Study Desk

And when David came to a place where he used to worship God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth upon his head;

And he threw stones at him and at all his servants and at all his people and at all his servants who were on his right hand and on his left.

Then Abishai the son of Zoriah said to David, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.

And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my own son, who came forth from my loins, seeks my life; so now let this Benjamite alone, let him curse; for God has bidden him.

It may be the LORD will look on my affliction and requite me good for his cursing this day.

And as David and his servants went on the way, Shimei walked along the mountain side opposite him and cursed him as he went and threw stones at him and cast dust at him.

And Hushai said to Absalom. No; but whom the LORD and this people and all Israel have chosen, with him will I dwell, and his will I be.

And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your fathers concubines, whom he has left to keep his house; and when all Israel shall hear that you have gone in to your fathers concubines, then shall the hands of all who are with you be strengthened.

So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his fathers concubines in the sight of all Israel.

For said Hushai to Absalom. You know well that your father and his servants are mighty men, and they are furious as a bear that devours the prey in the field; moreover, your father is a man of war, and will not spend the night with the people.

Even though he is valiant and his heart is as the heart of a lion, he shall utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and that those who are with him are valiant men.

Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom; but they both went away, and came into the house of a man of Beth-hurim who had a well in his courtyard; and they went down into it.

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass and arose and went home to his city; and he put his household in order and hanged himself and died and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

Then Joab said to him, That is not true, I will do it now myself. Then Joab took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive and hanging from the oak.

And they took Absaloms body and cast it into a great pit, and raised over it a great heap of large stones; and all Israel fled every man to his tent.

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a monument in the valley of the kings; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; and he called the monument by his own name; and it is called the work of Absalom to this day.

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run and bring the good tidings to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.

Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw a man running alone.

And the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, if he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

And the king called to Ahimaaz, and said to him, Have you come in peace? And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be the LORD your God, who delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.