34 But if thou return to the city, and say 1 ch. 16. 19. unto Absalom, a 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 ch. 17. 1, hear out of the king's house,' thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

16.

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.

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.

CHAP. XVI.

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.

& 17.29.

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.

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 Absalom's counsel.
Ahithophel's counsel.

A

a

b

7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou † bloody man, and thou man of Belial :

d ch. 19. 27.

e

Prov. 18.

13.

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.

Heb. I do

obeisance.

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 ?

Or, he still and cursed.

came forth

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.

Judg. 9.

24, 56, 57,
32, $3.
16. & 3. 28,
29. & 4. 11,

1 Kings 2.
i See ch. 1.

12.

+ Heb. be-
hold thee in

thy evil.
*1 Sam. 24.
ch. 9. 8.

14..

1 Exod. 22.

X

* ch. 15. 31.

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.

X

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 15. 16. in unto thy father's' concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel 30. shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy 1 Sam. 13.4. father: then shall the hands of all that are Zech. 8. 13. with thee be strong.

& 20. 3. Gen. 34.

* ch. 2.7.

12.

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto 12. 11, 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 Heb. word. had enquired at the toracle of God: so was ch. 15. 12. all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

25. 18.

CHAP. XVII.

CHRIST 1023.

+ Heb. word.

6 And when Hushai was come to Absa- Before lom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his t saying? if not; speak thou. 7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath † given is not b good at this time.

C

+ Heb. counselled.

of soul.

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 +Heb. bitter robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy Judg. 18.25. father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Hos. 13. 8.

fallen.

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 Heb. 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: Josh. 2.11. for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city,
then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city,
1 Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's, and we will draw it into the river, until there
according to God's appointment. 15 Secret intel-be not one small stone found there.
ligence is sent unto David. 23 Ahithophel hang-
eth himself. 25 Amasa is made captain. 27 Da-rael said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite
vid at Mahanaim is furnished with provision. 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.

2 And I will come upon him while he is Set Dent. weary and weak handed, and will make him ch. 16. 14. afraid and all the people that are with him Zech. 15.7. 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,

eyes of, &c. and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai
Heb. what the Archite also, and let us hear likewise
t what he saith.

is in his

mouth.

17.

Heb. that

thy face, or, presence go, &c.

1. 19.

n

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

Absalom hanging in an oak,

CHAP. XVIII.

David viewing the armies in their march giveth
them charge of Absalom. 6 The Israelites are
sore smitten in the wood of Ephraim. 9 Absalom
hanging in an oak, is slain by Joab, and cast into
a pit. 18 Absalom's place. 19 Ahimaaz and
Cushi bring tidings to David. 33 David mourn-
eth for Absalom.

the woman to the house, they said, Where AND David numbered the people that

See Exod. is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman Josh. 2. 4,5. 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 ver. 15, 16. David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

↑ Heb. gave

q

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.

S

23 ¶ And when Ahithophel saw that his + Heb, done. counsel was not † followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his ch.15.12 house, to his city, and † put his houshold charge con in order, and hanged himself, and died, and house. was buried in the sepulchre of his father. 2 Kings 20. 24 Then David came to 'Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

cerning his

1.

Matt. 27.5.

Gen. 32. 2.

Josh. 13. 26.

ch. 2. 8.

Or, Jether an Ishmael

ite.

Before CHRIST 1023.

were with him, and set captains of thou-
sands 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 *ch. 15. 19.
under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And
the king said unto the people, I will surely
go forth with you myself also.

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 Heb. Abi- mother.

" 1 Chron. 2. 16, 17.

gal.

Or, Jesse.

1

26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the

See Chron. land of Gilead.

2. 13, 16.

1. & 12.30.

b

a

3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not tcare 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 t succour us out of the city.

27 ¶ And it came to pass, when David *See ch. 10. 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,

Y ch. 9. 4.

32.

ch 19. 31, 1 Kings 2.7.

Or, cups.

ch. 21. 17.

Heb. set on us.

their heart

Heb. as

ten thousand
of us.
Heb. be to

4 And the king said unto them, What succour.
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.

28 Brought beds, and || basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

5 And the king commanded Joab and
Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for
my sake with the young man, even with Ab-
salom. And all the people heard when the ver. 12.
king gave all the captains charge concerning
Absalom.

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, ch. 16. 2. in the wilderness.

c

8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood + devoured more people that day than the Hebmul 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

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 Heb. bet with thee. And he took three darts in his fore thee. hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the † midst of the oak.

+ Heb.

heart.

17.

27.

David mourneth for Absalom.

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.

Before CHRIST 1023.

the running.

27 And the watchman said, † Me thinketh + Heb. I see
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.

Or, Peace
Heb.
Peace.

be to thee.

up.

Heb. shut

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 Heb. Is
Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When
Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy ser-
vant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not
what it was.

15 And ten young men that bare Joab'st 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 Josh. 7. 26. 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 Gen. 14. is in the king's dale: for he said, "I have no See ch. 14. 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 t avenged him of his enemies.

* Heb. judged him

from the

hand, &c.

20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt Heb. be a 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.

dings.

ing

30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and

stood still.

there peace?

31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi
said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Heb.
Tidings is
LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them brought
that rose up against thee.

32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the
young man Absalom safe? And Cushi an-
swered, 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 * ch. 19. 4.
son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!
would God I had died for thee, O Absalom,
my son, my son!

3 And the people gat them by stealth that, meet the king, to conduct the king over Jorday into the city, as people being ashamed dan. steal away when they flee in battle.

16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Ben- ch. 16. 5.
jamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and 1 Kings 2.8.
came down with the men of Judah to meet
king David.

17 And there were a thousand men of
Benjamin with him, and 'Ziba the servant of ch. 9. 2, 10.
the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and
his twenty servants with him; and they went
over Jordan before the king.

11 ¶ And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not Ruth 1.17. of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

15 So the king returned, and came to JorJosh. 5.9. dan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to