Study Desk

It is sure that we will die. We are like water poured on the ground, which cannot be picked up again. But God does not take away life. He plans ways so that the one who is driven away may not be kept away from Him.

Your servant Joab has done this to change the way things are now. But my lord is wise like the angel of God, to know all that is on the earth."

But the king said, "Let him go to his own house. Do not let him see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the king's face.

Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king. But Joab would not come to him. So he sent for him a second time. But he would not come.

Then Absalom would say to him, "Your side of the problem is good and right. But there is no man to listen to you for the king."

But Absalom sent men to go in secret through all the families of Israel. He said to them, "As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron.'"

So the king left with all those of his house. But he left ten of his women to take care of the house.

But Ittai said to the king, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, your servant will be where my lord the king may be, in death or in life."

But if He says, ‘I have no joy in you,' then here I am. Let Him do to me what He thinks is good."

But if you return to the city, you can bring trouble to the words of Ahithophel for me. Say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. I will work for you as I have worked for your father in the past.' Then you can make the words of Ahithophel foolish for me.

But the king said, "What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he speaks against me, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Speak against David,' then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?'"

But I say that all Israel should be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as much as the sand by the sea. And you yourself should go into battle.

So be quick to send someone to tell David, ‘Do not stay the night in the desert beside the place where the Jordan is crossed. But cross over, or the king and all the people with him will be destroyed.'"

But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. So the two of them left in a hurry and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in the open space in the center of his house. And they went down into it.

But the people said, "You should not go out. For if we run, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. So it is better that you send us help from the city."

But Joab said to him, "You must not carry news today, but another time. Today you should carry no news, because the king's son is dead."

But Ahimaaz said, "Whatever happens, I will run." So Joab said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed the Cushite.

The king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I heard noise and saw much fighting. But I did not know what it was."

But you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. You have shown today that rulers and servants are nothing to you. For today I see that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, you would be pleased.

And all the people in all the family groups of Israel were arguing. They said, "The king saved us from those who hate us. He saved us from the Philistines. But now he has run from Absalom and away from the land.