Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 172
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IMMERSE
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KINGDOMS
2S
| 16:14–17:9
road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and
throwing stones and dirt at David.
The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they
rested when they reached the Jordan River.
Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithop hel. When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived,
he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed.
“Long live the king!”
“Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why
aren’t you with him?”
“I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord and
by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied. “And anyway, why shouldn’t I
serve you? Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!”
Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I
do next?”
Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for
he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that
you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will
throw their support to you.” So they set up a tent on the palace roof where
everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s
concubines.
Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as Dav id had done. For
every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.
Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start
out after David tonight. I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I
will kill only the king, and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride
returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek.
Then you will be at peace with all the people.” This plan seemed good to
Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he
thinks about this.” When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahith
ophel had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow
Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?”
“Well,” Hushai replied to Absalom, “this time Ahithophel has made a
mistake. You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors.
Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of
her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He
won’t be spending the night among the troops. He has probably already
hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few