Study Desk

All his servants were passing by him: all of the Kerethites and all of the Pelethites and all of the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him from Gath—passing before the king.

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.

The king said to Zadok, "Let the ark of God return to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yawheh, he will let me return and let me see him in his dwelling place.

But if he says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,' then I am ready. Let him do to me that which is good in his eyes.

Now David was going up on the Ascent of the Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and going barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered their head and wept as they went.

It happened that as David was coming up to the summit where he used to worship God, suddenly Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him. His coat was torn and dirt was on his head.

King David came up to Bahurim and suddenly a man from there was coming out from the family of the house of Saul, and his name was Shimei the son of Gera. He was cursing as he came out.

And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David and at all the people and at all the mighty warriors on his right and on his left.

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."

David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my son who came out of my loins is seeking my life. Now as far as this Benjaminite, leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has spoken to him.

Perhaps Yahweh will look in my eye and repay good for me in place of his curse this day.

Then David and his men went on the road, with Shimei going on the side of the hill beside him, cursing as he went. He threw stones beside him and threw dust in the air.

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!"

Then they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he went in to the concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel.

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.

But a young man saw them and told Absalom, so both of them went quickly and came to the house of a man at Bahurim. Now he had a well in his courtyard, so they went down there.

When Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled the donkey, and he set out and went up to his house in his city. After he set his house in order, he hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors.

Absalom was found in the presence of the servants of David as he was riding on the mule. The mule went under the thicket of the great oak tree, and his head was caught in the tree. He was left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule which was under him went on.

If I had dealt treacherously against his life, and there is not any matter hidden from the king, you would have presented yourself aloof."

Joab said, "No longer will I wait in your presence." Then he took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.