II Samuel - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 328

14-27 THE PERIOD OF SAMUEL.——II. SAM. 15-——18 he cut it because it was heavy upon him,·—whe¤ they cut the hair of his head it was valued at two hundred shekels by the royal standard.

27 Absalom had three sous and one daughter born to him, and her name was Thamar. She was a woman of great beauty. 28 Absalom lived in jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the

29 king. Then Absalom sent to ]'oab, to introduce him to the king, but he 33 would not go to him. So he sent a second time, but he would not come, Consequently he said to his servants, ‘ You see j’oab’s cornfields are along- side mine, and he has sown barley, And Absalom’s servants set it on tire! '1`hen }'oab moved and came to

Absa1om’s house, and asked him; ‘ Why have you ordered your servants to tire my standing crops? And Absalom answered ]’oab,

‘Because I sent to you, saying ‘Come here, and I will send you to Why have I been brought from Gheshur? It would be ’ So now I wish to see the face of the king, and if there is a fault in me, let me be put to death! ]’oab consequently went to the

king and informed him, and he invited Absalom who went to the king and bowed to him, with his face earthward to the face of the king, and the king was reconciled to Absalom. (ac. 1oz4.) $l:¤a1¤m ruuspirzz against his $¤iher. 15 It was after this that Absalom pro- cured himself chariots and horses, and titty men to run before him;

2 and early in the mornings Absalom placed himself at the side of the street of the High Court and when any man who had a law suit came to the king for a decision, Absalom would invite From what village do you come? ' Your

servant is from one of the Tribes of Then Absalom would say to him,

‘ Look! Your case is good and right; but there is no one appointed by the Next he If I were appointed as a judge in the country, and any man came to me who had a wrong, I would decide and rectify it for you I And when a person approached to 5 bow to him, he would stretch out his hand, and seize his, and salute him, and by this means Absalom made 6 himself popular to all Israel who came for justice to the king. Thus Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel. When four years had passed,

I wish to go now and pay in Hebron the vows which I vowed to the Evan-1.1v11~:G. For your servant vowed a vow while I resided in Gheshur, in the land of lf the Evan-ravine will restore me to jerusalem I will serve the EVER-LIVING} Goin peace! ’ He therefore arose and went. Absalom then sent secret agents

to all the Tribes of Israel to say, ‘ When you hear the sound of the trumpet, then exclaim, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron l ’ There went also two hundred

persons from jerusalem with Absa- lom, invited guests, and hones_t men, who knew nothing about all the affair. But Absalom had sent for Akhitophel, the Gilonite, the Counsel- lor of David, from the town of Ghilon, for him to sacrifice the sacrifices; so there was a powerful conspiracy, and the people came and crowded to Absalom. Information, however, came to

The heart of the people of Israel is gone after Absalom? Consequently David said to all his ministers who were with Let us arise and IC fly, for there will be no safety for us before Absalom. Expedite the journey, for fear he should hasten and rush, and drive on to us with ferocity, and assail the city with the And the King’s ministers answered

Whatever his Majesty the King chooses, his ministers will do it. The king and all his family there-

fore went out on their feet, but the king left ten of his slave-wives to take care of the palace. Thus the king with all his forces went out on their feet, and halted at Beth- Merkhak, and all his ministers walked at his side, with the guards and couriers. And the six hundred gardeners who came on foot from the 228 II I2 1£» x8