Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from 2 Samuel 17
-19. Chapter 17 Moreover Ahitophel said to Absalom,
Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I
will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come
upon him while he is weary and weak, and make
him afraid, and all the people who are with him
will flee, and I will strike only the king. Then
I will bring back all the people to you. When
all return except the man whom you seek, all
the people will be at peace. And the saying pleased
Absalom and all the elders of Israel. Then Absalom
said, Now call Hushai the archite also, and let
us hear what he says too. And when Hushai came
to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahitophel
has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he
says? If not, speak up. So Hushai said to Absalom,
The advice that Ahitophel has given is not good
at this time. For, said Hushai, you know your
father and his men. that they are mighty men,
and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear
robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father
is a man of war, and will not camp with the people.
Surely by now he is hidden in some pit or in
some other place. And it will be when some of
them are overthrown at the first, that whoever
hears it will say, There is a slaughter among
the people who follow Absalom. And even he who
is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of
a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel
knows that your father is a mighty man, and those
who are with him are valiant men. Therefore I
advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you,
from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is
by the sea for multitude, and that you go to
battle in person. So we will come upon him in
some place where he may be found, and we will
fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And
of him and all the men who are with him, there
shall not be left so much as one. Moreover, if
he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel
shall bring ropes to that city, and we will pull
it into the river, until there is not one small
stone found there. So Absalom and all the men
of Israel said, The advice of Hushai the archite
is better than the advice of Ahitophel, for the
Lord has purposed to defeat the good advice of
Ahitophel to the intent that the Lord might bring
disaster on Absalom. Then Hushai said to Zadok
and Abiathar the priests, Thus and so Ahitophel
advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and
thus and so I have advised. Now therefore send
quickly and tell David, saying, Do not spend
this night in the plains of the wilderness, but
speedily cross over, lest the king and all the
people who are with him be swallowed up. Now
Jonathan and Ahimez stayed at Enrogel, for they
dared not be seen coming into the city. So a
female servant would come and tell them, and
they would go and tell King David. Nevertheless,
Elad saw them and told Absalom, But both of them
went away quickly and came to a man's house in
Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they
went down into it. Then the woman took and spread
a covering over the well's mouth and spread ground
grain on it, and the thing was not known. And
when Absalom's servants came to the woman at
the house, they said, Where are Ahimez and Jonathan?
So the woman said to them, They have gone over
the water brook. And when they had searched and
could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
Now it came to pass, after they had departed,
that they came up out of the well and went and
told King David, and said to David, Arise and
cross over the water quickly, for thus has Ahitophel
advised against you. So David and all the people
who were with him arose and crossed over the
Jordan. By morning light, not one of them was
left who had not gone over the Jordan. Now when
Ahitophel saw that his advice was not followed,
he saddled a donkey and arose and went home to
his house, to his city. Then he put his household
in order and hanged himself and died, and he
was buried in his father's tomb. Then David went
to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed over the Jordan,
he and all the men of Israel with him. And Absalom
made Amasa, captain of the army, instead of Joab.
This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was
Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone into Abigail
the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's
mother. So Israel and Absalom encamped in the
land of Gilead. Now it happened when David had
come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash
from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Makir the
son of Amiel from Lodibar, and Barzileh the Gileadite
from Rogilim brought beds and basins, earthen
vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched
grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey
and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for
David and the people who were with him to eat.
For they said, The people are hungry and weary
and thirsty in the wilderness. Chapter 18 And
David numbered the people who were with him and
set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds
over them. Then David sent out one -third of
the people under the hand of Joab, one -third
under the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah,
Joab's brother, and one -third under the hand
of Etai the Gittite. And the king said to the
people, I also will surely go out with you myself.
But the people answered, You shall not go out,
for if we flee away, they will not care about
us, nor if half of us die will they care about
us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now,
for you are now more help to us in the city.
Then the king said to them, Whatever seems best
to you, I will do. So the king stood beside the
gate, and all the people went out by hundreds
and by thousands. Now the king had commanded
Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Deal gently
for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all
the people heard when the king gave all the captains
orders concerning Absalom. So the people went
out into the field of battle against Israel,
and the battle was in the woods of Ephraim. The
people of Israel were overthrown there before
the servants of David, and a great slaughter
of twenty thousand took place there that day.
For the battle there was scattered over the face
of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured
more people that day than the sword devoured.
Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom
rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick
boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head
caught in the terebinth. So he was left hanging
between heaven and earth. And the mule which
was under him went on. Now a certain man saw
it and told Joab and said, I just saw Absalom
hanging in a terebinth tree. So Joab said to
the man who told him, You just saw him, and why
did you not strike him there to the ground? I
would have given you ten shekels of silver and
a belt. But the man said to Joab, Though I were
to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my
hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's
son. For in our hearing the king commanded you,
and Abishai and Ittai saying, Beware lest anyone
touch a young man, Absalom. Otherwise I would
have dealt falsely against my own life. For there
is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself
would have set yourself against me. Then Joab
said, I cannot linger with you. And he took three
spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's
heart while he was still alive in the midst of
the turban's tree. And ten young men who bore
Joab's armor surrounded Absalom and struck and
killed him. So Joab blew the trumpet and the
people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab
held back the people. And they took Absalom and
cast him into a large pit in the woods and laid
a very large heap of stones over him. Then all
Israel fled, everyone to his tent. Now Absalom
in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar
for himself, which is in the king's valley. For
he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.
He called the pillar after his own name, and
to this day it is called Absalom's monument.
Then Ahimez the son of Zadok said, Let me run
now and take the news to the king, how the Lord
has avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said
to him, You shall not take the news this day,
for you shall take the news another day. But
today you shall take no news, because the king's
son is dead. Then Joab said to the Cushite, Go
tell the king what you have seen. So the Cushite
bowed himself to Joab and ran. And Ahimez the
son of Zadok said again to Joab, But whatever
happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.
So Joab said, Why will you run, my son, since
you have no news ready? But whatever happens,
he said, Let me run. So he said to him, Run.
Then Ahimez ran by way of the plain and outran
the Cushite. Now David was sitting between the
two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof
over the gate to the wall, lifted his eyes and
looked, and there was a man running alone. Then
the watchman cried out and told the king, and
the king said, If he is alone, there is news
in his mouth. And he came rapidly and drew near.
Then the watchman saw another man running, and
the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said,
There is another man running alone. And the king
said, He also brings news. So the watchman said,
I think the running of the first is like the
running of Ahimaz the son of Zadok. And the king
said, He is a good man and comes with good news.
So Ahimez called out and said to the king, All
is well. Then he bowed down with his face to
the earth before the king and said, Blessed be
the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men
who raised their hand against my lord the king.
The king said, Is the young man Absalom safe?
Ahimez answered, When Joab sent the king's servant
and me, your servant, I saw a great tumult, but
I did not know what it was about. And the king
said, Turn aside and stand here. So he turned
aside and stood still. Just then the Kushite
came, and the Kushite said, There is good news,
my lord the king, for the Lord has avenged you
this day of all those who rose against you. And
the king said to the Kushite, Is the young man
Absalom safe? So the Kushite answered, May the
enemies of my lord the king and all who rise
against you to do harm be like that young man.
Then the king was deeply moved and went up to
the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he
went, he said thus, O my son Absalom, my son,
my son Absalom. If only I had died in your place.
O Absalom, my son, my son. Chapter 19 And Joab
was told, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning
for Absalom. So the victory that day was turned
into mourning for all the people. For the people
heard it said, That day the king is grieved for
his son. And the people stole back into the city
that day, as people who are ashamed steal away
when they flee in battle. But the king covered
his face, and 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 disgraced all your servants
who today have saved your life, the lives of
your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives
and the lives of your concubines, in that you
love your enemies and hate your friends. For
you have declared today that you regard neither
princes nor servants. For today I perceive that
if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today,
then it would have pleased you well. Now therefore
arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants.
For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out,
not one will stay with you this night. 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 they
told all the people, saying, There is the king
sitting in the gate. So all the people came before
the king. For everyone of Israel had fled to
his tent. Now all the people were in a dispute
throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying,
The king saved us from the hand of our enemies.
He delivered us from the hand of the Philistines,
and now he has fled from the land because of
Absalom. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us,
has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you
say nothing about bringing back the king? So
King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests,
saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying,
Why are you the last to bring the king back to
his house? Since the words of all Israel have
come to the king, to his very house. You are
my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why
then are you the last to bring back the king?
And say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my
flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you
are not commander of the army before me continually
in place of Joab. So he swayed the hearts of
all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one
man. So they sent this word to the king, Return
you and all your servants. Then the king returned
and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal
to go meet the king, to escort the king across
the Jordan. And Shimei the son of Gerah, a Benjamite,
who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with
the men of Judah to meet King David. There were
a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba
the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen
sons, and his twenty servants with him, and they
went over the Jordan before the king. Then a
ferry boat went across to carry over the king's
household, and to do what he thought good. Now
Shimei, the son of Gerah, fell down before the
king when he had crossed the Jordan. Then he
said to the king, Do not let my lord impute iniquity
to me, or remember what wrong your servant did
on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem,
that the king should take it to heart. For I,
your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore
here I am, the first to come today of all the
house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the
king. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered
and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for
this? Because he cursed the Lord's anointed.
And David said, What have I to do with you, you
sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries
to me today? Shall any man be put to death today
in Israel? For do I not know that today I am
king over Israel? Therefore the king said to
Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore
to him. Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came
down to meet the king, and he had not cared for
his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed
his clothes. From the day the king departed until
the day he returned in peace. So it was when
he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that
the king said to him, Why did you not go with
me, Mephibosheth? And he answered, My lord, O
king, my servant deceived me. For your servant
said, I will saddle a donkey for myself, that
I may ride on it and go to the king. But your
servant is lame, and he has slandered your servant
to my lord the king. But my lord the king is
like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good
in your eyes. For all my father's house were
but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you
set your servant among those who eat at your
own table. Therefore what right have I still
to cry out any more to the king? So the king
said to him, Why do you speak any more of your
matters? I have said, You and Ziba divide the
land. Then Mephibosheth said to the king, Rather
let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the
king has come back in peace to his own house.
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogielim,
and went across to Jordan with the king to escort
him across to Jordan. Now Barzillai was a very
aged man, 80 years old, and he had provided the
king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim,
for he was a very rich man. And the king said
to Barzillai, Come across with me, and I will
provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.
But Barzillai said to the king, How long have
I to live that I should go up with the king to
Jerusalem? I am today 80 years old. Can I discern
between the good and bad? Can your servant taste
what I eat and what I drink? Can I hear any longer
the voice of singing men and singing women? Why
then should your servant be a further burden
to my lord the king? Your servant will go a little
way across the Jordan with the king, and why
should the king repay me with such a reward?
Please let your servant turn back again, that
I may die in my own city, near the grave of my
father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham.
Let him cross over with my lord the king, and
do for him what seems good to you. And the king
answered, Kimham shall cross over with me, and
I will do for him what seems good to you. Now
whatever you request of me, I will do for you.
Then all the people went over the Jordan, and
when the king had crossed over, the king kissed
Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to
his own place. Now the king went on to Gilgal,
and Kimham went on with him. And all the people
of Judah escorted the king, and also half the
people of Israel. Just then all the men of Israel
came to the king and said to the king, Why have
our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away
and brought the king, his household, and all
David's men with him across the Jordan? So all
the men of Judah answered the men of Israel,
Because the king is a close relative of ours,
why then are you angry over this matter? Have
we ever eaten at the king's expense, or has he
given us any gift? And the men of Israel answered
the men of Judah and said, We have ten shares
in the king. Therefore we also have more right
to David than you. Why then do you despise us?
Were we not the first to advise bringing back
our king? Yet the words of the men of Judah were
fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
God bless you and have a great day.