Hello, and welcome
to His Words are Life.
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Today we're reading together
in the book of 2nd Samuel,
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but before we start, let's pray.
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Our Father in heaven, we
ask that you would please send
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the Holy Spirit to guide
our hearts and our thoughts
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as we read these words that you
have given to us, to be life and
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light to our soul. Help us to
not just hear them but to take
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them into our hearts and
to live by them to your glory.
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We love you so much and
thank you for loving us. Amen.
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When we were last together
we were reading in 2nd Samuel,
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chapter 15, and it was giving
the account of Absalom, how
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he would go and sit at the gate
of the city and if someone came
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seeking help from the
king, regarding a controversy,
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Absalom would ask where he
was from and if the servant
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answered, I'm from one
of the tribes of Israel,
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Absalom had a response for
him. And we're going to pick up
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with Absalom's response. This
is in 2nd Samuel, chapter 15,
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verse 3. And Absalom said unto
him, See, thy matters are good
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and right; but there is no man
deputed of the king to hear thee
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Absalom said moreover, Oh that
I were made judge in the land,
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that every man which hath any
suit or cause might come unto me
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and I would do him justice!
And it was so, that when any man
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came nigh to him to do him
obeisance, he put forth his hand
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and took him, and kissed him.
And on this manner did Absalom
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to all Israel that came to the
king for judgment: so Absalom
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stole the hearts of the men
of Israel. And it came to pass
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after 40 years, that Absalom
said unto the king, I pray thee,
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let me go and pay my vow, which
I have vowed unto the Lord,
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in Hebron. For thy servant vowed
a vow while I abode at Geshur
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in Syria, saying, If the Lord
shall bring me again indeed to
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Jerusalem, then I will serve the
Lord. And the king said unto him
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Go in peace. So he arose,
and went to Hebron. But Absalom
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sent spies throughout all
the tribes of Israel, saying,
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As soon as ye hear the sound
of a trumpet, then ye shall say,
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Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
And with Absalom went 200 men
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out of Jerusalem, that were
called; and they went in their
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simplicity, and they knew not
any thing. And Absalom sent for
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Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's
counselor, from his city, even
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from Giloh, while he offered
sacrifices. And the conspiracy
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was strong; for the
people increased continually
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with Absalom. And there came
a messenger to David, saying,
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The hearts of the men of
Israel are after Absalom.
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And David said unto all
his servants that were with him
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at Jerusalem, Arise, and let
us flee; for we shall not else
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escape from Absalom: make speed
to depart, lest he overtake us
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suddenly, and bring evil upon us
and smite the city with the edge
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of the sword. And the king's
servants said unto the king,
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Behold, thy servants are
ready to do whatsoever my lord
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the king shall appoint.
And the king went forth,
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and all his household after him.
And the king left ten women,
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which were concubines, to keep
the house. And the king went
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forth, and all the people after
him and tarried in a place that
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was far off and all his
servants passed on beside him;
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and all the Cherethites, and
all the Pelethites, and all the
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Gittites, 600 men which came
after him from Gath, passed on
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before the king. Then said
the king to Ittai the Gittite,
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Wherefore goest thou also
with us? return to thy place,
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and abide with the
king: for thou art a stranger,
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and also an exile. Whereas thou
camest but yesterday, should I
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this day make thee go up
and down with us? seeing I go
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whither I may, return thou,
and take back thy brethren:
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mercy and truth be with thee.
And Ittai answered the king,
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and said, As the Lord liveth,
and as my lord the king liveth,
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surely in what place my lord the
king shall be, whether in death,
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or life, even there also will
thy servant be. And David said
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to Ittai, Go and pass over. And
Ittai the Gittite passed over,
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and all his men, and all the
little ones that were with him.
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And all the country wept with
a loud voice, and all the people
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passed over. The king also
himself passed over the brook
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Kidron, and all the people
passed over toward the way
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of the wilderness. And lo
Zadok also, and all the Levites
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were with him, bearing the
ark of the covenant of God;
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and they sat down the ark of God
and Abiathar went up, until all
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the people had done passing out
of the city. And the king said
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unto Zadok, Carry back
the ark of God into the city:
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if I shall find favor in the
eyes of the Lord, He will bring
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me again and shew me
both it, and his habitation:
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But if he thus say, I have
no delight in thee; behold,
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here am I, let him do to
me as seemeth good unto him.
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And the king said also unto
Zadok the priest, Art not thou
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a seer? Return into the city in
peace, and your 2 sons with you,
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Ahimaaz, thy son, and
Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
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See, I till tarry in the plain
of the wilderness, until there
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come word from you to certify
me. Zadok therefore and Abiathar
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carried the ark of God again
to Jerusalem: and they tarried
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there. And David went up by the
ascent of mount Olivet, and wept
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as he went up, and had his head
covered, and he went barefoot:
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and all the people that was
with him covered every man his
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head and they went
up, weeping as they went.
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And one told David,
saying, Ahithophel is among the
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conspirators with Absalom, and
David said, O Lord, I pray thee,
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turn the counsel of
Ahithophel unto foolishness.
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And it came to pass, that when
David was come to the top of the
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mount, where he worshipped God,
behold, Hushai the Archite came
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to meet him with his coat
rent, and earth upon his head:
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Unto whom David said, If thou
passest on with me, then shalt
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be a burden unto me: but if thou
return to the city, and say unto
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Absalom, I will be thy servant,
O king; as I have been thy
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father's servant hitherto, so
will I now also be thy servant:
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then mayest thou for me defeat
the counsel of Ahithophel.
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And hast thou not there
with thee Zadok and Abitathar
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the priests? therefore it
shall be, that what thing soever
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thou shalt hear out of the
king's house, thou shalt tell it
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to Zadok, and Abiathar
the priests. Behold, they have
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there with them their 2
sons. Ahimaaz Zadok's son,
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and Jonathan, Abiathar's
son; and by them ye shall send
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unto me every thing that
ye can hear. So Hushai David's
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friend came into the city,
and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
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We're continuing in
2nd Samuel, chapter 16,
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This is the King James Version.
And when David was a little past
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the top of the hill, behold
Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth
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met him, with a couple of asses
saddled and upon them 200 loaves
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of bread, and an hundred bunches
of raisins, and an hundred of
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summer fruits, and a bottle
of wine. And the king said unto
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Ziba, What meanest thou by
these? And Ziba said, The asses
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be for the king's household
to ride on; and the bread and
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summer fruit for the young men
to eat; and the wine, that such
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as be faint in the wilderness
may drink. And the king said,
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And where is thy master's son?
And Ziba said unto the king,
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Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem:
for he said, Today shall the
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house of Israel restore
me the kingdom of my father.
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Then said the king to
Ziba, Behold, thine are all that
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pertained unto Mephibosheth.
And Ziba said, I humbly beseech
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thee that I may find grace
in thy sight, my lord, O king.
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And when king David came to
Bahurim, behold, thence came out
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a man of the family
of the house of Saul,
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whose name was Shimei, the
son of Gera: he came forth,
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and cursed still as he came.
And he cast stones at David,
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and at all the servants of king
David: and all the people and
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all the mighty men were on
his right hand and on his left.
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And thus said Shimei when
he cursed, Come out, come out,
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thou bloody man,
and thou man of Belial;
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The Lord hath returned upon
thee all the blood of the house
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of Saul, in whose stead
thou hast reigned; and the Lord
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hath delivered the kingdom into
the hand of Absalom thy son:
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and, behold, thou art taken in
thy mischief, because thou art
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a bloody man. Then said Abishai
the son of Zeruiah unto the king
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Why should this dead dog curse
my lord the king? let me go over
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I pray thee, and take off
his head. And the king said,
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What have I do with
you, ye sons of Zeruiah?
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so let him curse, because
the Lord hath said unto him,
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Curse David. Who shall then say,
Wherefore hast thou done so?
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And David said to Abishai,
and to all his servants, Behold,
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my son which came forth of
my bowels, seeketh my life:
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how much more now may this
Benjamite do it? let him alone,
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and let him curse; for the
Lord hath bidden him. It may be
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that the Lord will look on mine
affliction, and that the Lord
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will requite me good
for his cursing this day.
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And as David and his men went
by the way, Shimei went along on
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the hill's side over against
him and cursed as he went,
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and threw stones at him, and
cast dust. And the king, and all
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the people that were with
him, came weary, and refreshed
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themselves there. And Absalom,
and all the people the men of
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Israel, came to Jerusalem,
and Ahithophel with him.
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And it came to pass, when Hushai
the Archite, David's friend,
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was come unto Absalom,
that Hushai said unto Absalom,
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God Save the king, God save the
king. And Absalom said to Hushai
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Is this thy kindness to thy
friend? why wentest thou not
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with thy friend? And Hushai said
unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the
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Lord, and this people, and
all the men of Israel, choose,
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his will I be, and with him will
I abide. And again, whom should
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I serve? should I not serve
in the presence of his son?
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as I have served in thy father's
presence, so will I be in thy
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presence. Then said Absalom
to Ahithophel, Give counsel
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among you what we shall do.
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom
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Go in unto thy
father's concubines,
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which he hath left to keep the
house; and all Israel shall hear
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that thou art abhorred of they
father: then shall the hands of
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all that are with thee be strong
So they spread Absalom a tent
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upon the top of the
house; and Absalom went in unto
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his father's concubines,
in the sight of all Israel.
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And the counsel of Ahithophel,
which he counselled in those
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days, was as if a man had
inquired at the oracle of God:
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so was all the counsel of
Ahithophel both with David
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and with Absalom.
We're continuing in the book
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of 2nd Samuel, chapter 17,
This is the King James Version.
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Moreover Ahithophel said unto
Absalom, Let me now choose out
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12,000 men, and I will arise and
pursue after David this night:
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and I will come upon him while
he is weary and weak handed,
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and will make him afraid: and
all the people that are with him
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shall flee; and I will smite the
king only: And I will bring back
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all the people unto thee: the
man whom thou seekest is as if
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all returned: so all the
people shall be in peace.
00:12:21.97\00:12:24.97
And the saying pleased
Absalom well, and all the elders
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of Israel. Then said Absalom,
call now Hushai the Archite
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also, and let us hear
likewise what he saith.
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And when Hushai was come to
Absalom, Absalom spake unto him
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saying, Ahithophel hath
spoken after this manner:
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shall we do after his
saying? if not, speak thou.
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And Hushai said unto Absalom,
The counsel that Ahithophel
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has given is not good at
this time. For, said Hushai,
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thou knowest thy father and
his men, that they be might men,
00:12:58.84\00:13:02.63
and they be chafed in their
minds, as a bear robbed of her
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whelps in the field: and
thy father is a man of war,
00:13:06.34\00:13:09.28
and will not lodge with the
people. Behold, he is hid now
00:13:09.31\00:13:12.90
in some pit, or in some other
place: and it will come to pass,
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when some of them be overthrown
at the first, that whosoever
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heareth it will say, There s a
slaughter among the people that
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follow Absalom. And he also that
is valiant, whose heart is as
00:13:21.99\00:13:25.71
a heart of a lion, shall utterly
melt: for all Israel knoweth
00:13:25.74\00:13:29.15
that thy father is a might
man, and they which be with him
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are valiant men. Therefore
I counsel that all Israel be
00:13:32.57\00:13:37.21
generally gathered unto thee,
from Dan even to Beersheba,
00:13:37.24\00:13:40.61
as the sand that is by the
sea for multitude; and that thou
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go to battle in thine own
person. So shall we come upon
00:13:44.92\00:13:49.49
him in some place where he shall
be found, and we will light upon
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him as the dew falleth on the
ground: and of him and of all
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the men that are with him there
shall not be left so much as one
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Moreover, if he be gotten into
a city, then shall all Israel
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bring ropes to that city and
we will draw it into the river,
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until there be not one
small stone found there.
00:14:06.02\00:14:09.22
And Absalom and all
the men of Israel said,
00:14:09.25\00:14:11.98
The counsel of Hushai
the Archite is better than
00:14:12.01\00:14:14.91
the counsel of Ahithophel. For
the Lord had appointed to defeat
00:14:14.94\00:14:18.58
the good counsel of Ahithophel,
to the intent that the Lord
00:14:18.61\00:14:22.63
might bring evil upon Absalom.
We'll continue the story
00:14:22.66\00:14:27.23
the next time we are
together. Until then,
00:14:27.26\00:14:28.89
May God bless and keep each
one of us with his love and his
00:14:28.92\00:14:32.07
grace and his mercy. Goodbye.
00:14:32.10\00:14:33.07