Study Desk

Avshalom and all the men of Yisra'el said, The counsel of Hushai the Arki is better than the counsel of Achitofel. For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Achitofel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Avshalom.

Now Yonatan and Achima`atz were staying by `En-Rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.

It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise you, and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Achitofel counseled against you.

and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

But the people said, You shall 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 you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.

The king commanded Yo'av and Avishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Avshalom. All the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Avshalom.

For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

The man said to Yo'av, Though I should receive a thousand [pieces of] silver in my hand, I still wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Avishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Avshalom.

Yo'av blew the shofar, and the people returned from pursuing after Yisra'el; for Yo'av held back the people.

Now Avshalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in memory: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Avshalom's monument, to this day.

Then said Achima`atz the son of Tzadok yet again to Yo'av, But come what may, Please let me also run after the Kushite. Yo'av said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?

Behold, the Kushite came; and the Kushite said, News for my lord the king; for the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.

The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, my son Avshalom, my son, my son Avshalom! would I had died for you, Avshalom, my son, my son!

It was told Yo'av, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Avshalom.

The victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king grieves for his son.

in that you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. For you have declared this day, that princes and servants are nothing to you: for this day I perceive that if Avshalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased you well.

Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably to your servants; for I swear by the LORD, if you don't go forth, there will not stay a man with you this night: and that will be worse to you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.

For your servant does know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Yosef to go down to meet my lord the king.

But Avishai the son of Tzeru'yah answered, Shall Shim`i not be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?

David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Tzeru'yah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Yisra'el? for don't I know that I am this day king over Yisra'el?