22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be burdensome to thee. And he pressed him: yet he would not go, but blessed him.
26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But Absalom pressed him, that he should let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have I not commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. [1] [2]
29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man rode upon his mule, and fled. [3]
30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the report came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
31 Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. [4] [5]
33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came many people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35 And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is. [6]
36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had finished speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept exceedingly. [7]
37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. [8]
38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. [9]
CHAP. 14.
1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, I pray thee, pretend to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
3 And come to the king, and speak in this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4 And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. [10]
5 And the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.
6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him. [11]
7 And, behold, the whole family hath risen against thy handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth. [12]
8 And the king said to the woman, Go to thy house, and I will issue an order concerning thee.
9 And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
10 And the king said, Whoever saith any thing to thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not permit the avenger of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. [13]
12 Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
13 And the woman said, Why then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one who is faulty, in that the
- ↑ have...: or, will you not, since I have commanded you?
- ↑ valiant: Heb. sons of valour
- ↑ gat...: Heb. rode
- ↑ appointment: Heb. mouth
- ↑ determined: or, settled
- ↑ as thy...: Heb. according to the word of thy servant
- ↑ very...: Heb. with a great weeping greatly
- ↑ Ammihud: or, Ammihur
- ↑ longed: or, was consumed
- ↑ Help: Heb. Save
- ↑ none...: Heb. no deliverer between them
- ↑ upon...: Heb. upon the face of the earth
- ↑ that...: Heb. that the revenger of blood do not multiply to destroy
