raves at me： I submit myself to God； by whose permission this man
treats me in such a wild manner； nor is it any wonder that I am
obliged to undergo these abuses from him； while I experience the
like from an impious son of my own； but perhaps God will have
some commiseration upon us； if it be his will we shall overcome
them。〃 So he went on his way without troubling himself with
Shimei； who ran along the other side of the mountain； and threw
out his abusive language plentifully。 But when David was come to
Jordan； he allowed those that were with him to refresh
themselves； for they were weary。
5。 But when Absalom； and Ahithophel his counselor； were come to
Jerusalem； with all the people； David's friend； Hushai； came to
them； and when he had worshipped Absalom； he withal wished that
his kingdom might last a long time； and continue for all ages。
But when Absalom said to him； 〃How comes this； that he who was so
intimate a friend of my father's； and appeared faithful to him in
all things； is not with him now； but hath left him； and is come
over to me？〃 Hushai's answer was very pertinent and prudent； for
he said； 〃We ought to follow God and the multitude of the people；
while these； therefore； my lord and master； are with thee； it is
fit that I should follow them； for thou hast received the kingdom
from God。 I will therefore； if thou believest me to be thy
friend； show the same fidelity and kindness to thee； which thou
knowest I have shown to thy father； nor is there any reason to be
in the least dissatisfied with the present state of affairs； for
the kingdom is not transferred into another； but remains still in
the same family； by the son's receiving it after his father。〃
This speech persuaded Absalom； who before suspected Hushai。 And
now he called Ahithophel； and consulted with him what he ought to
do： he persuaded him to go in unto his father's concubines； for
he said that 〃by this action the people would believe that thy
difference with thy father is irreconcilable； and will thence
fight with great alacrity against thy father； for hitherto they
are afraid of taking up open enmity against him； out of an
expectation that you will be reconciled again。〃 Accordingly；
Absalom was prevailed on by this advice； and commanded his
servants to pitch him a tent upon the top of the royal palace； in
the sight of the multitude； and he went in and lay with his
father's concubines。 Now this came to pass according to the
prediction of Nathan； when he prophesied and signified to him
that his son would rise up in rebellion against him。
6。 And when Absalom had done what he was advised to by
Ahithophel； he desired his advice； in the second place； about the
war against his father。 Now Ahithophel only asked him to let him
have ten thousand chosen men； and he promised he would slay his
father； and bring the soldiers back again in safety； and he said
that then the kingdom would be firm to him when David was dead
＇but not otherwise＇。 Absalom was pleased with this advice； and
called for Hushai； David's friend （for so did he style him）； and
informing him of the opinion of Ahithophel； he asked； further；
what was his opinion concerning that matter。 Now he was sensible
that if Ahithophel's counsel were followed； David would be in
danger of being seized on； and slain； so he attempted to
introduce a contrary opinion； and said； Thou art not
unacquainted； O king； with the valor of thy father； and of those
that are now with him； that he hath made many wars； and hath
always come off with victory； though probably he now abides in
the camp； for he is very skiliful in stratagems； and in
foreseeing the deceitful tricks of his enemies； yet will he leave
his own soldiers in the evening； and will either hide himself in
some valley； or will place an ambush at some rock； so that when
our army joins battle with him； his soldiers will retire for a
little while； but will come upon us again； as encouraged by the
king's being near them； and in the mean time your father will
show himself suddenly in the time of the battle； and will infuse
courage into his own people when they are in danger； but bring
consternation to thine。 Consider； therefore； my advice； and
reason upon it； and if thou canst not but acknowledge it to be
the best； reject the opinion of Ahithophel。 Send to the entire
country of the Hebrews； and order them to come and fight with thy
father； and do thou thyself take the army； and be thine own
general in this war； and do not trust its management to another；
then expect to conquer him with ease； when thou overtakest him
openly with his few partisans； but hast thyself many ten
thousands； who will be desirous to demonstrate to thee their
diligence and alacrity。 And if thy father shall shut himself up
in some city； and bear a siege； we will overthrow that city with
machines of war； and by undermining it。〃 When Hushai had said
this； he obtained his point against Ahithophel； for his opinion
was preferred by Absalom before the other's： however； it was no
other than God （17） who made the counsel of Hushai appear best to
the mind of Absalom。
7。 So Hushai made haste to the high priests； Zadok and Abiathar；
and told them the opinion of Ahithophel； and his own； and that
the resolution was taken to follow this latter advice。 He
therefore bade them send to David； and tell him of it； and to
inform him of the counsels that had been taken； and to desire him
further to pass quickly over Jordan； lest his son should change
his mind； and make haste to pursue him； and so prevent him； and
seize upon him before he be in safety。 Now the high priests had
their sons concealed in a proper place out of the city； that they
might carry news to David of what was transacted。 Accordingly；
they sent a maid…servant； whom they could trust； to them； to
carry the news of Absalom's counsels； and ordered them to signify
the same to David with all speed。 So they made no excuse nor
delay； but taking along with them their fathers' injunctions；
because pious and faithful ministers； and judging that quickness
and suddenness was the best mark of faithful service； they made
haste to meet with David。 But certain horsemen saw them when they
were two furlongs from the city； and informed Absalom of them；
who immediately sent some to take them； but when the sons of the
high priest perceived this； they went out of the road； and betook
themselves to a certain village； that village was called Bahurim；
there they desired a certain woman to hide them； and afford them
security。 Accordingly she let the young men down by a rope into a
well； and laid fleeces of wool over them； and when those that
pursued them came to her； and asked her whether she saw them； she
did not deny that she had seen them； for that they staid with her
some time； but she said they then went their ways； and she
foretold that； however； if they would follow them directly； they
would catch them； but when after a long pursuit they could not
catch them； they came back again； and when the woman saw those
men were returned； and that there was no longer any fear of the
young men's being caught by them； she drew them up by the rope；
and bade them go on their journey accordingly； they used great
diligence in the prosecution of that journey； and came to David；
and informed him accurately of all the counsels of Absalom。 So he
commanded those that were with him to pass over Jordan while it
was night； and not to delay at all on that account。
8。 But Ahithophel； on rejection of his advice； got upon his ass；
and rode away to his own country； Gilon； and； calling his family
together； he told them distinctly what advice he had given
Absalom； and since he had not been persuaded by it； he said he
would evidently perish； and this in no long time； and that David
would overcome him； and return to his kingdom again； so he said
it was better that he should take his own life away with freedom
and magnanimity； than expose himself to be punished by David； in
opposition to whom he had acted entirely for Absalom。 When he had
discoursed thus to them； he went into the inmost room of his
house； and hanged himself； and thus was the death of Ahithophel；
who was self…condemned； and when his relations had taken him down
from the halter； they took care of his funeral。 Now； as for
David； he passed over Jordan； as we have said already； and came
to Mahanaim； every fine and very strong city； and all the chief
men of the country received him with great pleasure； both out of
the shame they had that he should be forced to flee away ＇from
Jerusalem＇； and out of the respect they bare him while he was in
his former prosperity。 These were Barzillai the Gileadite； and
Siphar the ruler among the Ammonites； and Machir the principal
man of Gilead； and these furnished him with plentiful provisions
for himself and his followers； insomuch that they wanted no beds
nor blankets for them； nor loaves of bread； nor wine； nay； they
brought them a great many cattle for slaughter； and afforded them
what furniture they wanted for their refreshment when they were
weary； and for food； with plenty of other necessaries。
CHAPTER 10。
How； When Absalom Was Beaten； He Was Caught In A Tree By His Hair
And Was Slain
1。 And this was the state of David and his followers： but Absalom
got together a vast army of the Hebrews to oppose his father； and
passed therewith over the river Jordan； and sat down not far off
Mahanaim； in the country of Gilead。 He appointed Amasa to be
captain of all his host； instead of Joab his kinsman： his father
was Ithra and his mother Abigail： now she and Zeruiah； the mother
of Joab； were David's sisters。 But when David had numbered his
followers； and found them to be about four thousand； he resolved
not to tarry till Absalom attacked him； but set over his men
captains of thousands； and captains of hundreds； and divided his
army into three parts； the one part he committed to Joab； the
next to Abishai； Joab's brother； and the third to Ittai； David's
companion and friend； but one that came from the city Gath； and
when he was desirous of fighting himself among them； his friends
would not let him： and this refusal of theirs was founded upon
very wise reasons：