Page images
PDF
EPUB

1....

[blocks in formation]

IN all Ifrael there was none to be fo-muth

praifed as Abfalom, the fon of David, for his beauty: from the fole of his foot, even to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him. Now Abfalom prepared him chariots, and horfes, and fifty men to run before him. And Abfalom rofe up early, and ftood befide the way of the gate and it was fo, that when any man who had a controverfy came to the king for judgment, then Abfalom called unto him, and faid, Of what city art thou ?

2....And he said, Thy fervant is of one of the tribes of Ifrael. And Abfalom faid unto him, See thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Abfalom faid, moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any fuit or caule might come unto me, and I would do him juftice.

3....And it was fo, that when any man came nigh unto him, to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kiffed him. And in this manner did Abfalom to all Ifrael, who came to the king for judgment: So Abfalom ftole the hearts of the men of Ifrael.*

*The fame arts and intrigues which were here ufed by Abfalom, have been acted over in the world a thoufand times. In a popular government, an ariful man, whofe reftlefs ambition, or avarice, prompts him to Jcramble for the loaves and fishes of office, is careful

4....And it came to pass, after a time, that Abfalom faid unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron. For thy fervant vowed a vow, while I abode in Gefhur in Syria, faying, If the Lord fhall bring me again indeed to Jerufalem, then I will ferve the Lord. And the king faid unto him, Goin peace. So he arofe and went unto Hebron,

5. But Abfalom fent fpies throughout all the tribes of Ifrael, faying, As foon as ye hear the trumpet, then ye fhall fay, Abfalom reigneth in Hebron.

And the confpiracy was ftrong; for the people increafed continually with Abfalom. And there came a me ffenger to David, faying, the hearts of the men of Ifrael are after Abfalom.

6...And David faid unto all his fervants who were with him at Jerufalem, Arife, let us flee; for we fhall not elfe efcape from Abfalom: make fpeed to depart, left he overtake us fuddenly, and bring evil upon us, and fmite the city with the edge of the fword. And the king's fervants faid unto the king,Behold, thy

to flatter the people; and in the language of a wooing lover, he folemnly profeffes his pure and ardent affection for them, and his devotedness to their interest.

He infinuates that the people's interefts have been neglected that unneceffary burdens have been imposed on them, and that the adininiftration is either unwife or corrupt: and he hints that if he himself were in power, his object would be to lighten their burdens and redress their grievances, This artifice has, in every age, duped the credulous and undifcerning ; whom the crafty demagogue ha never failed to defpife and fpurn, after he has used them fufficiently to accomplish the objects of his own ambition.

fervants are ready to do whatfoever my lord the king fhall appoint.

7....And the king went forth, and all his household and all the people with him. And David went up by the afcent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went bare-foot and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

8....And David numbered the people who were with him, and let captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David fent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abifhai (Foab's brother) and a third part under the hand of Ittai.

9....And the king faid unto the people, I will furely go with you my felt alfo. But the people answered, Thou fhalt not go forth for it we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thoufand of us: Now therefore it is better that thou fuccour us out of the city.

10....And the king faid unto them, what feemeth you best I will do. And the king flood by the gate fide, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thou fands. And the king commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, faying, Deal gently for my fake with the young man, even with Abfalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Abfalom.

1....So the people went out in the field against Ifrael and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; where the people of Ifrael were flain before the fervants of David and there was there a great flaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wcod

devoured more people that day than the fword devour

ed.

12....And Abfalom met the fervants of David; and Abfalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth, and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man faw it, and told Joab, and faid, Behold, I saw Abfalom hanging in an oak. And Joab faid,unto the man,who told him, Why didst thou not fmite him there to the ground, and I would have given thee ten fhekels of filver?

:

13....And the men faid unto Joab, Though I fhould receive a thousand fhekels of filver, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's fon for in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abifhai, and Ittai, faying, Beware that none touch the young man Abfalom. Otherwife, I should have wrought falfhood against mine own life; and then thyfelf wouldeft have fet thyfelf against me.

14....Then laid Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thruft them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midft of the oak. And they took Abfalom, and caft him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of ftones upon him: and all Ifrael fled eve ry man to his tent.

15....Then faid Ahimaaz, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies. And Joab faid unto him, Thou fhalt not bear tidings this day, because the king's fon is dead. Then faid Joab to Cufhi, Go, tell the king what thou haft leen. And Cushi bowed himfelf unto Joab, and

ran.

[ocr errors]

16....Then faid Ahimaaz yet again unto Joab, But, how foever, let me, I pray thee, run after Cufhi. And Joab faid, Wherefore wilt thou run, my fon, feeing that thou haft no tidings ready? But how foever(faid he) let me run? And he faid unto him, Run. Then Ahi maaz run by the way of the plain, and over-run Cushi.

an

17....And David fat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof, and looked, and behold, a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king faid, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And the watchman faw a other man running; and the watchman called unto the porter, and faid, Behold, another man running alone. And the king faid, He alfo bringeth tidings. And the watchman faid, Methinks the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the ion of Zadoc. And the king faid, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

18....And Ahimaaz called, and faid unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and faid, Bleffed be the Lord thy God who hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king laid, Is the young man Abfalom fafe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab fent the king's fervant, and me thy fervant, I faw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. And the king faid unto him, Turn aside, and stand here.

19....And, behold, Cushi came, and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them who rose up against thee. And the king laid unto Cufhi, Is the young man Abfalom fafe? And Cufhi anfwered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rife against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

20....And the king was much moved, and went up

K

« PreviousContinue »