September 9, 2019

2 SAMUEL 14:27-15:10

14:27 And to Absalom were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.
14:28 And Absalom dwelt in Jerusalem for two full years and did not see the king’s face.
14:29 Then Absalom sent for Joab so that he might send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And he sent for him yet a second time, but he would not come.
14:30 Then he said to his servants, See, Joab’s portion of land is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire. So Absalom’s servants set the portion of land on fire.
14:31 And Joab rose up and came to Absalom at his house; and he said to him, Why did your servants set my portion of land on fire?
14:32 And Absalom said to Joab, I sent for you, saying, Come now that I may send you to the king to say, Why have I come from Geshur? It would have been better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there is any iniquity in me, let him put me to death.
14:33 So Joab went to the king and spoke to him, and he called for Absalom. And he came to the king and bowed himself with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

15:1 And after this Absalom prepared for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men to run before him.
15:2 And Absalom would rise up early and stand beside the way into the gate; and when any man who had a cause that should have come to the king for judgment came, Absalom would call to him and say, What city are you from? And he would say, Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.
15:3 Then Absalom would say to him, See, your matters are good and right, but there is no one appointed by the king to hear you.
15:4 And Absalom would say, Oh that I were made a judge in the land, that every man who had a cause or a matter to be judged would come to me, and I would do him justice!
15:5 And so when any man came near to pay him homage, he would put forth his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
15:6 And Absalom acted in this way to all the Israelites who came to the king for judgment. And Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
15:7 And at the end of forty years Absalom said to the king, Let me go now and repay my vow, which I vowed to Jehovah in Hebron.
15:8 For your servant vowed a vow while I was dwelling in Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, I will worship Jehovah.
15:9 And the king said to him, Go in peace. So he rose up and went to Hebron.
15:10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.