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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： 〃For；〃 said they； 〃if we be conquered when he
is with us； we have lost all good hopes of recovering ourselves；
but if we should be beaten in one part of our army； the other
parts may retire to him； and may thereby prepare a greater force；
while the enemy will naturally suppose that he hath another army
with him。〃 So David was pleased with this their advice； and
resolved himself to tarry at Mahanaim； and as he sent his friends
and commanders to the battle； he desired them to show all
possible alacrity and fidelity； and to bear in mind what
advantages they had received from him； which； though they had not
been very great； yet had they not been quite inconsiderable； and
he begged of them to spare the young man Absalom； lest some
mischief should befall himself； if he should be killed； and thus
did he send out his army to the battle； and wished them victory
therein。
2。 Then did Joab put his army in battle…array over against the
enemy in the Great Plain； where he had a wood behind him。 Absalom
also brought his army into the field to oppose him。 Upon the
joining of the battle； both sides showed great actions with their
hands and their boldness； the one side exposing themselves to the
greatest hazards； and using their utmost alacrity； that David
might recover his kingdom； and the other being no way deficient；
either in doing or suffering； that Absalom might not be deprived
of that kingdom； and be brought to punishment by his father for
his impudent attempt against him。 Those also that were the most
numerous were solicitous that they might not be conquered by
those few that were with Joab； and with the other commanders；
because that would be the greater disgrace to them； while David's
soldiers strove greatly to overcome so many ten thousands as the
enemy had with them。 Now David's men were conquerors； as superior
in strength and skill in war； so they followed the others as they
fled away through the forests and valleys； some they took
prisoners； and many they slew； and more in the flight than in the
battle for there fell about twenty thousand that day。 But all
David's men ran violently upon Absalom； for he was easily known
by his beauty and tallness。 He was himself also afraid lest his
enemies should seize on him； so he got upon the king's mule； and
fled； but as he was carried with violence； and noise； and a great
motion； as being himself light； he entangled his hair greatly in
the large boughs of a knotty tree that spread a great way； and
there he hung； after a surprising manner； and as for the beast；
it went on farther； and that swiftly； as if his master had been
still upon his back； but he； hanging in the air upon the boughs；
was taken by his enemies。 Now when one of David's soldiers saw
this； he informed Joab of it； and when the general said； that if
he had shot at and killed Absalom； he would have given him fifty
shekels； … he replied； 〃I would not have killed my master's son
if thou wouldst have given me a thousand shekels； especially when
he desired that the young man might be spared in the hearing of
us all。〃 But Joab bade him show him where it was that he saw
Absalom hang； whereupon he shot him to the heart； and slew him；
and Joab's armor…bearers stood round the tree； and pulled down
his dead body； and cast it into a great chasm that was out of
sight； and laid a heap of stones upon him； till the cavity was
filled up； and had both the appearance and the bigness of a
grave。 Then Joab sounded a retreat； and recalled his own soldiers
from pursuing the enemy's army； in order to spare their
countrymen。
3。 Now Absalom had erected for himself a marble pillar in the
king's dale； two furlongs distant from Jerusalem； which he named
Absalom's Hand； saying； that if his children were killed； his
name would remain by that pillar； for he had three sons and one
daughter； named Tamar； as we said before； who when she was
married to David's grandson； Rehoboam； bare a son； Abijah by
name； who succeeded his father in the kingdom； but of these we
shall speak in a part of our history which will be more