bring Absalom home. Before II. SAMUEL Absalom is brought to the king. said, I will now speak unto the king; CHRIST it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid. 1027. + Heb. ⚫ ver. 3. t ver. 17. ch. 19, 27. 16 For the king will hear, to deliver 17 Then thine handmaid said, The 19 And the king said, Is not the 20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, taccording 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. 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and ↑ Heb, blessed. thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my fulfiled king, in that the king hath Or, thy. u ch. 13. 37. x Gen. 43, 3. ch. 3. 13. ↑ Heb. And as Absalom there was the request of his serv ant. years in Jerusalem, and saw not Before the king's face. CHRIST 1027. 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. a ver. 21 30 Therefore he said unto his 33 So Joab came to the king, and 1 CHAPTER XV. and Absalom, by fair speeches and courte AND tit came to pass after this, 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: 24 And the king said, Let him and it was so, that when any man turn to his own house, and let him that had a controversy came to the + Heb. not see my face. So Absalom re-king for judgment, then Absalom turned to his own house, and saw called unto him, and said, Of what not the king's face. city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of 25 T But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Ab-Israel. not a beauti- salom for his beauty: Yfrom the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in hini. 28 So Absalom dwelt two full king for judgment: dso Absalom d Rom. 18. 18. Absalom's dangerous conspiracy. II. SAMUEL. David sendeth back the ark. Before stole the hearts of the men of Is-and as my lord the king liveth, Before CHRIST rael. ~1024. 1023. .1 Sam. 16. 1. fl Sam. 16. 2. Gen, 28. 20, 21, hch, 13. 38. 7 T 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 b 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 T 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 i 1 Sam. 9. 13. were i called; and they went k in their & 16. 3, 5. simplicity, and they knew not any thing. k Gen. 20. 5. IPs. 41. 9. & 65. 12, 13, 14. Josh.15.51. n P.. 3. 1. o ver, 6. Judg. 9. 3. 1023. surely in what place my lord the CHRIST 22 And David said to Ittai, Go and Cedron. 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, Called. and all the people passed over, toJohn 18. 1, ward the way of the wilderness. 24 T And lo Zadok also, and ally ch. 16. 2. the Levites were with him, bear-Num. 4. 15. ing 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 12 And Absalom sent for Ahitho-city: if I shall find favour in the phel the Gilonite, David's counsel- eyes of the LORD, he will bring a P. 43. 3. for, from his city, even from "Gi- me again, and shew me both it, and loh, while he offered sacrifices. And his habitation: the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. 13 T 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 Pflee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and +Heb. thrust. bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. p ch. 19. 9. Ps. 3, title. 15 And the king's servants said un- + Hob. choose. ich, 8. 18. tch, 18, 2. ↑ Heb. make thee wander in going. ul Sam, 23. 13. x Ruth 1. 16, 17. Prov. 17. 17. & 18. 21. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 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 dseer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimanz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. b Num. 14, 8. el Sam. 3. 18. 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of fch. 17. 18. 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 T And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, fand wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went h barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, kweeping as they went up. 31 T And one told David, saying, 19 T 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 f 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, + Heb. going up, and weeping. ch. 19. 4. h1. 20. 2.4. Jer. 14. 3, 4. Eath. 6. 12. k Ps. 126, 6. 1P. 3. 1,2, & 55. 12, &c. meh. 16, 23 & 17. 14, 23. Ahithophel's counsel. Before then mayest thou for me defeat the | salom thy son: and, f behold, thou CHRIST counsel of Ahithophel. 1023. 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 reh. 17. 15, 16. king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ■ver. 27. 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 1 Chr. 27.33. into the city, "and Absalom came into Jerusalem. tch. 16, 16. u ch. 16. 13. CHAPTER XVI. 1 Ziba, by presents and false suggestions; obtaineth his master's inheritance. 5 At Bahurim Shimei curseth David. 9 David with patience abstaineth, and restraineth others, from revenge. 15 Hushai insinuateth himself into Absclm's counsel. 20 Ahithophel's counsel. ach. 15.30,92. AND when David was b ch. 9. 2 little past the top of the hill, behold, b Ziba the servant cf Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a 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, ech 15. 23. &that such as be faint in the wilder ness may drink. 17. 29. deh, 19, 27. • Prov. 18. 13. ↑ Heb. I do obeisance. fch. 19. 16. 1 Kin. 2.8,44. Or, he still came forth and cursed. † Hob. man of blood. gDeut. 13. 13. h Judg. 9. 21, 56, 57. 1 Kin. 2. 32, 33. 3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? d 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, Ŏ 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 f 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 t bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath hreturned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered & 4. 11, 12. the kingdom into the hand of Ab iSee ch. 1. 16. & 3, 28, 29, Before art taken in thy mischief, because CHRIST thou art a bloody man. 9 T Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this k dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10 And the king said, m 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 that the LORD will 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? "why wentest thou not with thy uch. 19. 25. Prov. 17. 17. 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 eh. 15. 34. 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. 20.3. 21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concu-y ch. 15. 16. & bines, 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 bin the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the Gen. 34. 30. 1 Sam. 13. 4. ach, 2. 7. Zech. 8. 13. beh. 12.11.12. ↑ Heb. word. c ch. 15. 12 18. ch. 16. 14. b Zech. 13.7. CHAPTER XVII. 1 Akithophel's counsel is overthrown by Husha's, according to God's appoint ment. 15 Secret intelligence is sent unto David. 23 Ahithophel hangeth himself. 25 Amasa is made captain. 27 David at Mahanaim is furnished with provision. OREOVER Ahithophel said un out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: 2 And I will come upon him while a SeeDeut.25. he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid and all the people that are with him shall flce; and I will bsmite 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. + Heb was right in the eyes of, fo. 1 Sani. 18.20. + Heb. what is in his mouth. 6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his +Heb. word?t saying? if not, speak thou. + Heb, coun. sellel. + Heb. bitter of soul. Judg. 18. 25. e Hos. 13. 8. 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 t 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 ↑ Heb. fallen. be foverthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. He hangeth himself. the river, until there be not one small stone found there. Before CHRIST 1023. 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 geh. 15.31,34 appointed to defeat the good coun-Heb.comsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. manded. 15 Th Then said Hushai unto Za-h ch, 15. 35. 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 wilder- ich. 15, 28. ness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. 17 k Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; 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. k eh. 15.27,36. 1Josh. 2. 4, &c. Josh, 15.7. & 18. 16. 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 Bahu-nch. 16, 5, rim, 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. 6. See Josh. 2. 20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said pSee Ex.1.19. 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 theni that was not gone over Jordan. Josh. 2. 4, 5, q ver. 15, 16. + Hob, done. 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 reh. 15. 12. city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. ↑ Heb. gave charge concerning his house, 2 Kin. 20, 1 24 Then David came to t Mahanaim..Matt. 27, 5. 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 t Gen. 32. 2. Josh. 13. 24. ch 2. 8. The Israelites smitten. ch. 15. 19. beh. 21. 17. + Heb. set their heart 011 28. + Heb. as ten thousand of + Heb, be to succour. ever. 12 11. SAMUEL. name was 26 So Israel and Absalom pitched Absalom slain by Joab. Ithra an Israelite, that the wood devoured more people 27 And it came to pass, when David 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. 1 David viewing the armies in their march 10 And a certain man saw it, and 12 And the man said unto Joab, 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 AND David numbered the people thyself against me. 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. 3b 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 d Josh. 17. 15, was in the d wood of Ephraim: 18. 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 Before CHRIST 1023. ↑ Heb. multiplied to deVORY. + Heb. weigh wpon mine hand. ⚫ver. 5. ↑ Heb Beware whosoever ye be of, fc. thee. 14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry 15 And ten young men that bare 17 And they took Absalom, and cast 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 T Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath favenged 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 |