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David and Ziba

16 When David had gone a short way past the mountain top, Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba met him with two donkeys ready for traveling. On them were 200 loaves of bread, 100 vines of dried grapes, 100 summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for those of the king’s house to travel on. The bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. And the wine drink is for whoever is weak in the desert.” Then the king said, “Where is your owner’s son?” And Ziba answered, “He is staying in Jerusalem. For he said, ‘Today the family of Israel will return to me the nation of my father.’” So the king said to Ziba, “See, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I bow down in honor to you. O my lord the king, let me find favor in your eyes!”

David and Shimei

When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of Saul. His name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He did not stop speaking bad things as he came. He threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the strong men were at his right and at his left. Shimei said as he said bad things, “Get out! Get out, you man of blood, you man of no worth! The Lord has punished you for all the blood of the family of Saul, in whose place you have ruled! The Lord has given the nation to your son Absalom! Your trouble is upon you, because you are a man of blood!”

Zeruiah’s son Abishai said to the king, “Why should this dead dog speak against my lord the king? Let me go now and cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he speaks against me, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Speak against David,’ then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See, my own son wants to kill me. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him speak against me, for the Lord has told him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my trouble and return good to me instead of his bad words today.” 13 So David and his men went on the way. And Shimei went beside him on the hill. He spoke against David as he went, and threw stones and dust at him. 14 The king and all the people with him were tired when they came to the Jordan. There he rested and received new strength.

Absalom Goes to Jerusalem

15 Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came into Jerusalem. And Ahithophel was with him. 16 When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No! I will belong to whoever is chosen by the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel. 19 And whom should I serve? Should I not serve his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your wise words. What should we do?” 21 Ahithophel answered, “Go in to your father’s women, whom he has left to take care of the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself hated by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be made stronger.” 22 So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s women so that the eyes of all Israel could see. 23 The words that Ahithophel spoke in those days were as if one had asked for the Word of God. Both David and Absalom thought of Ahithophel’s words in this way.

Hushai and Absalom

17 Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men, and I will leave and go after David tonight. I will come upon him while he is tired and weak. I will fill him with fear so that all the people who are with him will run away. Then I will kill the king alone and return all the people to you. All will return if the man you want to kill is dead. Then all the people will be at peace.” The plan pleased Absalom and all the leaders of Israel.

Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also. Let us hear what he has to say.” When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Ahithophel has said this. Should we do as he says? If not, tell us.” So Hushai said to Absalom, “This time what Ahithophel has said to do is not good.” Hushai said, “You know your father and his men. They are powerful and angry, like a bear robbed of her young ones in the field. And your father is a very able man of war. He will not stay with the people during the night. He has now hidden himself in one of the caves, or in another place. When some of the people are killed in the first battle, whoever hears it will say, ‘There have been many people killed who follow Absalom.’ 10 Even the one who has strength of heart like the heart of a lion will be afraid. For all Israel knows that your father is a powerful man, and that those who are with him are men with strength of heart. 11 But I say that all Israel should be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as much as the sand by the sea. And you yourself should go into battle. 12 So we will find David wherever he is. We will fall on him like water falls on the ground in the early morning. And not he or any of the men with him will be left. 13 If he runs into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city. We will pull it into the valley until not even a small stone is left there.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The words of Hushai the Archite are better than the words of Ahithophel.” In this way the Lord had planned to destroy the good leading of Ahithophel, so He might bring trouble to Absalom.

David Is Told to Leave

15 Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the religious leaders, “This is what Ahithophel said that Absalom and the leaders of Israel should do. And this is what I have said they should do. 16 So be quick to send someone to tell David, ‘Do not stay the night in the desert beside the place where the Jordan is crossed. But cross over, or the king and all the people with him will be destroyed.’” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at Enrogel. And a woman servant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. For they could not be seen coming into the city. 18 But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. So the two of them left in a hurry and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in the open space in the center of his house. And they went down into it. 19 Then the woman took the covering and spread it over the well’s mouth, and spread grain on it, so nothing was known of it. 20 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman answered, “They have crossed the river.” And after looking and not finding them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 When they had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan came up out of the well and went and told King David. They said to David, “Be quick to get ready and cross over the water. For Ahithophel has told them to come against you.” 22 So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By the light of morning, not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan. 23 When Ahithophel saw that his words were not followed, he got onto his donkey and went home to his city. He told those of his family what they must do, and he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s grave.

24 Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom and all the men of Israel with him crossed the Jordan. 25 Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra the Israelite, who went in to Nahash’s daughter Abigal, the sister of Joab’s mother Zeruiah. 26 And Israel and Absalom set up their tents in the land of Gilead.

27 When David had come to Mahanaim, he met Nahash’s son Shobi from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, Ammiel’s son Machir from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. 28 They brought him beds, washing pots, dishes, grain, flour, seeds, 29 honey, sour milk, sheep, and cheese from the cattle, for David and his men to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.”

Absalom’s Death

18 Then David numbered the people who were with him. He set over them leaders of thousands and of hundreds. And he sent the people out. One third of them was under the rule of Joab. One third was under the rule of Zeruiah’s son Abishai, Joab’s brother. And one third was under the rule of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, “I myself will go out with you also.” But the people said, “You should not go out. For if we run, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. So it is better that you send us help from the city.” The king said to them, “I will do whatever you think is best.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. The king told Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle toward the young man Absalom because of me.” And all the people heard him say this to all the leaders about Absalom.

Then the people went out into the field to fight against Israel. The battle was fought among the trees of Ephraim. The people of Israel lost the fight there to the servants of David. Twenty thousand men were killed there that day. The battle was spread over the whole country. Dangers from the trees destroyed more people that day than the sword.

Absalom met the servants of David. He was going on his horse, and the horse went under the many branches of a large oak tree. Absalom’s hair caught in the branches of the oak. He was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the horse under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Joab said to the man, “You saw him! Why did you not kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 The man said to Joab, “Even for a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not go against the king’s son. For we heard the king tell you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Keep the young man Absalom safe for me.’ 13 If I had gone against his life, there is nothing hidden from the king. And you would not have helped me.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not waste time here with you.” He took three spears in his hand and threw them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s battle clothes gathered around and hit Absalom and killed him.

16 Then Joab sounded the horn, and all the people returned from going after Israel, for Joab stopped them. 17 They took Absalom and threw him into a deep hole among the trees, and set many stones over him. And all Israel ran away, every one to his own home. 18 While Absalom was alive, he had set up stones in his honor in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to let my name be remembered.” So he called the stones after his own name. And they are there to have Absalom be remembered to this day.

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

19 Then Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said, “Let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has saved him from those who hate him.” 20 But Joab said to him, “You must not carry news today, but another time. Today you should carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go and tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said to Joab, “Whatever happens, let me run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why would you run, my son? You would receive no reward for going.” 23 But Ahimaaz said, “Whatever happens, I will run.” So Joab said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed the Cushite.

24 David was sitting between the two gates. The man who kept watch went up to the roof of the gate by the wall. He looked up and saw a man running by himself. 25 The man who kept watch called and told the king. The king said, “If he is by himself, he has good news.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the man who kept watch saw another man running. He called to the gate-keeper and said, “See, another man is running by himself.” The king said, “This one is bringing good news also.” 27 And the man who kept watch said, “I think the man in front runs like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

28 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “All is well.” He put his face to the ground in front of the king, and said, “Thanks be to the Lord your God. He has given up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 29 The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I heard noise and saw much fighting. But I did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. 31 Then the Cushite came and said, “Let my lord the king receive good news. For the Lord has saved you today from all those who came against you.” 32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May those who hate my lord the king, all those who come to do bad things against you, be as that young man!” 33 The king filled with much sorrow. He went up to the room above the gate and cried. As he walked he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”