he saw not the king's face. Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send 110 him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come. 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. Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom 115 unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? 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 were better for me to be there still now therefore let me see the 120 king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me. 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.

15 1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared 125 him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate : and it was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgement, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of 130 one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 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! 135 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgement: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

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7 And it came to pass at the end of forty 1 years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which

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1 For forty read four,

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I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the 145 LORD shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 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 is king in Hebron. And 150 with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the 155 people increased continually with Absalom.

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13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make 160 speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose. And the king went forth, and all his household after him: and they tarried 165 in Beth-merhak.1 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites,3 six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: 170 for thou art a stranger, and also an exile; return to thine own place. 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. And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD 175 liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be. 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. And all the country wept 180 with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also

1 For in Beth-merhak read at the last house.

2 For And all . . . him read And all the people went on past him.

3 For and.. Gittites read the men of Ittai the Gittite.

4 For an exile . . . place read an exile from thine own place (S).