The ark is sent back.

BEFORE

CHRIST 1023.

ch. 8.18.

tch. 18.2

thee wander in going. a18am.23..

13.

17.

18 And all his servants passed on beside him; ⚫ and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

20 Whereas thou camest but yesHeb.make terday, should I this day 2 make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

21 And Ittai answered the king, Ruth 1.16, and said, As the LORD liveth, and Prov.17.17. as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

& 18.24.

Called, John 18.1, Cedron

7 ch. 16. 2.

22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over the king also himself passed over the brook3 Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the y wilderness.

24 ¶ And lo Zadok also, and all Num.4.15. the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation :

Ps. 43. 3.

26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, King 10.9. let him do to me as seemeth good

Num.14.8. b ch. 22.20.

2 Chr. 9.8.
Is. 62.4.
€18am.3.18.

17.

unto him.

е

27 The king said also unto Zadok 41 Sam.9.9. the priest, Art not thou a "seer? reSee ch. 17. turn into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, 'I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

ch. 17.16.

4Heb.going

up, and weeping.

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem and they tarried there.

30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as

4

31 ¶ And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspi-1

rators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

32 ¶ And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the "Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be P a burden unto me:

h Is. 20. 2, 4. 1 Jer. 14.3, 4. k Ps. 126. 6.

Ps. 3. 1, 2.

& 55. 12, &c. ch. 16. 23.

& 17. 14, 23.

Josh. 16.2. och. 1. 2.

P ch. 19. 35.

34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy ch. 16. 19. servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it torch. 17. 15, Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

Shimei curseth David.

BEFORE CHRIST

1023.

e Prov. 18. 13.

obeisance.

unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto 2 Heb. I do Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. 5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: 3 he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

fch. 19. 16.

1 Kings 2.8, 44.

8 Or, he still

came forth and cursed.

4 Heb. man

of blood.
& Deut. 13.
13.

hJudg. 9.24, 56, 57. 1Kings 2.32, 33.

I See ch. 1. 16. & 3. 28, 29. & 4. 11, 12.

5 Heb. behold thee in thy evil.

14.

f

8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should 1 Sam. 24. this dead dog 'curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee,

ch. 9. 8.

1 Ex. 22. 28. and take off his head.

10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Rom. 9.20. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so ?

nSee 2Kings 18. 25. Lam. 3. 38.

p ch. 12. 11.

о

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, P my son, a Gen. 15. 4. which a came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

16 And it came to pass, when BEFORE Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, 2 God save the king, God save the king.

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? "why wentest thou not with thy friend?

18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

t ch. 15. 37. 2 Heb. Let the king live.

u ch. 19. 25. Prov.17.17.

19 And again, whom should I ch. 15.34. serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son ? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

3 ch. 15. 16. & 20.3.

21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy fa-Gen.34.30. ther: then shall the hands of all ch. 2.7. that are with thee be strong.

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

OREOVER Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2 And I will come upon him while he is a weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

1 Sam. 13.4.

Zech. 8. 13.

b ch. 12. 11, 12.

Heb.word. ch. 15. 12.

See Deut. ch. 16. 14.

25. 18.

b Zech.13.7.

right in the

eyes of, &c.

1 Sam.18.20.

6 Heb. what is in his mouth.

6 Heb. fallen.

7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath 3 given is not good at this time.

8

8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

5

9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, Josh. 2. 11. shall utterly d melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

Judg.20.1.

Gen. 22.17. Heb. that presence go,

thy face, or, &c.

34.

f

11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, ⚫ from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel ch. 15.81, of Ahithophel. For the LORD had 'appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

7 Heb.commanded.

b ch. 15.35.

k

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz 'stayed by "En-rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

BEFORE CHRIST 1023.

k ch. 15. 27, 36.

1 Josh. 2. 4, &c.

mJosh. 15.7. & 18. 16.

18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which a ch. 16. 5. had a well in his court; whither they went down.

Josh. 2. 6.

19 And the woman took and See spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And Pthe woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

q

19.

See Ex. 1. Josh. 2. 4,5.

21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, a Arise, a ver. 15 16. and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

23 ¶ And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he 2 Heb. donc. saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. 24 Then David came to Maha-Matt. 27.5. naim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel ch. 2.8. with him.

25 T And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was 'Ithra an Israelite, that went in to us Abigail the daughter of "Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

Heb. gave cerning his house.

2Kings 20.1.

The Israelites smitten,

BEFORE CHRIST 1023.

a ch. 16. 2.

10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

CHAPTER XVIII.

a

1 David viewing the armies in their march giveth them charge of Absalom. 6 The Israelites are sore smitten in the wood of Ephraim. 9 Absalom, hanging in an oak, is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit. 18 Absalom's place. 19 Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David. 33 David mourneth for Absalom. ND David numbered the people

captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's ch. 15. 10. brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. 3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art 3 worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou 'succour us out of the city.

b ch. 21. 17.

2 Heb. act their heart on us.

8Heb. as ten thousand of 4 Heb. be to

us.

succour.

e ver. 12.

d Josh. 17. 15, 18.

6 Heb. multiplied to devour.

b

4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and

none touch the young man Absalom. 13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the 5 Heb. oak.

15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

heart.

17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones Josh. 7.25. upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.

20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tid

David mourneth

BEFORE CHRIST

1023.

Heb. be what may. 8 Or, convenient.

17.

Zadok yet again to Joab, But "howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

run.

3

23 But howsoever, said he, let me And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

24 And David sat between the two 12 Kings 9. gates: and 'the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. 25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. 26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

4 Heb. I see the running.

6 Or, Peace be to thee.

• Heb. Peace.

7 Heb. shut up.

8 Heb. Is there peace!

• Heb.

Tidings is brought.

ch. 19. 4.

27 And the watchman said, 'Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, "All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

CHAPTER XIX.

for Absalom.

BEFORE CHRIST 1023.

2 Heb. salvation,

or, deliverance.

a ver. 32.

4 But the king covered his face, bch. 15.30. and the king cried with a loud voice, Omy son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son !

с

5 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;

4

6 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.

thou

5

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

8 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.

• ch. 18. 33.