From: "FamilyNet"
Bible Reading for April 07
2 Samuel 13
[1] And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair
sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. [2] And
Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a
virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. [3] But
Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's
brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. [4] And he said unto him, Why art
thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And
Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
[5] And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself
sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let
my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I
may see it, and eat it at her hand. [6] So Amnon lay down, and made himself
sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray
thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight,
that I may eat at her hand. [7] Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now
to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
[8] So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she
took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the
cakes.
[9] And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat.
And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
[10] And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may
eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought
them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. [11] And when she had brought them
unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my
sister. [12] And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no
such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. [13] And I,
whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of
the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he
will not withhold me from thee. [14] Howbeit he would not hearken unto her
voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
[15] Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated
her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto
her, Arise, be gone.
[16] And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is
greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto
her.
[17] Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now
this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. [18] And she had a
garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's
daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and
bolted the door after her. [19] And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her
garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and
went on crying. [20] And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy
brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother;
regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's
house. [21] But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
[22] And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for
Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. [23] And it came
to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor,
which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
[24] And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath
sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy
servant.
[25] And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we
be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but
blessed him.
[26] Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us.
And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? [27] But Absalom
pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
[28] Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's
heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him,
fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous and be valiant. [29] And the
servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the
king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
[30] And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to
David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of
them left.
[31] Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all
his servants stood by with their clothes rent. [32] And Jonadab, the son of
Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they
have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by
the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he
forced his sister Tamar. [33] Now therefore let not my lord the king take the
thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only
is dead. [34] But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted
up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the
hill side behind him.
[35] And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy
servant said, so it is.
[36] And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that,
behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king
also and all his servants wept very sore. [37] But Absalom fled, and went to
Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son
every day. [38] So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three
years. [39] And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he
was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
2 Samuel 14
[1] Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward
Absalom.
[2] And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto
her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning
apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long
time mourned for the dead:
[3] And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the
words in her mouth.
[4] And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to
the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. [5] And the king said
unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and
mine husband is dead. [6] And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove
together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the
other, and slew him.
[7] And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they
said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life
of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they
shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither
name nor remainder upon the earth. [8] And the king said unto the woman, Go to
thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
[9] And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity
be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
[10] And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and
he shall not touch thee any more. [11] Then said she, I pray thee, let the
king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of
blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD
liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. [12] Then the
woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the
king. And he said, Say on. [13] And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou
thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this
thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his
banished. [14] For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground,
which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet
doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. [15] Now
therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is
because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now
speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his
handmaid.
[16] For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the
man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
[17] Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be
comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good
and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee. [18] Then the king
answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing
that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
[19] And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the
woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn
to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken:
for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of
thine handmaid:
[20] To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing:
and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all
things that are in the earth. [21] And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I
have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. [22]
And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the
king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy
sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his
servant.
[23] So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. [24]
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face.
So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face. [25] But in
all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty:
from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish
in him.
[26] And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he
polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he
weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
[27] And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name
was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance. [28] So Absalom dwelt two
full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
[29] Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he
would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not
come.
[30] Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and
he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the
field on fire.
[31] Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him,
Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? [32] And Absalom answered
Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to
the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to
have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there
be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. [33] So Joab came to the king, and
told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed
himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
2 Samuel 15
[1] And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and
horses, and fifty men to run before him. [2] And Absalom rose up early, and
stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a
controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and
said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes
of Israel. [3] And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right;
but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. [4] Absalom said
moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any
suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
[5] And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he
put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. [6] And on this manner did
Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the
hearts of the men of Israel. [7] And it came to pass after forty years, that
Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I
have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
[8] For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If
the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
[9] And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
[10] But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As
soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth
in Hebron.
[11] And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called;
and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. [12] And
Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counseller, from his city,
even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong;
for the people increased continually with Absalom. [13] And there came a
messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
[14] And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem,
Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed
to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the
city with the edge of the sword. [15] And the king's servants said unto the
king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall
appoint. [16] And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And
the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. [17] And
the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that
was far off.
[18] And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and
all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him
from Gath, passed on before the king. [19] Then said the king to Ittai the
Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide
with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
[20] Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and
down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy
brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. [21] And Ittai answered the king, and
said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place
my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy
servant be. [22] And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the
Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with
him. [23] And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people
passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the
people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. [24] And lo Zadok also,
and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and
they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had
done passing out of the city. [25] And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back
the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD,
he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: [26] But if
he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as
seemeth good unto him. [27] The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not
thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you,
Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
[28] See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word
from you to certify me.
[29] Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem:
and they tarried there.
[30] And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up,
and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was
with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
[31] And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with
Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel
into foolishness.
[32] And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount,
where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his
coat rent, and earth upon his head: [33] Unto whom David said, If thou passest
on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
[34] But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy
servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now
also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
[35] And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests?
therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the
king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. [36]
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and
Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye
can hear.
[37] So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into
Jerusalem.
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