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brethren； to come and feast with him： but when David excused
himself； as not being willing to be burdensome to him； Absalom
desired he would however send his brethren； whom he did send
accordingly。 Then Absalom charged his own servants； that when
they should see Amnon disordered and drowsy with wine； and he
should give them a signal； they should fear nobody； but kill him。
3。 When they had done as they were commanded； the rest of his
brethren were astonished and disturbed； and were afraid for
themselves； so they immediately got on horseback； and rode away
to their father； but somebody there was who prevented them； and
told their father they were all slain by Absalom； whereupon he
was overcome with sorrow； as for so many of his sons that were
destroyed at once； and that by their brother also； and by this
consideration； that it was their brother that appeared to have
slain them； he aggravated his sorrow for them。 So he neither
inquired what was the cause of this slaughter； nor staid to hear
any thing else； which yet it was but reasonable to have done；
when so very great； and by that greatness so incredible； a
misfortune was related to him： he rent his clothes and threw
himself upon the ground； and there lay lamenting the loss of all
his sons； both those who； as he was informed； were slain； and of
him who slew them。 But Jonadab； the son of his brother Shemeah；
entreated him not to indulge his sorrow so far； for as to the
rest of his sons he did not believe that they were slain； for he
found no cause for such a suspicion； but he said it might deserve
inquiry as to Amnon； for it was not unlikely that Absalom might
venture to kill him on account of the injury he had offered to
Tamar。 In the mean time； a great noise of horses； and a tumult of
some people that were coming； turned their attention to them；
they were the king's sons； who were fled away from the feast。 So
their father met them as they were in their grief； and he himself
grieved with them； but it was more than he expected to see those
his sons again； whom he had a little before heard to have
perished。 However； their were tears on both sides； they lamenting
their brother who was killed； and the king lamenting his son； who
was killed also； but Absalom fled to Geshur； to his grandfather
by his mother's side； who was king of that country； and he
remained with him three whole years。
4。 Now David had a design to send to Absalom； not that he should
come to be punished； but that he might be with him； for the
effects of his anger were abated by length of time。 It was Joab；
the captain of his host； that chiefly persuaded him so to do； for
he suborned an ordinary woman； that was stricken in age； to go to
the king in mourning apparel； who said thus to him： … That two of
her sons； in a coarse way； had some difference between them； and
that in the progress of that difference they came to an open
quarrel； and that one was smitten by the other； and was dead； and
she desired him to interpose in this case； and to do her the
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 commu