2 Samuel 14:24-15:18

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on 2 Samuel 14:24-15:18

24But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the king.
25Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.
26And when he cut the hair of his head — he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy — he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard.
27Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.
28Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king.
29Then he sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So Absalom sent a second time, but Joab still would not come.
30Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
32“Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.”
33So Joab went and told the king, and David summoned Absalom, who came to him and bowed facedown before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.
1Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.
2He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”
3Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”
4And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.
6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.
8For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’”
9“Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.
10Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
11Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter.
12While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.
13Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
14And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
15The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”
16Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.
17So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house,
18and all his servants marched past him — all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.
— 2 Samuel 14:24-15:18

Cross References for 2 Samuel 14:24-15:18

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