favor to save this her son from her kindred； who were very
zealous to have him that had slain his brother put to death； that
so she might not be further deprived of the hopes she had of
being taken care of in her old age by him； and that if he would
hinder this slaughter of her son by those that wished for it； he
would do her a great favor； because the kindred would not be
restrained from their purpose by any thing else than by the fear
of him。 And when the king had given his consent to what the woman
had begged of him； she made this reply to him： … 〃I owe thee
thanks for thy benignity to me in pitying my old age； and
preventing the loss of my only remaining child； but in order to
assure me of this thy kindness； be first reconciled to thine own
son； and cease to be angry with him； for how shall I persuade
myself that thou hast really bestowed this favor upon me； while
thou thyself continuest after the like manner in thy wrath to
thine own son？ for it is a foolish thing to add willfully another
to thy dead son； while the death of the other was brought about
without thy consent。〃 And now the king perceived that this
pretended story was a subornation derived from Joab； and was of
his contrivance； and when； upon inquiry of the old woman； he
understood it to be so in reality； he called for Joab； and told
him he had obtained what he requested according to his own mind；
and he bid him bring Absalom back； for he was not now displeased；
but had already ceased to be angry with him。 So Joab bowed
himself down to the king； and took his words kindly； and went
immediately to Geshur； and took Absalom with him； and came to
Jerusalem。
5。 However； the king sent a message to his son beforehand； as he
was coming； and commanded him to retire to his own house； for he
was not yet in such a disposition as to think fit at present to
see him。 Accordingly； upon the father's command； he avoided
coming into his presence； and contented himself with the respects
paid him by his own family only。 Now his beauty was not impaired；
either by the grief he had been under； or by the want of such
care as was proper to be taken of a king's son； for he still
surpassed and excelled all men in the tallness of his body； and
was more eminent ＇in a fine appearance＇ than those that dieted
the most luxuriously； and indeed such was the thickness of the
hair of his head； that it was with difficulty that he was polled
every eighth day； and his hair weighed two hundred shekels （15）
which are five pounds。 However； he dwelt in Jerusalem two years；
and became the father of three sons； and one daughter； which
daughter was of very great beauty； and which Rehoboam； the son of
Solomon； took to wife afterward； and had by her a son named
Abijah。 But Absalom sent to Joab； and desired him to pacify his
father entirely towards him； and to beseech him to give him leave
to come to him to see him； and speak with him。 But when Joab
neglected so to do； he sent some of his own servants； and set
fire to the field adjoining to him； which； when Joab understood；
he came to Absalom； and accused him of what he had done； and
asked him the reason why he did so。 To which Absalom replied；
that 〃I have found out this stratagem that might bring thee to
us； while thou hast taken no care to perform the injunction I
laid upon thee； which was this； to reconcile my father to me； and
I really beg it of thee； now thou art here； to pacify my father
as to me； since I esteem my coming hither to be more grievous
than my banishment； while my father's wrath against me
continues。〃 Hereby Joab was persuaded； and pitied the distress
that Absalom was in； and became an intercessor with the king for
him。 And when he had discoursed with his father； he soon brought
him to that amicable disposition towards Absalom； that he
presently sent for him to come to him； and when he had cast
himself down upon the ground； and had begged for the forgiveness
of his offenses； the king raised him up； and promised him to
forget what he had formerly done。
CHAPTER 9。
Concerning The Insurrection Of Absalom Against David And
Concerning Ahithophel And Hushai； And Concerning Ziba And Shimei；
And How Ahithophel Hanged Himself。
1。 Now Absalom； upon this his success with the king； procured to
himself a great many horses； and many chariots； and that in a
little time also。 He had moreover fifty armor…bearers that were
about him； and he came early every day to the king's palace； and
spake what was agreeable to such as came for justice and lost
their causes； as if that happened for want of good counselors
about the king； or perhaps because the judges mistook in that
unjust sentence they gave； whereby he gained the good…will of
them all。 He told them； that had he but such authority committed
to him； he would distribute justice to them in a most equitable
manner。 When he had made himself so popular among the multitude；
he thought he had already the good…will of the people secured to
him； but when four years （16） had passed since his father's
reconciliation to him； he came to him； and besought him to give
him leave to go to Hebron； and pay a sacrifice to God； because he
vowed it to him when he fled out of the country。 So when David
had granted his request； he went thither； and great multitudes
came running together to him； for he had sent to a great number
so to do。
2。 Among them came Ahithophel the Gilonite； a counsellor of
David's； and two hundred men out of Jerusalem itself； who knew
not his intentions； but were sent for as to a sacrifice。 So he
was appointed king by all of them； which he obtained by this
stratagem。 As soon as this news was brought to David； and he was
informed of what he did not expect from his son； he was
aftrighted at this his impious and bold undertaking； and wondered
that he was so far from remembering how his offense had been so
lately forgiven him； that he undertook much worse and more wicked
enterprises； first； to deprive him of that kingdom which was
given him of God； and secondly； to take away his own father's
life。 He therefore resolved to fly to the parts beyond Jordan： so
he called his most intimate friends together； and communicated to
them all that he had heard of his son's madness。 He committed
himself to God； to judge between them about all their actions；
and left the care of his royal palace to his ten concubines； and
went away from Jerusalem； being willingly accompanied by the rest
of the multitude； who went hastily away with him； and
particularly by those six hundred armed men； who had been with
him from his first flight in the days of Saul。 But he persuaded
Abiathar and Zadok； the high priests； who had determined to go
away with him； as also all the Levites； who were with the ark； to
stay behind； as hoping that God would deliver him without its
removal； but he charged them to let him know privately how all
things went on； and he had their sons； Ahimmaz the son of Zadok；
and Jonathan the son of Abiathar； for faithful ministers in all
things； but Ittai the Gitrite went out with him whether David
would let him or not； for he would 。have persuaded him to stay；
and on that account he appeared the more friendly to him。 But as
he was ascending the Mount of Olives barefooted； and all his
company were in tears； it was told him that Ahithophel was with
Absalom； and was of his side。 This hearing augmented his grief；
and he besought God earnestly to alienate the mind of Absalom
from Ahithophel； for he was afraid that he should persuade him to
follow his pernicious counsel； for he was a prudent man； and very
sharp in seeing what was advantageous。 When David was gotten upon
the top of the mountain； he took a view of the city； and prayed
to God with abundance of tears； as having already lost his
kingdom； and here it was that a faithful friend of his； whose
name was Hushai； met him。 When David saw him with his clothes
rent； and having ashes all over his head； and in lamentation for
the great change of affairs； he comforted him； and exhorted him
to leave off grieving； nay； at length he besought him to go back
to Absalom； and appear as one of his party； and to fish out the
secretest counsels of his mind； and to contradict the counsels of
Ahithophel； for that he could not do him so much good by being
with him as he might by being with Absalom。 So he was prevailed
on by David； and left him； and came to Jerusalem； whither Absalom
himself came also a little while afterward。
3。 When David was gone a little farther； there met him Ziba； the
servant of Mephibosheth； （whom he had sent to take care of the
possessions which had been given him； as the son of Jonathan； the
son of Saul；） with a couple of asses； loaden with provisions； and
desired him to take as much of them as he and his followers stood
in need of。 And when the king asked him where he had left
Mephibosheth； he said he had left him in Jerusalem； expecting to
be chosen king in the present confusions； in remembrance of the
benefits Saul had conferred upon them。 At this the king had great
indignation； and gave to Ziba all that he had formerly bestowed
on Mephibosheth； for he determined that it was much fitter that
he should have them than the other； at which Ziba greatly
rejoiced。
4。 When David was at Bahurim； a place so called； there came out a
kinsman of Saul's； whose name was Shimei； and threw stones at
him； and gave him reproachful words； and as his friends stood
about the king and protected him； he persevered still more in his
reproaches； and called him a bloody man； and the author of all
sorts of mischief。 He bade him also go out of the land as ；an
impure and accursed wretch； and he thanked God for depriving him
of his kingdom； and causing him to be punished for what injuries
he had done to his master ＇Saul＇； and this by the means of his
own son。 Now when they were all provoked against him； and angry
at bin；； and particularly Abishai； who had a mind to kill Shimei；
David restrained his anger。 〃Let us not；〃 said he； 〃bring upon
ourselves another fresh misfortune to those we have already； for
truly I have not the least regard nor concern for this dog that
raves at me： I submit myself to God； by whose permission this man
treat