Study Desk

Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.

And when he cut the hair of his head-he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy-he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard.

Then Absalom said to his servants, "Look, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!" And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept increasing.

Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

and all his servants marched past him-all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

"March on then," said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

Then the king said to Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.

But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.

When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!"

Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, "Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.

So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David.

"Not at all," Hushai answered. "For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel-his I will be, and with him I will remain.

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

He continued, "You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.

But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb.