2Samuel 17-19 - Prayer Tents

17Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, "Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.H302H559H53H977H8147H6240H505H376H6965H7291H310H1732H3915 2I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king,H935H3023H7504H3027H2729H5971H5127H5221H4428 3and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man's life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people."H7725H5971H376H1245H7725H5971H7965 4This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.H1697H3474H53H5869H2205H3478

Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

5But then Absalom said, "Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let's see what he thinks about this."H559H53H7121H2365H757H8085H6310 6When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, "What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel's advice? If not, what do you suggest?"H2365H935H53H53H559H559H302H1696H1697H6213H1697H1696 7"Well," Hushai replied to Absalom, "this time Ahithophel has made a mistake.H2365H559H53H6098H302H3289H2896H6471 8You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won't be spending the night among the troops.H559H2365H3045H1H582H1368H4751H5315H1677H7909H7704H1H376H4421H3885H5971 9He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom's men are being slaughtered.H2244H259H6354H259H4725H5307H8462H8085H8085H559H4046H5971H310H53 10Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.H1121H2428H3820H3820H738H4549H4549H3478H3045H1H1368H2428H1121 11"I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops.H3289H3478H622H622H1835H884H2344H3220H7230H1980H7128H6440 12When we find David, we'll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.H935H259H4725H4672H5168H2919H5307H127H582H3498H1571H259 13And if David were to escape into some town, you will have all Israel there at your command. Then we can take ropes and drag the walls of the town into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down."H518H622H5892H3478H5375H2256H5892H5498H5158H1571H6872H4672 14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "Hushai's advice is better than Ahithophel's." For the LORD had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!H53H376H3478H559H6098H2365H757H2896H6098H302H3068H6680H6565H2896H6098H302H5668H3068H935H7451H53

Hushai Warns David to Escape

15Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said to Absalom and the elders of Israel and what he himself had advised instead.H559H2365H6659H54H3548H302H3289H53H2205H3478H3289 16"Quick!" he told them. "Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him."H7971H4120H5046H1732H559H3885H3915H6160H5679H4057H5674H5674H4428H1104H5971 17Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David.H3083H290H5975H5883H3201H7200H935H5892H8198H1980H5046H3212H5046H4428H1732 18But a boy spotted them at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard.H5288H7200H5046H53H3212H8147H4120H935H376H1004H980H875H2691H8033H3381 19The man's wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.H802H3947H6566H4539H875H6440H7849H7383H1697H3045 20When Absalom's men arrived, they asked her, "Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman replied, "They were here, but they crossed over the brook." Absalom's men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem.H53H5650H935H802H1004H559H290H3083H802H559H5674H4323H4325H1245H4672H7725H3389 21Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. "Quick!" they told him, "cross the Jordan tonight!" And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed.H310H3212H5927H875H3212H5046H4428H1732H559H1732H6965H4120H5674H4325H302H3289 22So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.H1732H6965H5971H5674H3383H1242H216H5737H259H5674H3383 23When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.H302H7200H6098H6213H2280H2543H6965H3212H1004H5892H1004H6680H2614H4191H6912H6913H1 24David soon arrived at Mahanaim. By now, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River.H1732H935H4266H53H5674H3383H376H3478 25Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. (Amasa was Joab's cousin. His father was Jether, an Ishmaelite. His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab's mother, Zeruiah.)H53H7760H6021H6635H3097H6021H376H1121H8034H3501H3481H935H26H1323H5176H269H6870H3097H517 26Absalom and the Israelite army set up camp in the land of Gilead.H3478H53H2583H776H1568 27When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim.H1732H935H4266H7629H1121H5176H7237H1121H5983H4353H1121H5988H3810H1271H1569H7274 28They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils,H5066H4904H5592H3335H3627H2406H8184H7058H7039H6321H5742H7039 29honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, "You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness."H1706H2529H6629H8194H1241H1732H5971H398H559H5971H7457H5889H6771H4057

Absalom’s Defeat and Death

18David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them.H1732H6485H5971H7760H8269H505H8269H3967 2He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Joab, one under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath. The king told his troops, "I am going out with you."H1732H7971H7992H5971H3027H3097H7992H3027H52H1121H6870H3097H251H7992H3027H863H1663H4428H559H5971H3318H3318H589 3But his men objected strongly. "You must not go," they urged. "If we have to turn and run—and even if half of us die—it will make no difference to Absalom's troops; they will be looking only for you. You are worth 10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it."H5971H559H3318H5127H5127H7760H3820H2677H4191H7760H3820H3644H6235H505H2896H5826H5826H5892 4"If you think that's the best plan, I'll do it," the king answered. So he stood alongside the gate of the town as all the troops marched out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.H4428H559H5869H3190H6213H4428H5975H8179H3027H5971H3318H3967H505 5And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: "For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom." And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.H4428H6680H3097H52H863H559H328H5288H53H5971H8085H4428H8269H6680H1697H53 6So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim,H5971H3318H7704H7125H3478H4421H3293H669 7and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David's men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives.H5971H3478H5062H6440H5650H1732H1419H4046H3117H6242H505 8The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.H4421H6327H6440H776H3293H398H7235H5971H3117H2719H398 9During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David's men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air.H53H7122H6440H5650H1732H53H7392H6505H6505H935H7730H1419H424H7218H2388H424H5414H8064H776H6505H5674 10One of David's men saw what had happened and told Joab, "I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree."H259H376H7200H5046H3097H559H7200H53H8518H424 11"What?" Joab demanded. "You saw him there and didn't kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero's belt!"H3097H559H376H5046H7200H5221H776H5414H6235H3701H259H2290 12"I would not kill the king's son for even a thousand pieces of silver," the man replied to Joab. "We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, 'For my sake, please spare young Absalom.'H376H559H3097H3863H8254H505H3701H3709H7971H3027H4428H1121H241H4428H6680H52H863H559H8104H5288H53 13And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me."H176H6213H8267H5315H1697H3582H4428H3320 14"Enough of this nonsense," Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom's heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree.H559H3097H3176H6440H3947H7969H7626H3709H8628H3820H53H2416H424 15Ten of Joab's young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.H6235H5288H5375H3097H3627H5437H5221H53H4191 16Then Joab blew the ram's horn, and his men returned from chasing the army of Israel.H3097H8628H7782H5971H7725H7291H310H3478H3097H2820H5971 17They threw Absalom's body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones over it. And all Israel fled to their homes.H3947H53H7993H1419H6354H3293H5324H3966H1419H1530H68H3478H5127H376H168 18During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to carry on my name." He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom's Monument to this day.H53H2416H3947H5324H4678H4428H6010H559H1121H8034H2142H7121H4678H8034H7121H3117H53H3027

David Mourns Absalom’s Death

19Then Zadok's son Ahimaaz said, "Let me run to the king with the good news that the LORD has rescued him from his enemies."H559H290H1121H6659H7323H1319H4428H1319H3068H8199H3027H341 20"No," Joab told him, "it wouldn't be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today."H3097H559H376H1309H3117H1319H312H3117H3117H1319H4428H1121H4191 21Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, "Go tell the king what you have seen." The man bowed and ran off.H559H3097H3569H3212H5046H4428H7200H3569H7812H3097H7323 22But Ahimaaz continued to plead with Joab, "Whatever happens, please let me go, too." "Why should you go, my son?" Joab replied. "There will be no reward for your news."H559H290H1121H6659H3254H3097H4100H7323H310H3569H3097H559H7323H1121H1309H4672 23"Yes, but let me go anyway," he begged. Joab finally said, "All right, go ahead." So Ahimaaz took the less demanding route by way of the plain and ran to Mahanaim ahead of the Ethiopian.H7323H559H7323H290H7323H1870H3603H5674H3569 24While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them.H1732H3427H8147H8179H6822H3212H1406H8179H2346H5375H5869H7200H376H7323 25He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, "If he is alone, he has news." As the messenger came closer,H6822H7121H5046H4428H4428H559H1309H6310H3212H1980H7131 26the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, "Here comes another one!" The king replied, "He also will have news."H6822H7200H312H376H7323H6822H7121H7778H559H376H7323H4428H559H1319 27"The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok," the watchman said."He is a good man and comes with good news," the king replied.H6822H559H7200H4794H7223H4794H290H1121H6659H4428H559H2896H376H935H2896H1309 28Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "Everything is all right!" He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Praise to the LORD your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king."H290H7121H559H4428H7965H7812H776H639H4428H559H1288H3068H430H5462H582H5375H3027H113H4428 29"What about young Absalom?" the king demanded. "Is he all right?" Ahimaaz replied, "When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn't know what was happening."H4428H559H5288H53H7965H290H559H3097H7971H4428H5650H5650H7200H1419H1995H3045 30"Wait here," the king told him. So Ahimaaz stepped aside.H4428H559H5437H3320H3541H5437H5975 31Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, "I have good news for my lord the king. Today the LORD has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you."H3569H935H3569H559H1319H113H4428H3068H8199H3117H3027H6965 32"What about young Absalom?" the king demanded. "Is he all right?" And the Ethiopian replied, "May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!"H4428H559H3569H5288H53H7965H3569H559H341H113H4428H6965H7451H5288 33The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son."H4428H7264H5927H5944H8179H1058H3212H559H1121H53H1121H1121H53H4191H5414H53H1121H1121

Joab Rebukes the King

19Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom.H5046H3097H4428H1058H56H53 2As all the people heard of the king's deep grief for his son, the joy of that day's victory was turned into deep sadness.H8668H3117H60H5971H5971H8085H559H3117H4428H6087H1121 3They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle.H5971H935H1589H3117H5892H5971H3637H1589H5127H4421 4The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!"H4428H3813H6440H4428H2199H1419H6963H1121H53H53H1121H1121 5Then Joab went to the king's room and said to him, "We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves.H3097H935H1004H4428H559H3001H3117H6440H5650H3117H4422H5315H5315H1121H1323H5315H802H5315H6370 6You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased.H157H8130H8130H157H5046H3117H8269H5650H3117H3045H3863H53H2416H4191H3117H3477H5869 7Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before."H6965H3318H1696H3820H5650H7650H3068H3318H3885H376H3915H7489H7451H935H5271 8So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes.H4428H6965H3427H8179H5046H5971H559H4428H3427H8179H5971H935H6440H4428H3478H5127H376H168 9And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, "The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country.H5971H1777H7626H3478H559H4428H5337H3709H341H4422H3709H6430H1272H776H53 10Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?"H53H4886H4191H4421H2790H7725H4428H7725 11Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, "Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready.H4428H1732H7971H6659H54H3548H559H1696H2205H3063H559H314H7725H4428H7725H1004H1697H3478H935H4428H1004 12You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?"H251H6106H1320H314H7725H4428 13And David told them to tell Amasa, "Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place."H559H6021H6106H1320H430H6213H3254H8269H6635H6440H3117H8478H3097 14Then Amasa convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, "Return to us, and bring back all who are with you."H5186H3824H376H3063H259H376H7971H4428H7725H5650

David’s Return to Jerusalem

15So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river.H4428H7725H935H3383H3063H935H1537H3212H7125H4428H5674H4428H5674H3383 16Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David.H8096H1121H1617H1145H980H4116H3381H376H3063H7125H4428H1732 17A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba's fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king. They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king's household across the river, helping him in every way they could.H505H376H1145H6717H5288H1004H7586H2568H6240H1121H6242H5650H6743H3383H6440H4428

David’s Mercy to Shimei

18As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him.H5674H5679H5674H4428H1004H6213H5869H2896H8096H1121H1617H5307H6440H4428H5674H3383 19"My lord the king, please forgive me," he pleaded. "Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.H559H4428H113H2803H5771H2142H5650H5753H3117H113H4428H3318H3389H4428H7760H3820 20I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king."H5650H3045H2398H935H7223H3117H1004H3130H3381H7125H113H4428 21Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shimei should die, for he cursed the LORD's anointed king!"H52H1121H6870H6030H559H8096H4191H7043H3068H4899 22"Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!" David exclaimed. "Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution but for celebration! Today I am once again the king of Israel!"H1732H559H1121H6870H3117H7854H376H4191H3117H3478H3045H3117H4428H3478 23Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, "Your life will be spared."H4428H559H8096H4191H4428H7650

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

24Now Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes since the day the king left Jerusalem.H4648H1121H7586H3381H7125H4428H3808H6213H7272H6213H8222H3526H899H3117H4428H3212H3117H935H7965 25"Why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?" the king asked him.H935H3389H7125H4428H4428H559H1980H4648 26Mephibosheth replied, "My lord the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, 'Saddle my donkey so I can go with the king.' For as you know I am crippled.H559H113H4428H5650H7411H5650H559H2280H2543H7392H3212H4428H5650H6455 27Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refused to come. But I know that my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do what you think is best.H7270H5650H113H4428H113H4428H4397H430H6213H2896H5869 28All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?"H1H1004H3808H4194H582H113H4428H7896H5650H398H7979H6666H3426H2199H4428 29"You've said enough," David replied. "I've decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you."H4428H559H1696H1697H559H6717H2505H7704 30"Give him all of it," Mephibosheth said. "I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!"H4648H559H4428H3947H310H834H113H4428H935H7965H1004

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31Barzillai of Gilead had come down from Rogelim to escort the king across the Jordan.H1271H1569H3381H7274H5674H3383H4428H7971H3383 32He was very old, about eighty, and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim.H1271H3966H2204H8084H8141H1121H4428H3557H7871H4266H3966H1419H376 33"Come across with me and live in Jerusalem," the king said to Barzillai. "I will take care of you there."H4428H559H1271H5674H3557H3389 34"No," he replied, "I am far too old to go with the king to Jerusalem.H1271H559H4428H3117H8141H2416H5927H4428H3389 35I am eighty years old today, and I can no longer enjoy anything. Food and wine are no longer tasty, and I cannot hear the singers as they sing. I would only be a burden to my lord the king.H3117H8084H8141H1121H3045H2896H7451H5650H2938H834H398H834H8354H8085H6963H7891H7891H5650H4853H113H4428 36Just to go across the Jordan River with the king is all the honor I need!H5650H5674H4592H5674H3383H4428H4428H1580H1578 37Then let me return again to die in my own town, where my father and mother are buried. But here is your servant, my son Kimham. Let him go with my lord the king and receive whatever you want to give him."H5650H7725H4191H5892H6913H1H517H5650H3643H5674H113H4428H6213H2896H5869 38"Good," the king agreed. "Kimham will go with me, and I will help him in any way you would like. And I will do for you anything you want."H4428H559H3643H5674H6213H2896H5869H977H6213 39So all the people crossed the Jordan with the king. After David had blessed Barzillai and kissed him, Barzillai returned to his own home.H5971H5674H3383H4428H5674H4428H5401H1271H1288H7725H4725 40The king then crossed over to Gilgal, taking Kimham with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king on his way.H4428H5674H1537H3643H5674H5971H3063H5674H5674H4428H2677H5971H3478

An Argument over the King

41But all the men of Israel complained to the king, "The men of Judah stole the king and didn't give us the honor of helping take you, your household, and all your men across the Jordan."H376H3478H935H4428H559H4428H251H376H3063H1589H5674H4428H1004H1732H582H3383 42The men of Judah replied, "The king is one of our own kinsmen. Why should this make you angry? We haven't eaten any of the king's food or received any special favors!"H376H3063H6030H376H3478H4428H7138H2734H1697H398H398H4428H5375H5379 43"But there are ten tribes in Israel," the others replied. "So we have ten times as much right to the king as you do. What right do you have to treat us with such contempt? Weren't we the first to speak of bringing him back to be our king again?" The argument continued back and forth, and the men of Judah spoke even more harshly than the men of Israel.H376H3478H6030H376H3063H559H6235H3027H4428H589H1732H7043H1697H7223H7725H4428H1697H376H3063H7185H1697H376H3478