Study Desk

And look, all of the family has risen up against your servant, and they said, ‘Give up the one who struck his brother, that we may kill him in exchange for the life of his brother whom he murdered. We will also wipe out the heir,' and so they would put out my embers which remain, by not preserving for my husband a name and a remnant on the face of the earth."

Then she said, "Please may the king remember Yahweh your God, to prevent the increase of blood avengers who kill, so that they not wipe out my son." He said, "As Yahweh lives, surely not one hair shall fall from your son to the ground."

Your servant also thought, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring rest, for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king, to sense what is good and what is bad.' May Yahweh your God be with you."

The king said, "Let him go over to his house, and he may not see my face." So Absalom went over to his house, and did not see the face of the king.

As far as Absalom, there was not a more handsome man in all of Israel to admire so much; from the sole of his foot up to his crown, there was no physical defect on him.

So Absalom sent for Joab, in order that he send him to the king, but he was not willing to go to him. He sent again a second time, but he was not willing to go.

So he said to his servants, "Look at the tract of land of Joab next to mine, for he has barley plants there. Go, set it ablaze with fire." So the servants of Absalom set the tract of land ablaze with fire.

Absalom said to Joab, "Look, I have sent to you, saying, ‘Come here that I may send you to the king to say, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there."' So then, let me see the face of the king; if there is guilt in me, then let him kill me."

So Joab went to the king and he told him. Then he summoned Absalom, and he came to the king, and he bowed down to him with his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom did like this to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

Then the king said to him, "Go in peace." So he got up and went to Hebron.

So the king went out with all the people following him, and they stopped at the last house.

Then David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." So Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all of the little children who were with him.

So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and they remained there.

So Hushai the friend of David came to the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

When the king and all of the people who were with him arrived, he was weary, so he recovered there.

Furthermore, for whom have I served? Is it not in the presence of his son that I have served before your father? So shall I serve you!"

The counsel that Ahithophel gave in those days was regarded as when a man inquired of the word of God, so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed both by David and by Absalom.

So Hushai came to Absalom, who said to him, "Shall we do according to this word that Ahithophel has spoken? If not, then you tell us."

Hushai continued, "You know your father and his men, that they are mighty warriors and they are enraged as a bear robbed of her offspring in the field. Your father is a man of war, so he will not spend the night with the troops.