Study Desk

Now the rest of the family is demanding, ‘Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn't deserve to inherit his family's property.' They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband's name and family will disappear from the face of the earth."

"Oh, thank you, my lord the king," the woman from Tekoa replied. "If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and on my father's house, and let the king and his throne be innocent."

Joab bowed with his face to the ground in deep respect and said, "At last I know that I have gained your approval, my lord the king, for you have granted me this request!"

But the king gave this order: "Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence." So Absalom did not see the king.

He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!

He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter's name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.

So Absalom said to his servants, "Go and set fire to Joab's barley field, the field next to mine." So they set his field on fire, as Absalom had commanded.

Then Joab came to Absalom at his house and demanded, "Why did your servants set my field on fire?"

But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. "As soon as you hear the ram's horn," his message read, "you are to say, ‘Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.'"

He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions.

"Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!" David urged his men. "Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster."

"We are with you," his advisers replied. "Do what you think is best."

So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace.

The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house

You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don't even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness."

David replied, "All right, come with us." So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.

Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.

David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.

When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, "O Lord , let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!"

When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning.