Februay 3, 2014, Reading

The 2nd Book of Samuel   18: 9-10, 14, 24 – 25, 30; 19: 3

18:9 Then it happened that Absalom, riding on a mule, met the servants of David. And when the mule had entered under a thick and large oak tree, his head became trapped in the oak. And while he was suspended between heaven and earth, the mule on which he had been sitting continued on.
18:10 Then a certain one saw this and reported it to Joab, saying, “I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.”
18:14 And Joab said, “It will not be as you wish. Instead, I will be assailing him in your sight.” Then he took three lances in his hand, and he fixed them in the heart of Absalom. And while he was still clinging to life upon the oak,
18:15 ten young men, armor bearers of Joab, ran up, and striking him, they killed him.
18:24 Now David was sitting between the two gates. Truly, the watchman, who was at the summit of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone.
18:25 And crying out, he told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth.” But as he was advancing and drawing nearer,
18:30 And the king said to him, “Pass, and stand here.” And when he had passed and stood still
18:31 Hushai appeared. And approaching, he said: “I bear good news, my lord the king. For today the Lord has judged for you, from the hand of all who had risen up against you.”
18:32 But the king said to Hushai, “Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And responding, Hushai said to him, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against him for evil, be as the boy is.”
18:33 And so the king, being greatly saddened, ascended to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And as he went, he was speaking in this manner: “My son Absalom! Absalom my son! Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf? Absalom, my son! My son, Absalom!”

2 Samuel 19

19:1 Now it was reported to Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for his son.
19:2 And so the victory on that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said on that day, “The king is grieving over his son.”
19:3 And the people declined to enter the city on that day, in the manner that the people were accustomed to decline if they had turned and fled from battle.

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