The macarthur study bibl.., p.155
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV, page 155
18And Hushai said to Absalom’s, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19“Furthermore, xwhom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”
20Then Absalom’s said to yAhithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”
21And Ahithophel said to Absalom’s, “Go in to your father’s zconcubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you aare abhorred by your father. Then bthe hands of all who are with you will be strong.”
22So they pitched a tent for Absalom’s on the top of the house, and Absalom’s went in to his father’s concubines cin the sight of all Israel.
23Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel dboth with David and with Absalom’s.
2 Samuel 17
The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai
1Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom’s, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
2“I will come upon him while he is aweary and weak, and make him 1afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will bstrike only the king.
3“Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.”
4And the saying pleased Absalom’s and all the celders of Israel.
The Advice of Hushai
5Then Absalom’s said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he dsays too.”
6And when Hushai came to Absalom’s, Absalom’s spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”
7So Hushai said to Absalom’s: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.
8“For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like ea bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people.
9“Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom’s.’
10“And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will fmelt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.
11“Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, gfrom Dan to Beersheba, hlike the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.
12“So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13“Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will ipull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”
14So Absalom’s and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For jthe LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom’s.
Hushai Warns David to Escape
15kThen Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom’s and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised.
16“Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night lin the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ”
17mNow Jonathan and Ahimaaz nstayed at oEn Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.
18Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom’s. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house pin Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it.
19qThen the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.
20And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” So rthe woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, s“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.”
22So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.
23Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to this house, to his city. Then he 2put his uhousehold in order, and vhanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.
24Then David went to wMahanaim. And Absalom’s crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25And Absalom’s made xAmasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was 3Jithra, an 4Israelite, who had gone in to yAbigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
26So Israel and Absalom’s encamped in the land of Gilead.
27Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that zShobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, aMachir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and bBarzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,
28brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds,
29honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty cin the wilderness.”
2 Samuel 18
Absalom’s Defeat and Death
1And David 1numbered the people who were with him, and aset captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, bone third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of cIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”
3dBut the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”
4Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom’s.” eAnd all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom’s.
6So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the fwoods of Ephraim.
7The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day.
8For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9Then Absalom’s met the servants of David. Absalom’s rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and ghis head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on.
10Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom’s hanging in a terebinth tree!”
11So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”
12But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. hFor in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 2‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom’s!’
13“Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
14Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.
15And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom’s, and struck and killed him.
16So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people.
17And they took Absalom’s and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and ilaid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel jfled, everyone to his tent.
18Now Absalom’s in his lifetime had taken and set up a 3pillar for himself, which is in kthe King’s Valley. For he said, l“I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s’s Monument.
David Hears of Absalom’s Death
19Then mAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has 4avenged him of his enemies.”
20And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.
22And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But 5whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”
23“But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
24Now David was sitting between the ntwo gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.
25Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.
26Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!” And the king said, “He also brings news.”
27So the watchman said, 6“I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with ogood news.”
28So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, 7“All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, p“Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”
29The king said, “Is the young man Absalom’s safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”
30And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”
32And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom’s safe?” So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”
David’s Mourning for Absalom
33Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: q“O my son Absalom’s—my son, my son Absalom’s—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom’s my son, rmy son!”
2 Samuel 19
David Returns to Jerusalem
1And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and amourning for Absalom’s.”
2So the victory that day was turned into bmourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.”
3And the people 1stole back cinto the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4But the king dcovered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, e“O my son Absalom’s! O Absalom’s, my son, my son!”
5Then fJoab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,
6“in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you 2regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom’s had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.
7“Now therefore, arise, go out and speak 3comfort to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”
8Then the king arose and sat in the ggate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had hfled to his tent.
David Returns to Jerusalem
9Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our ienemies, he delivered us from the hand of the jPhilistines, and now he has kfled from the land because of Absalom’s.
10“But Absalom’s, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
11So King David sent to lZadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?
12‘You are my brethren, you are mmy bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’
13n“And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? oGod do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me 4continually in place of Joab.’ ”
14So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, pjust as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”
15Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to qGilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king racross the Jordan.
16And sShimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
17There were a thousand men of tBenjamin with him, and uZiba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.
18Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good.
David’s Mercy to Shimei
Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan.
19Then he said to the king, v“Do not let my lord 5impute iniquity to me, or remember what wwrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should xtake it to heart.
20“For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all ythe house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, zbecause he acursed the LORD’s anointed?”
22And David said, b“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? cShall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”
23Therefore dthe king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
David and Mephibosheth Meet
24Now eMephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.
25So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, f“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame.
27“And ghe has slandered your servant to my lord the king, hbut my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.
28“For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. iYet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to 6cry out anymore to the king?”
29So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ”
30Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”
David’s Kindness to Barzillai
31And jBarzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan.
32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And khe had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.
33And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”
34But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
35“I am today leighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?
