Friday in Season after Pentecost

25Verse 25. Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. 26Verse 26. And when he cut the hair of his head— he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy— he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard. 27Verse 27. Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman. 28Verse 28. Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king. 29Verse 29. Then he sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So Absalom sent a second time, but Joab still would not come. 30Verse 30. Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. 31Verse 31. Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?” 32Verse 32. “Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.” 33Verse 33. So Joab went and told the king, and David summoned Absalom, who came to him and bowed facedown before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.

15Verse 15. So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised. 16Verse 16. Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’” 17Verse 17. Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city. 18Verse 18. But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19Verse 19. Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing. 20Verse 20. When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. 21Verse 21. After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.” 22Verse 22. So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan. 23Verse 23. When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb. 24Verse 24. Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25Verse 25. Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26Verse 26. So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. 27Verse 27. When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. 28Verse 28. They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, 29Verse 29. honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”