She answered, "I'm a widow; my husband is dead. 6 I had two sons who quarreled in the field, and there was no one to separate them. One killed the other. 7 Then the entire family turned against me. They said, 'Give us the man who killed his brother so that we can kill him because he took his brother's life. We're going to destroy the one who now would be the heir.' In this way they wish to extinguish the one burning coal that is left for me. They will not let my husband's name or descendants remain on the face of the earth."

8 "Go home," the king told the woman. "I will order someone to take care of this matter."

9 The woman from Tekoa said to the king, "Let me be held responsible for the sin, Your Majesty. Let my father's family be held responsible. Your Majesty and your throne are innocent."

10 The king said, "If anyone says anything against you, bring him to me. He'll never harm you again."

11 She said, "Your Majesty, please pray to Yahweh your Elohim in order to keep an avenger from doing more harm by destroying my son."

"I solemnly swear, as Yahweh lives," he said, "not a hair on your son's head will fall to the ground."

12 The woman said, "Please let me say something else to you."

"Speak," he said.

13 "Why have you devised something like this against Elohim's people?" she said. "When you say this, you condemn yourself because you haven't brought back the one you banished! 14 We are all going to die; we are all like water that is poured on the ground and can't be gathered up. But doesn't Elohim forgive a person? He never plans to keep a banished person in exile.

15 "I've come to say this to you because the people have frightened me. So I thought, 'I will speak to the king about this. Maybe the king will do something for me, his subject. 16 Maybe the king will listen and rescue me, his subject, from the man who wants to cut off both me and my son from our Elohim-given inheritance.' 17 I thought that you would reassure me. You are like Elohim's Messenger, who is able to distinguish right from wrong. May Yahweh your Elohim be with you!"

18 The king said to the woman, "Please don't refuse to answer the question I'm going to ask you."

The woman responded, "Please speak, Your Majesty."

19 "Did Joab put you up to this?" the king asked.

The woman answered, "I solemnly swear on your life, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Yes, your servant Joab ordered me to do this. He told me to say exactly what I said. 20 Your servant Joab has done this to portray the matter in a different light. You are as wise as Elohim's Messenger, who knows everything on earth."

21 Then the king told Joab, "This is what you'll do. Bring back the young man Absalom."

22 Joab quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground, and he blessed the king. He said, "Today I know that you have been kind to me because you have done what I wanted."

23 So Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 24 But the king said, "Absalom should return to his own house. He will not see me." So Absalom returned to his house and didn't see the king.

25 Now, no one in all Israel was praised for his good looks as much as Absalom was. He had no blemish from head to toe. 26 At the end of every year, he used to cut his hair because it became heavy for him. When he cut the hair on his head and weighed it, it weighed five pounds according to the royal standard. 27 Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter Tamar was a beautiful woman.

28 Absalom stayed in Jerusalem two full years without seeing the king. 29 So Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but he still refused to come. 30 So Absalom said to his servants, "Look, Joab's field is next to mine. He has barley in it. Go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set it on fire.

Joab's servants came to him in grief and said, "Absalom's servants have set your field on fire."a 31 Then Joab immediately went to Absalom at his home. "Why did your servants set my field on fire?" he asked.

32 Absalom answered Joab, "I sent someone to tell you to come here because I wanted to send you to the king to ask him why I had to come from Geshur. It would be better for me if I were still there. Let me see the king now! If I'm guilty of a sin, he should kill me."

33 Joab went to the king and told him this. The king then called for Absalom, who came to the king and bowed down with his face touching the ground. And the king kissed Absalom.

David Overthrown 15 1 Soon after this, Absalom acquired a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run ahead of him. 2 Absalom used to get up early and stand by the road leading to the city gate. When anyone had a case to be tried by King David, Absalom would ask, "Which city are you from?"

After the person had told him which tribe in Israel he was from, 3 Absalom would say, "Your case is good and proper, but the king hasn't appointed anyone to hear it." 4 He would add, "I wish someone would make me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a case to be tried could come to me, and I would make sure that he got justice." 5 When anyone approached him and bowed down, Absalom would reach out, take hold of him, and kiss him. 6 This is what he did for all Israelites who came to the king to have him try their case. So Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

7 Four years later Absalom said to the king, "Let me go to Hebron and keep the vow I made to Yahweh. 8 I made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram. I said, 'If Yahweh will bring me back to Jerusalem, I will serve Yahweh.'"

9 "Go in peace," the king told him.

So he went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent his loyal supporters to all the tribes of Israel and said, "When you hear the sound of the ram's horn, say, Absalom has become king in Hebron.'"

11 Two hundred men invited from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They went innocently, knowing nothing about Absalom's plans. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, David's adviser, to come from his home in Giloh. Meanwhile, the conspiracy grew stronger, and the number of people siding with Absalom kept getting larger.

13 Someone came to tell David, "The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom."

David Flees Jerusalem 14 David told all his men who were with him in Jerusalem, "Let's flee immediately, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Let's leave right away, or he'll catch up to us and bring disaster on us when he massacres the city."

15 The king's servants told him, "No matter what happens, we are Your Majesty's servants."

16 The king left on foot, and his whole household followed him except ten concubinesa whom the king left behind to take care of the palace. 17 As the king and his troops were leaving the city on foot, they stopped at the last house. 18 All his mercenaries passed by him; all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, Ittai, and all 600 men who had followed him from Gath were marching past the king.

19 The king asked Ittai from Gath, "Why should you go with us? Go back, and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 20 You came to us just yesterday. Should I make you wander around with me when I don't even know where I'm going? Go back, and take your countrymen with you. May the LORD always show you kindness."

21 But Ittai answered the king, "I solemnly swear, as Yahweh and the king live: Wherever you are, whether you're dead or alive, I'll be there."

22 So David told Ittai, "Go ahead and keep marching." So Ittai from Gath marched on with all his men and all the families who were with him.

23 The whole country was crying loudly as all the troops were passing by. The king was crossing the Kidron Valley, and all the people were moving down the road toward the desert. 24 Zadok and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of Elohim's promise. They set down the ark of Elohim beside Abiathar until all the troops had withdrawn from the city.

25 The king told Zadok, "Take Elohim's ark back to the city. If Yahweh looks favorably on me, he will allow me to come back and see both it and itsb dwelling place again. 26 But if he says, 'I'm not pleased with you,' let him do to me what he considers right."

27 "Aren't you a seer?"c the king asked Zadok the priest. "Go back to the city peacefully, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan with you. 28 I'll wait at the river crossings in the desert until I receive a message from you." 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of Elohim back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 David cried as he went up the Mount of Olives. He covered his head and walked barefoot. And all of the troops with him covered their heads and cried as they went.

31 Then David was told, "Ahithophel is among those conspiring with Absalom." So David prayed, "Yahweh , make Ahithophel's advice foolish."

32 When David came to the top of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped Elohim , Hushai from Archi's family was there to meet him. His clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. 33 David told him, "If you go with me, you will only be a burden to me. 34 But if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, 'Your Majesty, I'll be your servant. I was your father's servant in the past, but now I'll be your servant,' then you'll help me by undoing Ahithophel's advice. 35 The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be with you there. When you hear anything from the royal palace, tell it to the priests Zadok and Abiathar. 36 They have two sons with them: Zadok has Ahimaaz, and Abiathar has Jonathan. Send them to report to me anything you hear."

37 So Hushai, David's friend, went to the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

16 1 When David had gone over the top of the Mount of Olives, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, met him with a pair of saddled donkeys. They were loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 pieces of ripened fruit, and a full wineskin.

2 "Why did you bring these?" David asked Ziba.

"The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on," Ziba answered. "The bread and the ripe fruit are for your servants to eat. The wine is for those who become tired and thirsty in the desert."

3 "Where is your master Saul's grandson?" the king asked.

"He's staying in Jerusalem," Ziba answered the king. "He said, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.'"

4 The king told Ziba, "In that case everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you."

"I sincerely thank you," said Ziba. "I hope to remain in your good graces, Your Majesty."

5 When King David came to Bahurim, a man who was a distant cousin of Saul came out cursing. His name was Shimei, son of Gera. 6 He threw stones at David and David's servants, although all the people and all the warriors were shielding David. 7 Shimei cursed and said, "Get out! Get out, you bloodthirsty man! You worthless person! 8 Yahweh is paying you back for all the blood you spilled in the family of Saul, whom you succeeded as king. Yahweh is giving the kingship to your son Absalom. Now you're in trouble because you're a bloodthirsty man."

9 Abishai, Zeruiah's son, asked the king, "Why should this dead dog curse you, Your Majesty? Let me go over there and tear off his head."

10 But the king said, "You don't think like me at all, sons of Zeruiah. Let him curse. If Yahweh has told him, 'Curse David,' should anyone ask, 'Why do you do that?'" 11 David told Abishai and all his servants, "My own son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. Why, then, shouldn't this Benjaminite do this? Leave him alone. Let him curse, since Yahweh has told him to do it. 12 Maybe Yahweh will see my misery and turn his curse into a blessing for me today."

13 As David and his men went along the road, Shimei was walking along the hillside parallel to him. Shimei cursed, hurled stones, and threw dirt at David. 14 The king and all the people with him finally arrived at their destination and rested there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem 15 Meanwhile, Absalom and all Israel's troops came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 When David's friend Hushai from Archi's family came to Absalom, he said, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

17 "Is that how loyal you are to your friend?" Absalom asked Hushai. "Why didn't you go with him?"

18 Hushai answered Absalom, "No, I want to be with the one whom Yahweh , these people, and all Israel have chosen. I will be his friend and stay with him. 19 And besides, whom should I serve? Shouldn't it be his son? As I served your father, so I'll serve you."

20 Then Absalom asked Ahithophel, "What's your advice? What should we do?"

21 Ahithophel told Absalom, "Sleep with your father's concubinesa whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear about how you have made your father despise you. Everyone who is with you will support you even more."

22 So a tent was put up on the roof for Absalom, and he slept with his father's concubines in plain sight of Israel.

23 In those days both David and Absalom thought that Ahithophel's advice was like getting an answer from Elohim .

Absalom Pursues David 17 1 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose 12,000 men and leave tonight to go after David. 2 I'll attack him while he's tired and weak, and I'll cause him to panic. All the people with him will flee, but I'll kill only him. 3 I'll return all the people to you as a bride is returned to her husband. Since you will be seeking the life of only one man,b all the people will have peace." 4 Absalom and all the leaders of Israel approved this plan.

5 Absalom said, "Please call Hushai, who is descended from Archi's family, and let us hear what he, too, has to say."

6 When Hushai arrived, Absalom said to him, "Ahithophel has told us his plan. Should we do what he says? If not, tell us."

7 "This time Ahithophel's advice is no good," Hushai said to Absalom. 8 "You know your father and his men. They are warriors as fierce as a wild bear whose cubs have been stolen. Your father is an experienced soldier. He will not camp with the troops tonight. 9 He has already hidden in one of the ravines or some other place. If some of our soldiers are killed in the initial attack, others will definitely hear about it and say, 'The troops that support Absalom have been defeated.' 10 Even the bravest man with a heart like a lion would lose his courage, because all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and the men with him are brave. 11 So my advice is to gather all Israel's troops from Dan to Beersheba, since they are as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Lead them into battle yourself. 12 Then we'll attack him wherever we find him. We'll fall on him as dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he retreats into a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city and drag it into a valley so that not even a pebble will be found there."

14 Absalom and all the people of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai from Archi's family is better than Ahithophel's advice." (Yahweh had commanded Ahithophel's good advice to be defeated in order to ruin Absalom.) 15 Then Hushai told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, "Ahithophel advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do one thing, but I advised them to do something else. 16 Now send messengers quickly to tell David, 'Don't rest tonight in the river crossings in the desert, but make sure you cross the river, or Your Majesty and all the troops with him will be wiped out.'"

17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They could not risk being seen coming into the city, so a servant girl was to go and tell them, and they were to go and tell King David. 18 But a young man saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So both of them left quickly and came to the home of a man in Bahurim who had a cistern in his courtyard, and they went down into it. 19 The man's wife took a cover, spread it over the top of the cistern, and scattered some graina over it so that no one could tell it was there.

20 Absalom's servants came to the woman at her home. "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" they asked.

The woman said, "They've crossed the stream."

The servants looked for them but did not find them. So Absalom's servants returned to Jerusalem.

21 After Absalom's servants left, both men came out of the cistern and went and told King David. "Leave right away," they told David. "Cross the river quickly because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you. . ."

22 David and all the troops with him left to cross the Jordan River. When the dawn came, everyone had crossed the Jordan River.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice hadn't been followed, he saddled his donkey, left, and went home to his own city. He gave instructions to his family. Then he hanged himself, died, and was buried in his father's tomb.

24 David had already come to Mahanaim by the time Absalom and all the men of Israel with him crossed the Jordan River. 25 Absalom appointed Amasa to take Joab's place as commander of the army. (Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, a descendant of Ishmael.b His mother was Abigail,c the daughter of Nahash and sister of Joab's mother Zeruiah.) 26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the region of Gilead.

27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi, son of Nahash from Rabbah in Ammon, and Machir, son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai from Rogelim in Gilead 28 brought supplies and food for David and his troops: bedding, bowls, pots, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,d 29 honey, buttermilk, sheep, and calves. They brought these things because they thought, "The troops in the desert are hungry, exhausted, and thirsty."

David Defeats Absalom 18 1 David called together the troops that were with him. He appointed commanders in charge of regiments and battalions. 2 David put a third of the troops under Joab's command, another third under Joab's brother Abishai (Zeruiah's son), and the last third under Ittai from Gath.

"I am going into battle with you," the king said to the troops.

3 "You're not going with us," the troops said. "If we flee, they won't care about us, and if half of us die, they won't care either. But you're worth 10,000 of us. It's better for you to be ready to send us help from the city."

4 "I'll do what you think best," the king responded. So the king stood by the gate while all the troops marched out by battalions and regiments.

5 The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake." All the troops heard him give all the commanders this order regarding Absalom.

6 So the troops went out to the country to fight Israel in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There David's men defeated Israel's army, and the massacre was sizable that day-20,000 men. 8 The fighting spread over the whole country. That day the woods devoured more people than the battle.

9 Absalom happened to come face to face with some of David's men. He was riding on a mule, and the mule went under the tangled branches of a large tree. Absalom's head became caught in the tree. So he was left hanginga in midair when the mule that was under him ran away. 10 A man who saw this told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in a tree."

11 "What! You saw that!" Joab said to the man who told him. "Why didn't you strike him to the ground? Then I would have felt obligated to give you four ounces of silver and a belt."

12 But the man told Joab, "Even if I felt the weight of 25 pounds of silver in my hand, I wouldn't raise my hand against the king's son. We heard the order the king gave you, Abishai, and Ittai: 'Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.'b 13 If I had done something treacherous to him, would you have stood by me? Like everything else, it wouldn't stay hidden from the king."

14 Then Joab said, "I shouldn't waste time with you like this." He took three sharp sticks and plunged them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the tree. 15 Then ten of Joab's armorbearers surrounded Absalom, attacked him, and killed him.

16 Joab blew the ram's horn to stop their fighting, and the troops returned from pursuing Israel. 17 They took Absalom, threw him into a huge pit in the forest, and piled a large heap of stones over him. Meanwhile, all Israel fled and went back to their homes.

18 (While he was still living, Absalom had taken a rock and set it up for himself in the king's valley. He said, "I have no son to keep the memory of my name alive." He called the rock by his name, and it is still called Absalom's Monument today.) 19 Then Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, said, "Let me run and bring the king the good news that Yahweh has freed him from his enemies."

20 But Joab told him, "You won't be the man carrying good news today. You can carry the news some other day. You must not deliver the news today because the king's son is dead." 21 Then Joab said to a man from Sudan, "Go, tell the king what you saw." The messenger bowed down with his face touching the ground in front of Joab and then ran off.

22 Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, spoke to Joab again, "Whatever may happen, I also want to run after the Sudanese messenger."

"Now, son, why should you deliver the message?" Joab asked. "You won't be rewarded for this news."

23 "Whatever happens, I'd like to run," replied Ahimaaz.

"Run," Joab told him. So Ahimaaz ran along the valley road and got ahead of the Sudanese messenger.

24 David was sitting between the two gates while the watchman walked along the roof of the gate by the wall. As he looked, he saw a man running alone. 25 The watchman called and alerted the king.

"If he's alone," the king said, "he has good news to tell." The runner continued to come closer.

26 When the watchman saw another man running, the watchman called, "There's another man running alone."

The king said, "This one is also bringing good news."

27 The watchman said, "It seems to me that the first one runs like Ahimaaz, Zadok's son."

"He's a good man," the king said. "He must be coming with good news."

28 Then Ahimaaz came up to the king, greeted him, and bowed down in front of him. Ahimaaz said, "May Yahweh your Elohim be praised. He has handed over the men who rebelled against Your Majesty."

29 "Is the young man Absalom alright?" the king asked.

Ahimaaz answered, "I saw a lot of confusion when Joab sent me away, but I didn't know what it meant."