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, they are old experienced soldiers, used to 9 hardship, and are greatly enraged. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place, so that you will not be likely to find him; or if you do, his men will fight desperately for him 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: this will strike a panic 10 into the rest. 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, who will pursue their victory with the 11 greatest resolution. Therefore I counsel that all Israel, all the fighting men in 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, to encourage them with thy presence, and to have the honour of the 12 victory; which, Ahithophel's scheme will deprive thee of. 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, insensibly, plentifully, and universally ;* and of him and of all the men that [are] with him there shall not be left so much as one, we shall thus leave no place unsearched, and shall find him 13 wherever he is. Moreover, if he be gotten into a fortified 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. Absalom's men, having a bad cause, were cowardly, and liked this scheme better than Ahithophel's, because there was less danger in it; but the historian takes notice that the hand of the Lord was in it; they intended one thing, and he another: 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 16 of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. 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; lest Absalom change his measures, and follow Ahithophel's advice. 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel, the fuller's foun tain, for they might not be seen to come into the city, being well known, and the friends of David; and a wench went, under pretence of fetching water, and told them; and they went and told 18 king David. Nevertheless a lad, one of Absalom's spies, saw • This is a beautiful simile of a large army overspreading a country. All that Hushai wanted by this advice was, to gain time for David to gather his forces and put them in order; and as it suited Absalom's vanity and cruelty, he readily fell in with it them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, who was a friend of David's, which had a dry well in his court; whither they 19 went down. And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon, to dry in the 20 sun, and the thing was not known. And when Absalom's servants, who were sent to pursue them, 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 re21 turned to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and fold king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you, 22 and we do not know but that his counsel will be followed. 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; though it was in the night, not one of them deserted; nor was one of them lost in the hurry of passing the river, which was a remarkable providence. 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, 24 and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. Then David came to Mahanaim, in the tribe of Gad. And Absalom, after he had gathered a great army, according to Hushai's counsel, v. 11. passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. And Absalom made Amasa his cousin captain of the host instead of Joab which Amasa [was] a man's son, whose name [was] Ithra, or Jether, an Ishmaelite by birth, but an Israelite by religion or profession, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother, and David's nephew, 26 being his sister's son. So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. 25 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 guardian of Mephibosheth, the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, a man of great age, great wealth, and yet great piety and generosity of 28 heart; all these Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, all household stuff and furniture that was necessary, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched [corn,] and beans and lentiles, 29 and parched [pulse,] And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that [were] with him, to eat, supplies for man and beast for they said, The peo When Ahithophel saw which way things were going, and that David would gain time, he concluded that he would get the better, and that the storm would fall on himself on account of his treachery and execrable advice. He was also vexed to see himself slighted, his wise counsel rejected, and all his hopeful prospects blasted at once. He was probably made governor of the country, in the room of Hanun his brother, who had treated David's ambassadors so ill. He might disapprove that indignity, and showed his gratitude by coming so seasonably to David's relief. ple [is] hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness; these things therefore will be welcome to them; and their being so cheerfully brought, was a strong proof of affectionate loyalty, and must have been peculiarly pleasing to David. REFLECTIONS. }. EE to what lengths of wickedness ambition will carry men. made this rash, mad youth thirst for his father's blood; even his throne and his kingdom would not satisfy him, without that. He felt no reluctance at Ahithophel's horrid scheme. May we guard against ambition and pride, and cultivate the humble graces of the gospel; that we may with confidence appeal to God, that our hearts are not haughty, nor our eyes lofty. 2. We learn, that the providence of God overrules the counsels of men to serve his own purposes. Ahithophel's counsel was good for Absalom, Hushai's for David; but it appears from v. 14. that God had determined before to defeat Absalon's schemes, and therefore frustrated the former, and inclined them to hearken to the other, though against all the principles of sound policy. God has the hearts of all men in his hand; he presides over their councils, and, whatever they determine, his counsel shall stand. This is an encouragement for all who fear God to commit their way to him, and srust in him to bring it to pass. 3. Observe, in Ahithophel, the sad end of pride and disappointed expectations. The people believed him to be an oracle, and he thought himself so. And now, to see his counsel neglected, upon which his safety and provision depended, mortified him to such a degree, that he could not bear it; and while his soul was loaded with all the horrors of guilt, treachery, rebellion, incest, parricide, he destroyed himself: and, to prevent any possibility of repentance, died in the very act of selfmurder. So perished the great politician of that age! He had wisdom enough to govern a state, but not to rule his own spirit. He had composure enough to set his house in order, but not to check his passions, or bear a disappointment. He took great care of his house and family, but none for his soul. Thus died Ahithophel, as a fool dieth. Oh let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength; but let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord. 4. God often raises up friends to his people when they are in the greatest distress: so he did to David here, Shobi and Machir, and Barzillai. What a comfort was it to him in his sorrow and banishment, to find friends, and such friends, who furnished him with such suitable and seasonable supplies. O fear the Lord, ye his saints, for there is no want to them that fear him. Blessed is the man who putteth his trust in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. The lions may lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. CHAP. XVIII. We have here David's preparation to engage the rebels ; 1 A ND David numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds 2 over them. 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 peo3 ple, I will surely go forth with you myself also. But the people, remembering Ahithophel's advice, to smite the king only, and concluding that his life was chiefly aimed at, 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; it would be more injury to the kingdom and more advantage to the enemy if he was slain, than thousands of them; but if he lived he would be able to raise new forces to oppose their design: therefore now [it is] better that thou stay there 4 and succour us out of the city. And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do.* And the king stood by the gate side, encouraging and praying for them, and all the people 5 came out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king com. manded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Absalom: as if his fault was rather to be imputed to his youth than his nature; from paternal affection, and a pious concern that he might live to repent of his folly and wickedness, he desires to save him. 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 7 battle was in the wood of Ephraim; Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David ;† and there was there 8 a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand [men.] For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword dcvoured.‡ . And Absalom met the servants of David, who it should seem made no attempt to seize him. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and fled hastily; and the mule went under the thick bows of a This freed his mind from the reluctance he must feel in going out against one of his own subjects, and fighting against his son; and no doubt Providence overruled it, that he might not interpose to save Absalom's life. + One body of David's forces came out of the wood, the other lay in ambush on the skirts of it. The men who came out of the wood seeming to fly before Absalom into the wood again, he pursued them, upon which the other part of David's army closed in, and thus Absalom and his people were surrounded and easily destroyed. This was perhaps by thickets, or bogs and pits, or wild beasts in the caves; by one means or other more were destroyed in the wood, than in the action itself. 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] 10 under him went away. And a certain man saw [it,] and told 11 Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. 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 gir 12 dle.* 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 13 none [touch] the young man Absalom. Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldst have set thy14 self against [me.t] Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee; it is not a time to stand talking here. And, concluding there would be no peace to the kingdom, nor safety to himself and David's adherents, if Absalom survived, he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he 15 [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Ab16 salom, and slew him. And Joab, thinking that the people would return to their allegiance now they had no one to head them, blew the trumpet, sounded a retreat; and the people returned from 17 pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him, as a monument of fame and all Israel fled every one to his tent. 18 19 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, (see ch. xiv. 27.) something like the Egyptian pyramids, which [is] in the king's dale, near Jerusalem; 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. There no doubt he intended to be buried; but Providence provided him a different kind of grave. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of 20 his enemies.|| 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 21 dead. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou • A captain's commission; denoted by giving him a military girdle or sash. See Isa. xxii. 21. He intimates here, that it would not only have been disobedience to the king, but he would have run the hazard of his own life; even Joab himself would have been as forward as any one to have informed against him, and to ingratiate himself with the king by accusing the man who had slain his son. Some of the Jews say, it still remains; and that it was a custom for every passenger to throw a stone at it, saying, Thus it shall be done to a rebellious son. There must be good discipline in the army, when even Ahimaaz durst not run on such an occasion without leave. Joab knew David better than Ahimaaz did; he was sensible it would be unwelcome news, and lessen David's regard for him; therefore he chose to send some other personn |