Hushai's protes alty to Absalom Early Judean David Narratives 15And Absalom with all the men of Israel,t came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16Now when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came tations to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, May the king live, may the king live! of 17But Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your love for your friend? Why did you not go with your friend? 18Then Hushai answered Absalom, No! for whom Jehovah and his people and all the men of Israel have chosen, to him will I belong, and with him will I remain. 19 And in the second place, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so will I serve you. Absa formal tion of his 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your counsel as to what we lom's shall do. 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in unto your father's usurpa- concubines whom he has left to keep the palace; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself abhorrent to your father, and the hands of all who father's are on your side will be strengthened. 22So they pitched for Absalom the tent" on 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 gave in those days, was regarded as if one inquired of the word of Godso was all the counsel of Ahithophel regarded by David and Absalom. rights Ahithophel's advice sue at once 17 1Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David to-night; 2thus I will to pur- come upon him when he is tired and weak and will storm him into a panic and all the people who are with him will flee; and I will smite the king alone, 3and I will bring back all the people to you as the bride returns to her husband. You seek only the life of one man, and all the people shall be at peace. 4And the advice pleased Absalom, and all the elders of Israel. Hushai's advice rally all Israel V 5Then Absalom said, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he has to say. And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom first to spoke to him, saying, Thus Ahithophel has spoken; shall we act upon his advice? If not, you give advice. 7Then Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good. Hushai said moreover, You know your father and his men, that they are mighty warriors and of angry temper, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Furthermore your father is a man of war and will not remain at night with the people. 9Even now he has hidden himself in one of the caves or in some other place. And in case some of the peoplew fall at the first, whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.' 10Then even he that is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose courage; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty warrior, and they who are with him are valiant men. 11But I counsel, Let all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as many as the sand that is by the sea, with you yourself marching in the midst of them. 12So shall we come upon him in some place where he has been discovered, and we will light t 1615 So Gk. u 1622 I.e., the bridal tent. 173 The Gk., which has been followed, undoubtedly here presents the original text. 179 So Luc. Heb. simply, some of them. 1710 Heb., completely melt away. Early Judean David Narratives upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him there shall not be left even one. 13 But if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it to the valley, until not even a small stone is found there. 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Jehovah had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, in order that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom. mes David priests 15Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus His did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and secret thus have I counselled. 16 Now therefore send quickly and tell David, sage to saying, Do not spend this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all by the means cross over, lest the king and all the people with him be swallowed up. 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at Enrogel; and a maid-servant was to goa and bring them news, and they were to goa and tell King David, for they must not be seen to come into the city. 18But a lad saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly and entered into the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court into which they descended. 19 And the woman took and spread the covering over the mouth of the well, and strewed dried fruit upon it, so that nothing was known. 20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house and said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? the woman answered them, They are gone over the water brook. And when they had sought and could find nothing, they returned to Jerusalem. 21But as soon as they had gone away they came up out of the well, and went and told King David and said to David, Arise, cross quickly over the water for thus has Ahithophel counselled in regard to you. 22Then David and all the people who were with him arose and they crossed over the Jordan. By daybreak there was not one left behind who had not gone over the Jordan. of 23 But when Ahithophel saw that his counsel had not been carried out, Suicide he saddled his ass and arose, and went to his house, to his city. And when Ahithohe had given command concerning his house, he strangled himself, and he phel died and was buried in his father's sepulchre. tion at 24Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, David's together with all the men of Israel. 25And Absalom set Amasa over the recep army in the place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of an Ishmaelite by the Mahaname of Jether,d who had come in marriage to Jesse's daughter Abigail, 1717 The verbs are frequentative, but the narrative relates simply to the events of a day so that their peculiar significance may be brought out as above. b 1719 The exact meaning of the original is unknown. In the current translations, the Lat., crushed grain, is followed; but Luc. and Targ., as well as the probabilities in the case, support the above. 1720 This word occurs only here and its meaning is doubtful. d 1725 Heb., son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, but I Kgs. 25, 32 confirms I Chr. 217 in the reading Jether not Ithra. For the unnecessary Israelite the Chronicler has also undoubtedly retained the original, Ishmaelite. The rest of the verse seems to state that, like Samson, Jether consummated a cadiqa marriage in accordance with which the wife and the children remained with her clan instead of going to that of the husband. 1725 Again the Chronicler is clearly right in reading, Jesse, instead of Nahash. Absalom, like Saul and David, appointed a kinsman as his military leader. naim The battle Absa lom's death Early Judean David Narratives the sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 27 But when David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of the Ammonite Rabbah, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28brought couches, rugs, bowls, and earthen vessels, and wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, 29honey, curds, sheep, and calves for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they thought, The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness. 18 'Then David mustered the people who were with him, and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds. 2And David divided the people into three divisions, one third was under the command of Joab, another third under Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and another third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I also will surely go out with you. 3But the people said, You shall not go out; for if we flee away, no one will care for us, or if half of us die, no one will care for us, for you are equal to ten thousand of us. Also it is now better for you to be ready to help us from the city. And the king said to them, I will do what you think best! So the king stood by the side of the gate, while all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5And the king commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom! And all the people heard when the king gave all the commanders the order regarding Absalom. 6So the people went out into the field against Israel. And the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. And the people of Israel were smitten there before the servants of David, so that the slaughter on that day was great-twenty thousand men. 8And the battle was spread out over the whole country; and the forest devoured more that day than the sword. 9And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was hungi between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 10 And when a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak. 11Then Joab said to the man who told him, So you saw him! Why did you not smite him there to the ground? And my part would have been to give you ten shekels of silver and a girdle. 12But the man said to Joab, If I were to feel the weight of a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not put forth my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Take care of the young man Absalom.' 13Or if I had treacherously taken his life, nothing would have been hidden from the king, and you yourself would have stood aloof. 14Then Joab answered, I will not tarry thus with you. And he took three 11729 So Luc. and Lat. The Heb. is obscure. Syr., cheese. h 183 So Gk., Symmachus, and Lat. The Heb. makes no sense. Heb., sent out. i 189 So Luc., Syr., and Targ. This is more natural than the Heb., was given. 1814 Luc. and one form of the Gk., therefore I will begin before you. The variant doubt less arose because the Heb. verb has two distinct meanings. Early Judean David Narratives spears in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab's armor gathered about and smote Absalom and put him to death. salom 16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Burial Israel; for Joab held back the people. 17And they took Absalom and cast of Abhim into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a heap of stones. And all Israel fled each to his home. 18But Absalom had already in his lifetime taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the King's Dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; and he named the pillar after his own name. Therefore it is called 'Absalom's Monument,' to this day. maaz's eager bear 19 But when Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me now run and bring Ahithe news to the king that Jehovah has pronounced judgment for him against his enemies. 20Joab said to him, You are not the man to bring news to-day. ness to On another day you may bring news, but not to-day, for the king's son is the dead. 21Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have news seen. And the Cushite bowed before Joab and ran off. 22 But Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, However it may be, I would like also to run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why is it that you would run, my son, seeing that no reward will be paid out? 23And he said, However may be, I would like to run. So he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain of the Jordan and outran the Cushite. it recep news 24 Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman had David's gone up to the roof of the gate by the wall. And when he lifted up his eyes of and looked, he saw there a man running alone. 25Then the watchman cried the and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, good news are in his mouth. And he kept coming and was drawing near, 26 when the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called toward the gate,' and said, See, another man running alone! And the king said, He also is bringing good news. 27 And the watchman said, I see that the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man and comes with good news. 28Then Ahimaaz drew near and said to the king, All is well. And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Jehovah your God, who hath delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 29And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom ? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent your servant,m I saw a great tumult, but I did not learn what it was. 30 And the king said, Turn aside and stand here, and he turned aside and stood still. 31 And, just then, the Cushite said, Let my lord the king receive the good news that Jehovah hath pronounced judgment for you this day upon all those who rose up against you. 32And the king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, may the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be as that young man ! * 1814 So Gk. Heb., clubs, 11826 So Luc., Syr., and Lat. 1829 The Heb. also contains the awkward repetition, the king's servant. David's sorrow for Ab salom Joab's rebuke Uncertainty of the § 43. David's Return, II Sam. 1833-1943 Early Judean David Narratives II Sam. 18 33Then the king was greatly moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said, as he kept on weeping, My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! O that I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son! 19 1And it was told Joab, The king is weeping and lamenting for Absalom. 2So for all the people the victory that day was turned to mourning, since the people heard that day, The king is grieving for his son. Therefore the people stole away into the city, as people who are ashamed when they have fled in battle steal away. 4But the king covered his face, and cried aloud, My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son! 5Then Joab came to the king in the palace and said, You have to-day shamed the face of all your servants, who have saved your life and the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines, by loving them who hate you and hating them who love you. For you declared to-day that princes and brave officers are nothing to you, for now I know if Absalom had lived and all of us had died to-day, then you would be pleased. Now therefore come, go forth, and reassure your followers; for I swear by Jehovah, if you do not go forth, not a man will remain to you, and that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now. Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And the rumor spread among all the people, See the king is sitting in the gate; and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent. And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out people of the hand of our enemies, he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has fallen in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back? 11b And the word of all Israel came to the king." David's over 11aThen King David commanded Zadok and Abiathar the priests, Speak to liberal the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back tures to to his palace? 12You are my bone and my flesh, why then are you the last ders of to bring back the king?' 13Say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my the el Judah His flesh? God do to me whatever he will, if you shall not henceforth be commander of the army before me in the place of Joab.' 14And he turned the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent to the king, saying, Return with all your servants. 15So the king returned, and arrived at the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hastpardon ened down with the men of Judah to meet King David, 17with a thousand men Shimei of Benjamin; and with him was Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with of § 43 This is the direct continuation of the preceding early Judean David narrative. mistake from the preceding line. 1914 Luc. probably rightly inserts Amasa, as the subject. |