September 7, 2019

2 SAMUEL 13:32 – 14:11
13:32 Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord think that all the young men, the sons of the king, have been killed, for Amnon alone is dead. For this has been determined by Absalom since the day Amnon forced Tamar his sister.
13:33 Now therefore let my lord the king not take the matter to heart, thinking that all the king’s sons are dead; for only Amnon is dead.
13:34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and there they were, a multitude of people coming from the road behind him at the side of the mountain.
13:35 Then Jonadab said to the king, Here come the king’s sons; as your servant has said, so has it been.
13:36 And when he had finished speaking, there came the king’s sons, and they lifted up their voice and wept. And the king and all his servants also wept exceedingly.
13:37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
13:38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur. And he was there three years.
13:39 And David the king longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.
14:1 And Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was set on Absalom.
14:2 So Joab sent word to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. And he said to her, Pretend to be in mourning, and put on mourning garments, and do not anoint yourself with oil; but be like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time.
14:3 And go to the king and speak with him in this way. And Joab put the words in her mouth.
14:4 And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid him homage and said, Help, O king!
14:5 And the king said to her, What troubles you? And she said, Truly I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
14:6 And your servant had two sons. And the two struggled with each other in the field, and there was no one to part them. So the one struck down the other and killed him.
14:7 And now the whole family has risen up against your servant, and they say, Give over that one who struck down his brother that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he has slain, even if we destroy the heir also. Thus they will quench my coal which is left without leaving to my husband a name or a remainder on the face of the earth.
14:8 Then the king said to the woman, Go to your house, and I will issue a command concerning you.
14:9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, O my lord the king, the iniquity be upon me and upon the house of my father, and the king and his throne be guiltless.
14:10 And the king said, If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more.
14:11 And she said, May the king remember Jehovah your God, so that the avenger of blood may kill no more and they destroy not my son. And he said, As Jehovah lives, not a hair from your son shall fall to the ground.