Study Desk

Then it was reported to Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and he mourns for Absalom."

And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because the people heard it said that day, "The king is in mourning over his son."

And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

And the people entered the city surreptitiously that day, just as people who are humiliated surreptitiously flee in battle.

And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

And the king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!"

But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "Today you have shamed all your servants, who have saved your life today and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines,

And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have revealed today that commanders and servants are nothing to you; for I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then it would be right as far as you are concerned.

In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

"Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, no man will stay the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the misfortune that has happened to you from your youth until now!"

Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord , if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

So the king got up and sat at the gate. When they told all the people, saying, "Behold, the king is sitting at the gate," then all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tent.

Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.