Study Desk

Now it happened after they went away, that they came up out of the well and went and informed King David; and they said to David, "Arise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you."

honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, "The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness."

But the people said, "You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not set their heart on us; even if half of us die, they will not set their heart on us. But now you are worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city."

Then the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.

So the man said to Joab, "Even if I should receive one thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not send forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Keep for me the young man Absalom!'

Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King's Valley, for he had said, "I have no son to preserve my name." So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day.

But Joab said to him, "You are not the man for the good news this day, but you shall proclaim the good news another day; however, you shall not proclaim the good news today because the king's son has died."

Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why would you run, my son, since you will have no reward for going?"

Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, "Let my lord the king receive good news, for Yahweh has judged to save you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you."

Then the king said to the Cushite, "Is there peace with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!"

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

And the salvation that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, "The king is grieved for his son."

But as for the king, he wrapped his face up. Then the king cried out 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 the faces of all your servants, who today have provided escape for your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines,

by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have informed all of us today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, surely then it would be right in your eyes.

So now, arise, go out and speak to the heart of your servants, for I swear by Yahweh, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be of greater evil for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now."

For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king."

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, "Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the anointed of Yahweh?"

David then said, "What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?"