WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:09.779 in a year. Today's reading is from 2 Samuel 17 00:00:09.779 --> 00:00:15.980 -19. Chapter 17 Moreover Ahitophel said to Absalom, 00:00:16.179 --> 00:00:18.640 Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:21.160 will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:23.519 upon him while he is weary and weak, and make 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:25.679 him afraid, and all the people who are with him 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:28.239 will flee, and I will strike only the king. Then 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:30.420 I will bring back all the people to you. When 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:32.820 all return except the man whom you seek, all 00:00:32.820 --> 00:00:35.100 the people will be at peace. And the saying pleased 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:37.939 Absalom and all the elders of Israel. Then Absalom 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:40.460 said, Now call Hushai the archite also, and let 00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:42.979 us hear what he says too. And when Hushai came 00:00:42.979 --> 00:00:45.859 to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahitophel 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:47.979 has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he 00:00:47.979 --> 00:00:51.320 says? If not, speak up. So Hushai said to Absalom, 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:53.719 The advice that Ahitophel has given is not good 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:56.780 at this time. For, said Hushai, you know your 00:00:56.780 --> 00:00:59.149 father and his men. that they are mighty men, 00:00:59.270 --> 00:01:01.770 and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear 00:01:01.770 --> 00:01:03.909 robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father 00:01:03.909 --> 00:01:06.370 is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. 00:01:06.670 --> 00:01:09.269 Surely by now he is hidden in some pit or in 00:01:09.269 --> 00:01:11.489 some other place. And it will be when some of 00:01:11.489 --> 00:01:13.670 them are overthrown at the first, that whoever 00:01:13.670 --> 00:01:16.109 hears it will say, There is a slaughter among 00:01:16.109 --> 00:01:18.650 the people who follow Absalom. And even he who 00:01:18.650 --> 00:01:20.650 is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of 00:01:20.650 --> 00:01:23.189 a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel 00:01:23.189 --> 00:01:25.450 knows that your father is a mighty man, and those 00:01:25.450 --> 00:01:27.980 who are with him are valiant men. Therefore I 00:01:27.980 --> 00:01:30.159 advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:32.799 from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:34.900 by the sea for multitude, and that you go to 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:37.560 battle in person. So we will come upon him in 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:39.739 some place where he may be found, and we will 00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:42.540 fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And 00:01:42.540 --> 00:01:44.760 of him and all the men who are with him, there 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:47.760 shall not be left so much as one. Moreover, if 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:50.019 he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:52.319 shall bring ropes to that city, and we will pull 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:54.579 it into the river, until there is not one small 00:01:54.579 --> 00:01:57.079 stone found there. So Absalom and all the men 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:59.400 of Israel said, The advice of Hushai the archite 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:01.879 is better than the advice of Ahitophel, for the 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:03.780 Lord has purposed to defeat the good advice of 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:05.900 Ahitophel to the intent that the Lord might bring 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:08.520 disaster on Absalom. Then Hushai said to Zadok 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:11.319 and Abiathar the priests, Thus and so Ahitophel 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:13.659 advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:16.530 thus and so I have advised. Now therefore send 00:02:16.530 --> 00:02:18.830 quickly and tell David, saying, Do not spend 00:02:18.830 --> 00:02:21.210 this night in the plains of the wilderness, but 00:02:21.210 --> 00:02:23.590 speedily cross over, lest the king and all the 00:02:23.590 --> 00:02:26.009 people who are with him be swallowed up. Now 00:02:26.009 --> 00:02:28.810 Jonathan and Ahimez stayed at Enrogel, for they 00:02:28.810 --> 00:02:31.490 dared not be seen coming into the city. So a 00:02:31.490 --> 00:02:33.550 female servant would come and tell them, and 00:02:33.550 --> 00:02:35.530 they would go and tell King David. Nevertheless, 00:02:35.909 --> 00:02:38.930 Elad saw them and told Absalom, But both of them 00:02:38.930 --> 00:02:41.430 went away quickly and came to a man's house in 00:02:41.430 --> 00:02:43.930 Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they 00:02:43.930 --> 00:02:46.129 went down into it. Then the woman took and spread 00:02:46.129 --> 00:02:48.389 a covering over the well's mouth and spread ground 00:02:48.389 --> 00:02:50.889 grain on it, and the thing was not known. And 00:02:50.889 --> 00:02:53.110 when Absalom's servants came to the woman at 00:02:53.110 --> 00:02:55.610 the house, they said, Where are Ahimez and Jonathan? 00:02:56.030 --> 00:02:57.930 So the woman said to them, They have gone over 00:02:57.930 --> 00:03:00.310 the water brook. And when they had searched and 00:03:00.310 --> 00:03:02.050 could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 00:03:02.310 --> 00:03:04.310 Now it came to pass, after they had departed, 00:03:04.530 --> 00:03:06.750 that they came up out of the well and went and 00:03:06.750 --> 00:03:09.189 told King David, and said to David, Arise and 00:03:09.189 --> 00:03:12.129 cross over the water quickly, for thus has Ahitophel 00:03:12.129 --> 00:03:14.590 advised against you. So David and all the people 00:03:14.590 --> 00:03:16.590 who were with him arose and crossed over the 00:03:16.590 --> 00:03:19.069 Jordan. By morning light, not one of them was 00:03:19.069 --> 00:03:21.879 left who had not gone over the Jordan. Now when 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:24.039 Ahitophel saw that his advice was not followed, 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:26.879 he saddled a donkey and arose and went home to 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:29.460 his house, to his city. Then he put his household 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:32.280 in order and hanged himself and died, and he 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:34.460 was buried in his father's tomb. Then David went 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:36.699 to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed over the Jordan, 00:03:36.860 --> 00:03:39.539 he and all the men of Israel with him. And Absalom 00:03:39.539 --> 00:03:42.379 made Amasa, captain of the army, instead of Joab. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:45.020 This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was 00:03:45.020 --> 00:03:47.699 Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone into Abigail 00:03:47.699 --> 00:03:50.479 the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:53.060 mother. So Israel and Absalom encamped in the 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:55.620 land of Gilead. Now it happened when David had 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:58.500 come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:00.939 from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Makir the 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:04.479 son of Amiel from Lodibar, and Barzileh the Gileadite 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.580 from Rogilim brought beds and basins, earthen 00:04:07.580 --> 00:04:10.659 vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:13.860 grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey 00:04:13.860 --> 00:04:16.480 and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:18.420 David and the people who were with him to eat. 00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:20.839 For they said, The people are hungry and weary 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:25.160 and thirsty in the wilderness. Chapter 18 And 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:27.120 David numbered the people who were with him and 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:29.180 set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:31.779 over them. Then David sent out one -third of 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:34.120 the people under the hand of Joab, one -third 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:36.279 under the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:38.839 Joab's brother, and one -third under the hand 00:04:38.839 --> 00:04:40.939 of Etai the Gittite. And the king said to the 00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:43.500 people, I also will surely go out with you myself. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:46.060 But the people answered, You shall not go out, 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:48.420 for if we flee away, they will not care about 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:50.800 us, nor if half of us die will they care about 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:53.339 us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now, 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:55.680 for you are now more help to us in the city. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:04:58.100 Then the king said to them, Whatever seems best 00:04:58.100 --> 00:05:00.339 to you, I will do. So the king stood beside the 00:05:00.339 --> 00:05:02.259 gate, and all the people went out by hundreds 00:05:02.259 --> 00:05:04.740 and by thousands. Now the king had commanded 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:08.100 Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Deal gently 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:10.600 for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:12.740 the people heard when the king gave all the captains 00:05:12.740 --> 00:05:15.180 orders concerning Absalom. So the people went 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:17.060 out into the field of battle against Israel, 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:19.279 and the battle was in the woods of Ephraim. The 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:21.339 people of Israel were overthrown there before 00:05:21.339 --> 00:05:23.079 the servants of David, and a great slaughter 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:25.259 of twenty thousand took place there that day. 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:27.699 For the battle there was scattered over the face 00:05:27.699 --> 00:05:30.079 of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:32.439 more people that day than the sword devoured. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:35.259 Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:37.660 rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick 00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:40.379 boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:42.279 caught in the terebinth. So he was left hanging 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:44.560 between heaven and earth. And the mule which 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:47.399 was under him went on. Now a certain man saw 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:49.939 it and told Joab and said, I just saw Absalom 00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:52.699 hanging in a terebinth tree. So Joab said to 00:05:52.699 --> 00:05:55.040 the man who told him, You just saw him, and why 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:57.259 did you not strike him there to the ground? I 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:59.339 would have given you ten shekels of silver and 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:01.800 a belt. But the man said to Joab, Though I were 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.939 to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:06.319 hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.660 son. For in our hearing the king commanded you, 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.620 and Abishai and Ittai saying, Beware lest anyone 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:14.199 touch a young man, Absalom. Otherwise I would 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.959 have dealt falsely against my own life. For there 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:18.939 is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:21.550 would have set yourself against me. Then Joab 00:06:21.550 --> 00:06:23.829 said, I cannot linger with you. And he took three 00:06:23.829 --> 00:06:26.610 spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's 00:06:26.610 --> 00:06:28.750 heart while he was still alive in the midst of 00:06:28.750 --> 00:06:31.129 the turban's tree. And ten young men who bore 00:06:31.129 --> 00:06:33.910 Joab's armor surrounded Absalom and struck and 00:06:33.910 --> 00:06:36.449 killed him. So Joab blew the trumpet and the 00:06:36.449 --> 00:06:38.970 people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab 00:06:38.970 --> 00:06:41.209 held back the people. And they took Absalom and 00:06:41.209 --> 00:06:43.730 cast him into a large pit in the woods and laid 00:06:43.730 --> 00:06:46.089 a very large heap of stones over him. Then all 00:06:46.089 --> 00:06:48.959 Israel fled, everyone to his tent. Now Absalom 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:51.220 in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar 00:06:51.220 --> 00:06:53.680 for himself, which is in the king's valley. For 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:56.220 he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance. 00:06:56.540 --> 00:06:59.180 He called the pillar after his own name, and 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:01.579 to this day it is called Absalom's monument. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:04.939 Then Ahimez the son of Zadok said, Let me run 00:07:04.939 --> 00:07:07.279 now and take the news to the king, how the Lord 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:09.699 has avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said 00:07:09.699 --> 00:07:11.600 to him, You shall not take the news this day, 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:13.800 for you shall take the news another day. But 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:16.160 today you shall take no news, because the king's 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:19.339 son is dead. Then Joab said to the Cushite, Go 00:07:19.339 --> 00:07:21.779 tell the king what you have seen. So the Cushite 00:07:21.779 --> 00:07:24.639 bowed himself to Joab and ran. And Ahimez the 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:26.860 son of Zadok said again to Joab, But whatever 00:07:26.860 --> 00:07:29.620 happens, please let me also run after the Cushite. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:32.660 So Joab said, Why will you run, my son, since 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:34.720 you have no news ready? But whatever happens, 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:37.420 he said, Let me run. So he said to him, Run. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.160 Then Ahimez ran by way of the plain and outran 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:42.279 the Cushite. Now David was sitting between the 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:45.040 two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:47.480 over the gate to the wall, lifted his eyes and 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:49.860 looked, and there was a man running alone. Then 00:07:49.860 --> 00:07:51.699 the watchman cried out and told the king, and 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:53.819 the king said, If he is alone, there is news 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:56.360 in his mouth. And he came rapidly and drew near. 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:59.000 Then the watchman saw another man running, and 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:00.620 the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.279 There is another man running alone. And the king 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:06.079 said, He also brings news. So the watchman said, 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:08.319 I think the running of the first is like the 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.689 running of Ahimaz the son of Zadok. And the king 00:08:10.689 --> 00:08:13.170 said, He is a good man and comes with good news. 00:08:13.350 --> 00:08:16.009 So Ahimez called out and said to the king, All 00:08:16.009 --> 00:08:18.250 is well. Then he bowed down with his face to 00:08:18.250 --> 00:08:20.750 the earth before the king and said, Blessed be 00:08:20.750 --> 00:08:23.089 the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men 00:08:23.089 --> 00:08:25.069 who raised their hand against my lord the king. 00:08:25.329 --> 00:08:27.810 The king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? 00:08:28.110 --> 00:08:30.649 Ahimez answered, When Joab sent the king's servant 00:08:30.649 --> 00:08:33.669 and me, your servant, I saw a great tumult, but 00:08:33.669 --> 00:08:36.169 I did not know what it was about. And the king 00:08:36.169 --> 00:08:38.669 said, Turn aside and stand here. So he turned 00:08:38.669 --> 00:08:41.210 aside and stood still. Just then the Kushite 00:08:41.210 --> 00:08:43.690 came, and the Kushite said, There is good news, 00:08:43.850 --> 00:08:46.149 my lord the king, for the Lord has avenged you 00:08:46.149 --> 00:08:48.850 this day of all those who rose against you. And 00:08:48.850 --> 00:08:50.809 the king said to the Kushite, Is the young man 00:08:50.809 --> 00:08:53.669 Absalom safe? So the Kushite answered, May the 00:08:53.669 --> 00:08:55.990 enemies of my lord the king and all who rise 00:08:55.990 --> 00:08:58.769 against you to do harm be like that young man. 00:08:59.070 --> 00:09:01.389 Then the king was deeply moved and went up to 00:09:01.389 --> 00:09:03.669 the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he 00:09:03.669 --> 00:09:07.049 went, he said thus, O my son Absalom, my son, 00:09:07.110 --> 00:09:10.289 my son Absalom. If only I had died in your place. 00:09:10.450 --> 00:09:15.309 O Absalom, my son, my son. Chapter 19 And Joab 00:09:15.309 --> 00:09:17.710 was told, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning 00:09:17.710 --> 00:09:20.330 for Absalom. So the victory that day was turned 00:09:20.330 --> 00:09:22.389 into mourning for all the people. For the people 00:09:22.389 --> 00:09:25.250 heard it said, That day the king is grieved for 00:09:25.250 --> 00:09:27.590 his son. And the people stole back into the city 00:09:27.590 --> 00:09:30.389 that day, as people who are ashamed steal away 00:09:30.389 --> 00:09:32.850 when they flee in battle. But the king covered 00:09:32.850 --> 00:09:35.029 his face, and the king cried out with a loud 00:09:35.029 --> 00:09:38.679 voice, O my son Absalom. O Absalom, my son, my 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:41.299 son. Then Joab came into the house to the king 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:44.080 and said, Today you have disgraced all your servants 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:46.639 who today have saved your life, the lives of 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.879 your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:51.299 and the lives of your concubines, in that you 00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:53.759 love your enemies and hate your friends. For 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:55.740 you have declared today that you regard neither 00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:58.480 princes nor servants. For today I perceive that 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:00.899 if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:03.460 then it would have pleased you well. Now therefore 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:05.940 arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:08.440 For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:11.159 not one will stay with you this night. And that 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:13.539 will be worse for you than all the evil that 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:16.679 has befallen you from your youth until now. Then 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:18.779 the king arose and sat in the gate. And they 00:10:18.779 --> 00:10:21.100 told all the people, saying, There is the king 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:23.539 sitting in the gate. So all the people came before 00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:25.899 the king. For everyone of Israel had fled to 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:28.309 his tent. Now all the people were in a dispute 00:10:28.309 --> 00:10:30.190 throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, 00:10:30.330 --> 00:10:32.370 The king saved us from the hand of our enemies. 00:10:32.549 --> 00:10:35.149 He delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, 00:10:35.169 --> 00:10:37.549 and now he has fled from the land because of 00:10:37.549 --> 00:10:40.590 Absalom. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, 00:10:40.690 --> 00:10:43.629 has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you 00:10:43.629 --> 00:10:46.009 say nothing about bringing back the king? So 00:10:46.009 --> 00:10:48.549 King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, 00:10:48.669 --> 00:10:50.830 saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 00:10:51.070 --> 00:10:53.309 Why are you the last to bring the king back to 00:10:53.309 --> 00:10:55.710 his house? Since the words of all Israel have 00:10:55.710 --> 00:10:58.330 come to the king, to his very house. You are 00:10:58.330 --> 00:11:01.149 my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why 00:11:01.149 --> 00:11:03.429 then are you the last to bring back the king? 00:11:03.690 --> 00:11:06.570 And say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my 00:11:06.570 --> 00:11:09.649 flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you 00:11:09.649 --> 00:11:12.330 are not commander of the army before me continually 00:11:12.330 --> 00:11:15.250 in place of Joab. So he swayed the hearts of 00:11:15.250 --> 00:11:17.730 all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one 00:11:17.730 --> 00:11:20.470 man. So they sent this word to the king, Return 00:11:20.470 --> 00:11:22.870 you and all your servants. Then the king returned 00:11:22.870 --> 00:11:25.379 and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:27.720 to go meet the king, to escort the king across 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:30.799 the Jordan. And Shimei the son of Gerah, a Benjamite, 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:33.379 who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:35.539 the men of Judah to meet King David. There were 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:37.919 a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:40.399 the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.879 sons, and his twenty servants with him, and they 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:45.399 went over the Jordan before the king. Then a 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:47.639 ferry boat went across to carry over the king's 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:50.580 household, and to do what he thought good. Now 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:52.740 Shimei, the son of Gerah, fell down before the 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:55.000 king when he had crossed the Jordan. Then he 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:57.559 said to the king, Do not let my lord impute iniquity 00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:59.759 to me, or remember what wrong your servant did 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:02.179 on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.659 that the king should take it to heart. For I, 00:12:04.700 --> 00:12:07.080 your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:09.580 here I am, the first to come today of all the 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:11.840 house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:14.539 king. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:17.019 and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for 00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:19.299 this? Because he cursed the Lord's anointed. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.980 And David said, What have I to do with you, you 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:24.279 sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:26.659 to me today? Shall any man be put to death today 00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:29.740 in Israel? For do I not know that today I am 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:32.179 king over Israel? Therefore the king said to 00:12:32.179 --> 00:12:34.419 Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore 00:12:34.419 --> 00:12:36.879 to him. Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:39.440 down to meet the king, and he had not cared for 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:41.720 his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:44.220 his clothes. From the day the king departed until 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:46.679 the day he returned in peace. So it was when 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:48.879 he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.820 the king said to him, Why did you not go with 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:53.360 me, Mephibosheth? And he answered, My lord, O 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.860 king, my servant deceived me. For your servant 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:58.679 said, I will saddle a donkey for myself, that 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:01.279 I may ride on it and go to the king. But your 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:03.639 servant is lame, and he has slandered your servant 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:05.919 to my lord the king. But my lord the king is 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:08.299 like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:10.620 in your eyes. For all my father's house were 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:13.299 but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:15.360 set your servant among those who eat at your 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:17.559 own table. Therefore what right have I still 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:20.100 to cry out any more to the king? So the king 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:22.440 said to him, Why do you speak any more of your 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:25.240 matters? I have said, You and Ziba divide the 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:27.899 land. Then Mephibosheth said to the king, Rather 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:30.360 let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:32.840 king has come back in peace to his own house. 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:36.100 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogielim, 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:38.700 and went across to Jordan with the king to escort 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:41.360 him across to Jordan. Now Barzillai was a very 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:44.440 aged man, 80 years old, and he had provided the 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:46.779 king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.179 for he was a very rich man. And the king said 00:13:49.179 --> 00:13:51.399 to Barzillai, Come across with me, and I will 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:53.559 provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:56.080 But Barzillai said to the king, How long have 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:58.639 I to live that I should go up with the king to 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:02.019 Jerusalem? I am today 80 years old. Can I discern 00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:04.620 between the good and bad? Can your servant taste 00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:07.759 what I eat and what I drink? Can I hear any longer 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:10.820 the voice of singing men and singing women? Why 00:14:10.820 --> 00:14:12.740 then should your servant be a further burden 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:15.259 to my lord the king? Your servant will go a little 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:17.740 way across the Jordan with the king, and why 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:20.000 should the king repay me with such a reward? 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:22.559 Please let your servant turn back again, that 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:25.159 I may die in my own city, near the grave of my 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:27.639 father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. 00:14:27.929 --> 00:14:30.149 Let him cross over with my lord the king, and 00:14:30.149 --> 00:14:32.269 do for him what seems good to you. And the king 00:14:32.269 --> 00:14:35.090 answered, Kimham shall cross over with me, and 00:14:35.090 --> 00:14:37.649 I will do for him what seems good to you. Now 00:14:37.649 --> 00:14:39.870 whatever you request of me, I will do for you. 00:14:40.070 --> 00:14:42.230 Then all the people went over the Jordan, and 00:14:42.230 --> 00:14:44.409 when the king had crossed over, the king kissed 00:14:44.409 --> 00:14:46.830 Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to 00:14:46.830 --> 00:14:49.470 his own place. Now the king went on to Gilgal, 00:14:49.590 --> 00:14:52.090 and Kimham went on with him. And all the people 00:14:52.090 --> 00:14:54.389 of Judah escorted the king, and also half the 00:14:54.389 --> 00:14:56.960 people of Israel. Just then all the men of Israel 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.299 came to the king and said to the king, Why have 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:01.440 our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:04.100 and brought the king, his household, and all 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:06.759 David's men with him across the Jordan? So all 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:08.279 the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:10.919 Because the king is a close relative of ours, 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:13.659 why then are you angry over this matter? Have 00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:16.639 we ever eaten at the king's expense, or has he 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.399 given us any gift? And the men of Israel answered 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:21.659 the men of Judah and said, We have ten shares 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:24.360 in the king. Therefore we also have more right 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.960 to David than you. Why then do you despise us? 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:29.740 Were we not the first to advise bringing back 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:32.860 our king? Yet the words of the men of Judah were 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:35.200 fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:48.139 God bless you and have a great day.