Study Desk

Absalom, Tamar's brother, said to her, "Has Amnon, your brother, forced you to have sexual relations with him? For now, sister, be quiet. He is your half-brother. Don't let this upset you so much!" So Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house and was sad and lonely.

So Absalom's young men killed Amnon as Absalom commanded, but all of David's other sons got on their mules and escaped.

So Jonadab said to King David, "Look, I was right! The king's sons are coming!"

So Joab sent messengers to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He said to her, "Pretend to be very sad. Put on funeral clothes and don't put lotion on yourself. Act like a woman who has been crying many days for someone who died.

So the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king. She bowed facedown on the ground to show respect and said, "My king, help me!"

I had two sons. They were out in the field fighting, and no one was there to stop them. So one son killed the other son.

Now all the family group is against me. They said to me, ‘Bring the son who killed his brother so we may kill him for killing his brother. That way we will also get rid of the one who would receive what belonged to his father.' My son is like the last spark of a fire. He is all I have left. If they kill him, my husband's name and property will be gone from the earth."

Joab did it so you would see things differently. My master, you are wise like an angel of God who knows everything that happens on earth."

But King David said, "Absalom must go to his own house. He may not come to see me." So Absalom went to his own house and did not go to see the king.

Then Absalom sent for Joab so he could send him to the king, but Joab would not come. Absalom sent a message a second time, but Joab still refused to come.

Then Absalom said to his servants, "Look, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley growing there. Go burn it." So Absalom's servants set fire to Joab's field.

So Joab went to the king and told him Absalom's words. Then the king called for Absalom. Absalom came and bowed facedown on the ground before the king, and the king kissed him.

The king said, "Go in peace." So Absalom went to Hebron.

Absalom had invited two hundred men to go with him. So they went from Jerusalem with him, but they didn't know what he was planning.

While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of the people who advised David, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So Absalom's plans were working very well. More and more people began to support him.

David said to Ittai, "Go, march on." So Ittai from Gath and all his people with their children marched on.

So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

Someone told David, "Ahithophel is one of the people with Absalom who made secret plans against you." So David prayed, " Lord , please make Ahithophel's advice foolish."

So David's friend Hushai entered Jerusalem just as Absalom arrived.

So David and his men went on down the road, but Shimei followed on the nearby hillside. He kept cursing David and throwing stones and dirt at him.