Study Desk

But he sent secret messengers through all the tribes of Israel. They told the people, "When you hear the trumpets, say this: ‘Absalom is the king at Hebron!'"

Absalom had invited two hundred men to go with him. So they went from Jerusalem with him, but they didn't know what he was planning.

The king set out with everyone in his house, but he left ten slave women to take care of the palace.

But Ittai said to the king, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will stay with you, whether it means life or death."

But if the Lord says he is not pleased with me, I am ready. He can do what he wants with me."

But if you return to the city, you can make Ahithophel's advice useless. Tell Absalom, ‘I am your servant, my king. In the past I served your father, but now I will serve you.'

He threw stones at David and his officers, but the people and soldiers gathered all around David.

The Lord is punishing you for the people in Saul's family you killed! You took Saul's place as king, but now the Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom! Now you are ruined because you are a murderer!"

But the king answered, "This does not concern you, sons of Zeruiah! If he is cursing me because the Lord told him to, who can question him?"

So David and his men went on down the road, but Shimei followed on the nearby hillside. He kept cursing David and throwing stones and dirt at him.

I'll catch him while he is tired and weak, and I'll frighten him so all his people will run away. But I'll kill only King David.

But Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Arkite, so I can hear what he says."

"Quickly! Send a message to David. Tell him not to stay tonight at the crossings into the desert but to cross over the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river, he and all his people won't be destroyed."

But a boy saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz left quickly and went to a man's house in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" She said to them, "They have already crossed the brook." Absalom's servants then went to look for Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.

But the men said, "You must not go with us! If we run away in the battle, Absalom's men won't care. Even if half of us are killed, Absalom's men won't care. But you're worth ten thousand of us! You can help us most by staying in the city."

The battle spread through all the country, but that day more men died in the forest than in the fighting.

Joab answered Ahimaaz, "No, you are not the one to take the news today. You may do it another time, but do not take it today, because the king's son is dead."

But Ahimaaz son of Zadok begged Joab again, "No matter what happens, please let me go along with the Cushite!" Joab said, "Son, why do you want to carry the news? You won't get any reward."

The king asked, "Is young Absalom all right?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent me, I saw some great excitement, but I don't know what it was."