Study Desk

Absalom ran away and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David was filled with sorrow for his son every day.

Now the whole family has come against your woman servant. They say, ‘Give us the one who killed his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So I would be without a son to receive what belonged to his parents when I die. They would put out the last of the fire which is left to me. My husband would be left without a name and with no children on the earth."

The woman of Tekoa said to the king, "O my lord the king, the sin is on me and my father's family. But the king and his throne are without guilt."

The woman said, "Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in deciding in this way, the king is as one who is guilty. For the king does not bring home his son who has been driven away.

I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your woman servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king. It might be that the king will do what his woman servant asks.

For the king will hear and save his woman servant from the man who would destroy both me and my son from the gift of God.'

And Joab fell on his face to the ground in honor and thanks to the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, O my lord the king. Because the king has done what his servant has asked of him."

But the king said, "Let him go to his own house. Do not let him see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the king's face.

Now there was no one in Israel as good looking and as much praised as Absalom. There was nothing wrong with him from the bottom of his foot to the top of his head.

At the end of every year he would cut the hair from his head, for it was heavy on him. When he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head. It weighed as much as 200 pieces of silver, by the king's weight.

He said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants burned the field.

Then Joab got up and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, "Why have your servants burned my field?"

Then Joab went to the king and told him. And he called for Absalom. So he came to the king and put his face to the ground in front of him. And the king kissed Absalom.

When a man came near to put his face to the ground in front of him, Absalom would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

While Absalom was giving gifts on the altar in worship, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city Giloh. He was the man who talked with David about what to do. The plans against David became strong. For more and more people joined Absalom.

David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Get up and let us run. Or else none of us will be safe from Absalom. Hurry and go, or he will be quick to catch us and bring trouble upon us. He would destroy the city with the sword."

So the king left with all those of his house. But he left ten of his women to take care of the house.

All his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, Pelethites, Gittites, and 600 men who had come with him from Gath. They all passed by the king.

So David said to him, "Go then, pass on." And Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

The king said to Zadok, "Return the special box of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will have me return. And He will have me see both it and His family.