BRAGADAYJAH 982

BRAGADAYJAH 982
David told of Adonijah’s actions
Then Nathan went to Beersheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her if she had not heard how Adonijah the son of Haggith had assumed the role of king, unknown to David. He then offered to give her advice that could save her own life as well as that of her son Solomon. His advice to Beersheba was that she should go and speak to the king and tell him what Adonijah had done, and to remind him that he had sworn that his heir to reign after him would be Solomon his son; but that Adonijah had set himself up as king instead.  The plan was that while Beersheba was yet speaking to the King, Nathan would enter and confirm to the king what Beersheba was saying. So indeed Beersheba went in unto the king, who was at that time frail and weak. She spoke to the king and reminded him of his oath that his son Solomon was to be his successor; but that Adonijah had assumed the kingship. Having killed oxen and cattle and sheep, and had called the King’s sons and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the hosts but that Solomon was not called. Thus she told the king, that the eyes of Israel were on him to tell them who should sit on his throne after him. Otherwise she concluded, herself and her son Solomon should be counted as offenders. And as planned while she yet spoke with the king, Nathan the prophet went in, and it was told to the king that Nathan was there; and he went in before the king, and bowed himself and addressed the king and said, “My lord O king, has thou said Adonijah shall reign after thee, and shall sit on thy throne?  For he has gone down this day and has slain oxen and fat cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, and the captain of the hosts, and Abiathar the priest. And they are eating and drinking and saying God save the king. But he did not call me thy servant, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, or thy son Solomon.

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BRAGADAYJAH 981

BRAGADAYJAH 981
Adonijah proclaimed himself king
And it came about that David was old and could not be kept warm even though they covered him with clothes; they decided that they would provide him with the warmth of a woman, a young girl by the name of Abishag a Shunammite and brought her to the king to lie with him and keep him warm. Abishag was a beautiful girl and the kept the king warm; but the king knew her not. Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself and wanted to be king and prepared himself chariots and horsemen and fifty footmen to run before him. And it was that Adonijah’s father did not ask his son why he was doing what he was doing, although he was a good man, whose mother was the mother of Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest and they supported Adonijah and followed after him. But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and the mighty men which belonged to David did not follow Adonijah. And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth which is by Enrogel and call all his brethren the kings sons, and all the men of Judah the kings servants. But Nathan the prophet and Benaiah, and and the mighty men and Solomon his brother were not invited.

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BRAGADAYJAH 980

BRAGADAYJAH 980
David Buys Araunah’s Threshing Floor.
Now as David and his servants went towards the hill, Araunah saw him coming and he went towards him, and bowed himself to him.  And Araunah asked the king what was the purpose of his visit; and David told him that he wanted to purchase his threshing floor to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Araunah replied and told the king that he could have the field for nothing, and beside he could have oxen for burnt sacrifice as well as threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. And King David said to Araunah, “Nay; but I will buy it from thee for a price.  For I will not offer burnt offering unto the Lord my God of that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David .built there an altar unto the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  So the Lord was appeased for the land and the plague was stayed from the land of Israel.

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BRAGADAYJAH 980

BRAGADAYJAH 980
Seventy Thousand Men of Israel Destroyed
Wisely David opted for what he deemed to be the least punitive of his punishments, to be dealt with directly by the hand of God as opposed to being pursued by his enemies or seven years famine. So he opted for three days of pestilence. So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning and there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men. And when the destroying angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem near the threshing floor of Araunah to destroy it, the Lord told the Angel to hold his hand because He had withdrawn His judgment upon that city, and ordered the angel not to afflict Jerusalem. At the same time David appealed to God and prayed that the Lord’s anger be directed against him alone since he alone had sinned and the people were innocent. And Gad came to David and told him to go up to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. And David went up toward the threshing floor of Araunah as directed by Gad.

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BRAGADAYJAH 979

BRAGADAYJAH 979
David’s Heart convicted him
And Joab departed and passed over Jordan and pitched in Aroer on the right side of the city that lies in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer; and then they went through Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi and thence to Danjaan and to Zidon.  Then they came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites and then South of Juda to Beersheba .And after they had gone through all the land they returned to Jerusalem after nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people of Israel to the King. Of Israel, hundred thousand valiant men that drew sword, and five hundred thousand, men of Judah. And when David heard the numbers, his heart smote him and he spoke unto the Lord and said, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; and now I pray thee O Lord to take away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done very foolishly.” David’s repentance also came about because Gad the prophet of the Lord, David’s Seer had been directed by the Lord to go and tell David that his punishment would be one of three choices, namely: a) seven years of famine in the land; b) to be put to flight before his enemies for three months; c) three days of pestilence in the land. And David’s replied and said that he was in a terrible strait; but that he would prefer to fall into the hand of God than into the hand of man.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 978

BRAGADAYJAH 978
David ordered the People numbered
In furtherance of the point made previously, that all men need other men around them be they great or be they lowly, it should be noted here that besides the great men mentioned earlier there were many others, some thirty odd that helped David to wage war successfully notwithstanding God was with him; for God often performs through the instrumentality of earthly men. A case in point is the man Jesus, who in spite of his omnipotence, chose twelve disciples to work with Him. But it came to pass that the anger of the Lord was moved against Israel; and He moved David to command his officers to number Israel and Judah. So David told Joab the captain of the host which was with him “Go now through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and number all the people that I may know the number of the people.” And Joab said unto the king, “Now the Lord thy God add unto the people how many so ever there are an hundred fold and that the eyes of my Lord the king may see it; but why does my Lord the king delight in this thing?” However, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel and Judah.

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BRAGADAYJAH 977

BRAGADAYJAH 977
Other Brave men who served David.
These were the same three mighty men of the thirty chiefs that were with David when he was in the cave of Adullam and surrounded by the Philistines.  They broke through the host of the Philistines to get water for David. When David had longed and said, “Oh that one would give me drink out of the water of the well at Jerusalem,” In response those three men had gone and gotten water, and brought it back to David.  But David would not drink it; for he said, “Far be it from me O Lord that I should do this.  Is this not the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?”  Therefore David did not drink the water. There were also other brave and honourable men who fought alongside of and for David.  There was Abishai, the brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, who was a captain, and was famous for killing three hundred with his spear. And there was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son a valiant man of Kabzeel who had done many valiant acts.  He slew two lion-like men of Moab, and also slew a lion in his pit in the middle of winter. And he also slew an Egyptian who was a skillful man armed with a spear.  Yet Benaiah approached the man while he was armed with his spear, while Benaiah had only a staff.  Yet he disarmed the man and killed him with his own spear. These deeds did Benaiah and more.  He was also a brave and honourable man.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 976

BRAGADAYJAH 976

Three of the Great Captains with David

It is well said, “No man is an island.” Every man, great though he may be, needs someone other than himself. Of course man needs God; but every man, also needs someone beside himself. Adam the first man needed Eve, the kings and rulers of the earth need men in their kingdom; a general needs men in his army. David was a great man.  He had God, who gave him great power over both his people Israel, and also over his enemies more so. When Saul was killing his thousands, David was killing his ten thousands.  But the Bible says he also had great men with him. The Tachmonites that sat in the seat as chief among the captains, one of whose name was Adino the Eznite, who lifted up his spear among 800 men and slew them all at once. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite was also one of the three mighty men that were with David when he defied the Philistines when they gathered themselves against him when the men of Israel were away. He rose and smote the Philistines until his hand grew weary; but the Lord gave him a great victory that day. And after him was Shammah the son of Agee, the Hararite, who when the Philistines were gathered together in a troop, so that the people fled from the Philistines, he stood in the midst of a lentil field and defended it and slew the Philistines, the Lord giving him a great victory.  

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God is Watching Us

God Is Just Watching

There are a lot going on in the world today. People everywhere are living in sin and proud of it. They pose, man and man woman and woman.  They say they are marrying and given in marriage. They live like the devil and some say there is no God. Some even go as far as to defy God to do something about it.  Others go about saying that they are prophets and prophetesses, and that God has told them this and God has told them that. Well the Bible says, “They are liars.” And I say amen to that, because I believe the Bible.  The truth is, God is not saying another word. He is simply watching us, not from a distance, but from up close and personal, nigh unto us.  Yes God has called men and women, the saved in Christ to preach the word, to be instant and constant in season and out of season, meaning, inter alia, even when it is not politically correct to preach the word.  But the last prophet, and the last prophesy was the writer of the Apocalypse, the Revelation. It says among other things – “For I testify unto every man that heareth this prophesy, of this book, if any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of this prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life.”

                So I say, God is watching. He is not saying another word. Let them marry and carry on and live in sin and rebuke and reject me all they want. I sent my Word to them and my Word remain among them. And this gospel of the kingdom is being preached to them. Let them revel and rebel for there is a hell waiting for them. When they find themselves burning in eternal torment let them say, this is not happening, or I can’t believe this is happening to me.” For in that day says Jesus, many shall say, “Lord did I not prophesy in thy name?” “Then shall I declare unto them, depart from me I never knew you.” And as he rejects the false prophets so will he cast into outer darkness all sinners, to weep and gnash their teeth forever.  So you don’t believe it? Sinner man, Sinner woman, you will!  But too late shall be your cry. As I have said, go ahead live your life; for God is watching you.

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God is Watching Us

God Is Just Watching

There are a lot going on in the world today. People everywhere are living in sin and proud of it. They pose, man and man woman and woman.  They say they are marrying and given in marriage. They live like the devil and some say there is no God. Some even go as far as to defy God to do something about it.  Others go about saying that they are prophets and prophetesses, and that God has told them this and God has told them that. Well the Bible says, “They are liars.” And I say amen to that, because I believe the Bible.  The truth is, God is not saying another word. He is simply watching us, not from a distance, but from up close and personal, nigh unto us.  Yes God has called men and women, the saved in Christ to preach the word, to be instant and constant in season and out of season, meaning, inter alia, even when it is not politically correct to preach the word.  But the last prophet, and the last prophesy was the writer of the Apocalypse, the Revelation. It says among other things – “For I testify unto every man that heareth this prophesy, of this book, if any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of this prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life.”

                So I say, God is watching. He is not saying another word. Let them marry and carry on and live in sin and rebuke and reject me all they want. I sent my Word to them and my Word remain among them. And this gospel of the kingdom is being preached to them. Let them revel and rebel for there is a hell waiting for them. When they find themselves burning in eternal torment let them say, this is not happening, or I can’t believe this is happening to me.” For in that day says Jesus, many shall say, “Lord did I not prophesy in thy name?” “Then shall I declare unto them, depart from me I never knew you.” And as he rejects the false prophets so will he cast into outer darkness all sinners, to weep and gnash their teeth forever.  So you don’t believe it? Sinner man, Sinner woman, you will!  But too late shall be your cry. As I have said, go ahead live your life; for God is watching you.

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BRAGADAYJAH 975

BRAGADAYJAH 975
David’ Last Words to Israel
And toward the end of his pronouncements, David, the son of Jesse, the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel said: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke to me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me and said, He that rules over men must be just and rule in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning with clouds as the tender grass springs out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant ordered in all things, and sure; for this is all my salvation and all my desire, although He makes it not to grow. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away because they cannot be taken with hands. But the man that shall touch them must be protected with iron, and the staff of a spear and they shall be utterly burnt with fire in the same place.

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BRAGADAYJAH 974

BRAGADAYJAH 974

David’s Song of Praise

“Thou hast given me the necks of mine enemies that I might destroy them that hate me. They looked but there was none to save, they looked even unto the Lord, but he did not answer them. Then did I beat them as the dust of the earth. I did stamp them as the mire of the street and scattered them abroad. Thou also has delivered me from the strivings of my people Thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen; A people which I knew not shall serve me. Strangers shall submit themselves to me, as soon as they hear they shall be obedient unto me. Strangers shall fade away and they shall be afraid out of their close places. The Lord liveth and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the rock of my salvation. It is God that avenges me and that bringeth down the people under me. And bring me forth from my enemies and lift me up on high above them that rose up against me. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee O Lord among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king and shows mercy to his anointed, unto David and his seed forever.

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BRAGADAYJAH 973

BRAGADAYJAH 973
David’s Song of Praise
“I have kept the ways of my Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me; and for His statutes I have not departed from them. I was upright before Him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.  Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. With the merciful, Thou wilt show mercy, and with the upright man Thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure Thou shalt show thyself pure and with the froward thou shalt show thyself unsavoury. And the afflicted people thou wilt save; but thine eyes are on the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. For thou art my lamp O Lord, and the Lord shall lighten my darkness. For by thee I have ran through a troop; by my God have I leapt over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him. For who is God save the Lord? And who is our rock save our God? God is my strength and power and he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds feet and setteth me upon my high places.  He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms. Thou has also given me the shield of thy salvation and thy gentleness has made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet did not slip. I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them, and tuned not again until I consumed them. And I have consumed them and wounded them that they could not arise; yea they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength to battle; them that rose up against me thou hast subdued under me. Thou hast also given me the neck of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

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BRAGADAYJAH 972

BRAGADAYJAH 972

David’s song continues:
He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and darkness was under His feet;
And He rode upon the cherub and did fly, and He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
And He made darkness a pavilion round about Him, dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
Through the brightness before Him were coals of fire kindles.
The Lord thundered from heaven and the Most High uttered His voice. And He sent out arrows, and scattered them, lightening and discomforted them. And the channels of the sea appeared; the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me, for they were too strong for me, They prevented me in the day of my calamity; but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also unto a large place, He delivered me because He delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands has He recompensed me for I have kept the ways of the Lord. (To be continued)
 

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BRAGADAYJAH 971

BRAGADAYJAH 971
David Sings unto the Lord
King David sang unto the Lord and said:

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.
The God of my rock, in Him will I trust. He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
My high tower and my refuge, my Saviour, thou saveth me from violence.
I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so will I be saved from my enemies

When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
The sorrows of hell compassed me about, the snares of death prevented me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God, and He did hear my voice,
out of His temple, and my cry did enter unto His ears. Then the earth shook and trembled.
The foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it. (To be continued)

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BRAGADAYJAH 970

BRAGADAYJAH 970

Four of Goliath’s sons killed in Battle

After that conflict there were further conflicts with the Philistines, David having been taken out of the firing line in order as they put it, that the light of Israel may not be put out.  There was nothing better the Philistines would have like short of the utter route of Israel, than that they would kill David in battle. In the next battle against the Philistines at Gob, another of the sons of Goliath was killed; and in the next battle yet at Gob one of Goliath’s brother was also killed and after that there was a fourth battle this time at Gath where in the battle there was a son of Goliath who was great in stature and having six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and in this battle against Israel he was killed by Jonathon the son of Shimeah the brother of David. So that in four battles four of Goliath’s sons were killed. 

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BRAGADAYJAH 969

BRAGADAYJAH 969
David Accorded Saul and Jonathon a proper burial.
Seeing her kinfolk thus dealt with, Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it on upon the rock and sat on it from the beginning of the harvest until water dropped on them out of heaven and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest upon them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Saul’s concubine, Aiah had done. And David went and took the bones of Saul and of Jonathon from the men of Jabesh-Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Bethshan where the Philistines had hanged them when they had slain them in Gilboa, and brought them up and gathered the bones of them that were hanged and the bones were then buried in the country of Benjamin in Zelah in the sepulcher of Kish his father, rendering unto the remains of Saul and his son Jonathon, burial rights as befitted them in accordance with David’s instructions. And after that, God was entreated for the land. In addition the Philistines were again at war with Israel and David went up against the Philistines and during the battle he became faint. And at that stage Goliath’s son thought he had killed David; but David had only fainted; but Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed the Philistine.  And after that the men of David persuaded him to go out to war no more.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 968

BRAGADAYJAH 968
Three Year Famine
And after these things, there came a famine in the land for three years.  And David sought the Lord concerning the famine; and the Lord told him the famine was brought about because of the sin of Saul and his bloody house in that he sinned in slaughtering the Gibeonites. And the king called the Gibeonites and asked them what he could do for them, and how he may make atonement that they may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And they told David that they would have no silver or gold which belonged to Saul, or of his house, and that he should not kill any man in Israel on their account. And David asked them again, what they would require that he did for them.  For the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but were the remnants of the Amorites whom the children of Israel had vowed not to destroy, but to allow them to live among them in peace; but Saul had gone ahead and slaughtered them out of excessive zeal for the children of Israel. So now they answered David the king and told him that they would ask that seven of the sons of the man that sought to destroy them, and to wipe them off the face of the coasts of Israel, may be delivered to them; and they would hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul; and David agreed to their request. But the king spared Mephibosheth who was the son of Jonathon the son of Saul because of the Lord’s oath that was taken between David and Jonathon. But the king took seven of the children of Saul and delivered them unto the Gibeonites and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord; and all seven of them were put to death on the first day of the barley harvest.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 967

BRAGADAYJAH 967

 Sheba Lost His Head

So Joab and the men of Judah pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. And they went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel and to Bethmaachah and the Berites and they were gathered together and they joined in pursuing after Sheba. And eventually they came and besieged him in Bethmaachah and the cast up bank against the city which stood in a trench and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down Then cried a wise woman out of the city. “Hear, hear, I pray you unto Joab, Come here hither that I may speak with you.” And when Joab was come near unto the woman she asked “Are you Joab?” And Joab answered, “I am.” And she said, “Will you hear me? And Joab said, “I will.” Then said the woman. “It is said of old times They shall ask counsel at Abel and so ended the matter.  I am one of them that are for peace. I am able and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel why will you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?” And Joab answered and said, “Far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy. The matter is not so. But a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri, hath lifted up his hand against David the king, deliver him over to me and I will not destroy the city; and the woman said, ”His head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.” Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom and they cut off the head of Sheba and cast it over the wall out to Joab and he blew a trumpet and they retired from the city, every man to his tent and Joab returned to /Jerusalem and to David. So it would seem Sheba the son of Bichri, lost his head twice. Once when he decided to rise up against David the anointed of God, and once when his head was handed on a proverbial platter to Joab.    

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BRAGADAYJAH 966

BRAGADAYJAH 966

Amasa slain by Joab.

It happened that Amasa did not complete the task assigned by king David and report in the three days stipulated; so David told Abishai that Sheba would probably be more troublesome to him than was Absalom, and ordered him to take men and pursue after Sheba before he is able to take fenced cities and escape. And so there went out with him, Joab’s men and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.  And when they arrived at the great stone which is at Gibeon, Amasa went before them.  And Joab’s wore a garment under which he had a sword on his hip and as he was going his sword fell out And Joab greeted Amasa asking him how he was, taking him by the beard as though he was about to give him a brotherly greeting and in doing so, Amasa took no thought about the sword that Joab was in Joab’s hand; and Joab struck Amasa under the fifth rib and slew him. with the sword, causing his bowels to spill out unto the ground and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba. And one of Joab’s men stood close to him and told the men that those who were for Joab and for David let them follow Joab. In the meantime, Amasa’s body remained in the highway covered with blood; and when the man who spoke out for Joab saw that the people when they came to Amasa’s body stood still, he removed the body out of the highway, and covered it with a cloth. And after he had done so the people passed on and followed after Joab.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 965

BRAGADAYJAH 965

Sheba rose up against David

After the king had crossed over Jordan, a dispute broke out between the men of Israel and the men of Judah, for the men of Israel came to the king and protested that the men of Judah had stolen him away, and carried him away over Jordan; but the men of Judah responded and said that they were nearer of kin to the king then they were, and further, they did not come to the king looking for a gift from him. But the men of Israel responded to the men of Judah and said that they had ten parts in the king and the men of Judah were very angry with the men of Israel.  And at that time, there rose up a man of Belial, (Satan), whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri a Benjamite, and he blew a trumpet and said, “We have no part in David neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tent Oh Israel.” So the men of Israel departed from David and followed after Sheba; but the men of Judah clave unto David their king from Jordan unto Jerusalem. And David came to his house at Jerusalem and the king took the ten concubines he had left in his house to keep it and put them in wards, and did go in unto them no more, so they remained childless until their deaths. Then the king ordered Amasa to assemble the men of Judah within three days. So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he stayed longer than the three days appointed him by the king.

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BRAGADAYJAH 964

BRAGADAYJAH 964

David and Barzillai

David responded to Mephibosheth and told him there was no longer any need for him to plead his cause with him, because he had already forgave him, and had already told him he could divide his father’s land with Ziba, and that was the end of the matter as far as he David was concerned. True Mephibosheth had forsaken him in the time of Absalom; but that was in the past as far as David was concerned. Yet Mephibosheth responded and told the king that he was just glad to have him back in peace; but other than that Ziba could have all the land as he was not interested in it. Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down to meet David and to accompany him across the river Jordan  It happened at the time that Barzillai was a man of around fourscore years, and also a man of means, because he had gave sustenance to David when he was marooned at Mahanaim. And David invited him to accompany him all the way to his house at Jerusalem; but Barzillai said he was too old to go live with David, and would only get in his way; so he asked excuse of the king and told him he would let him have his servant Chimham go with him, and that he was his to do as he pleased.  David accepted the offer promising Barzillai to treat his servant well, and also telling Barzillai that if ever he needed anything of the king all he had to do was to ask.  After that the two men embraced kissed and parted, David and his servants crossing over Jordan and going on to Jerusalem while Barzillai went back to his own home.

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BRAGADAYJAH 963

BRAGADAYJAH 963

King David Showed Mercy to those Who Betrayed Him

Upon hearing Shimei’s request to the king for clemency, Abishai, the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for in that he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” And David answered and said, “And what have I to do you sons of Zeruiah that you should this day be adversaries unto me? 

Should any man be put to death this day in Israel? For am I not aware that this day I am king over all Israel?”  So the king said to Shimei, “Thou shall not die, I swear unto you.” Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet king David, having neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor changed his clothe, since the day the king departed out of Jerusalem until the day he came in peace.  And it happened that when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, David asked him why he had not gone with him? And Mephibosheth answered and said, “My lord O king, my servant deceived me; for he told me that he would not saddle an ass for me to go the king, because my foot is lamed. And he has slandered me to you but; my lord the king is an angel of God; so I leave it to you to do that which seems right in your sight. For all my father’s house were as dead men before you the king; but yet you set me among them that ate at your table. For I know I do not have any right to cry before you anymore.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 962

BRAGADAYJAH 962
Israel and Judah Returned to king David
Now king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests telling them to ask the elders of Judah why they were the last to restore the king back to his house, seeing that all of Israel had already done so. He said to remind the elders that they were his brethren, his bone and his flesh, and to ask them why they were the last to brink the king back to his possession. The king also told them to ask Amasa if he was not his bone and his flesh, and to tell him that henceforth he would be captain of his hosts instead of Joab.  And so King David touched the hearts of all of Judah to the man; so they sent word to him to return with all his servants. So the king returned and came to Jordan and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to conduct him over Jordan. And Shimei the son of Gera a Benjamite which was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. And there was a thousand men of Benjamin with him and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him crossed over Jordan ahead of the king. And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought was good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was coming over Jordan, and paid homage to the king and told the king not to impute iniquity unto him, nor remember anything that he had done perversely the day the king had left Jerusalem, and confessed to the king that he had sinned; but that notwithstanding, he wanted the king to note that he was the first member of the house of Joseph to come and meet with him.   

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Israel and Judah restored to King David

BRAGADAYJAH 961

BRAGADAYJAH 961

Joab confronted the King

As King David continued to moan over the death of his son Absalom, it was told unto Joab how the king continued to moan day in and day out over Absalom; and Joab became very much annoyed and went before the king and told him flatly that he and the people perceived that the king cared more about his enemies than he did his friends, because it would seem to them that the king would have preferred that Absalom had killed them all rather than the other way around.  He further advised the king that the people who were his servants, and who had fought for him, were very much ashamed and were leaving with their heads hanged down and returning to their own homes.  He therefore advised the king to go forth and speak words of comfort to the people; for failing to do which, the people would all forsake him that very day.  So the king arose and sat in his gate; and it was told to the people that the king was sitting in the gate. And so the people who had gone away returned unto him. And there was strife among the people throughout the tribes of Israel; because while most had forsaken him for Absalom, some remained loyal and reminded them that it was David who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies, including the Philistines, and that he had to be on the run because of Absalom. But since Absalom whom they had anointed in his stead was now dead, some argued, why not return to the king?

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BRAGADAYJAH 960

BRAGADAYJAH 960

David Wept over the death of Absalom

After the death an d burial of Absalom, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok asked to carry the news of Absalom’s death to his father the king, and to tell him that the LORD had avenged him of his enemies; but Joab forbade him telling him that perhaps some other day, he could go tell the king that his son was dead, but not that day. But after that Joab sent Cushi to go and tell the king what he had seen and Cushi bowed to Joab and left. Then Ahimaaz asked Joab again to let him go; but Joab said no at first but afterwards change his mind and told him to go.  So Ahimaaz ran as fast as he could and caught up with Cushi. As they approached David was sitting between the two gates; and his watchman climbed up on the roof over the gate and saw a man running alone. And the watchman shouted out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone it means he has tidings.” As the man drew nearer, the watchman saw another man running and he called unto the porter and told him that he saw another man running alone. And the king said, he also brings tidings. And the watchman told the king that the first man seemed to him to be Ahimaaz the son of Zadok; and the king said “He is a good man and brings good tidings.” And Ahimaaz shouted to the king and said, “All is well,” as he fell to the ground on his face before the king. And said, “Blessed is the LORD thy God who has delivered up the men who have lifted up their hands against my lord the king.   And the king asked him if the young man Absalom was safe. And Ahimaaz answered and said that when Joab sent him with the news, he had seen a great tumult but he did not know what it was. But when Cushi came and the king asked him if his son was safe, Cushi told him that Absalom was as all those who had risen up against him.  And the king was much moved and he went into the chamber above that gate and wept and said “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would to God that I had died for thee, O Absalom my son my son!”

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BRAGADAYJAH 959

BRAGADAYJAH 959
Death of Absalom
Having seen the accident suffered by Absalom, one of Joab’s company went and told Joab and Joab asked him why he did not kill Absalom rather than just leaving him hanging there, and told the man that he would have given him ten shekels of silver and a trophy beside, should he have killed Absalom. But the man replied and said that he would not have done it for a thousand shekels, because he would not put forth his hand against the king’s son; for the king had ordered in his hearing as well as that of all his people, that they should not touch the young man Absalom. To do otherwise the man explained would have been false to himself and to the king; and in anywise no matter can be hidden from the ears of the king. And he Joab himself would have had cause against him. Replying, Joab told the man that he was not going to waste further time talking to him; so he went to where Absalom was still hanging, and yet very much alive and thrust him through the heart. And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers also surrounded Absalom and killed him. And Joab blew the trumpet and the people returned from pursuing after Absalom; for Joab called them back. And they took the body of Absalom and cast it into a great pit in the wood and piled a large pile of stones upon it; and they all fled away from the place.. Now Absalom had no children and during his lifetime, he had erected a pillar as a memorial to himself in the king’s dale for he had said that since he had no son to perpetuate his memory, the place which he erected and called Absalom’s place remained as his only memorial.

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BRAGADAYJAH 958

BRAGADAYJAH 958

Absalom Caught Between to branches

Then David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent out a third part of the people under Joab, and a third part under Abishai, and a third part under the hand of Ittai. And the king told his three commanders in the hearing of the soldiers that he would also go forth with them. But the people said they did not want the king to go with them; for if they be forced to flee, the enemy would not care for them; neither if half of them should die would they be cared for. “For,” said they to the King, “You are worth ten thousand of us; therefore,” said they, “It would be better if you remain with us.”  And David told them that he would do whatever seemed best to them.  And as the king stood by the gate the people surrounded him and so he commanded his captains, Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, that should they capture Absalom, to deal gently with him.  And David’s servants heard the king’s command.  So the people went out into the field of battle against Absalom and his men, and fought the battle in the field of Ephraim; and the people of Absalom, twenty thousand of them were slain by David’s men and there was a great slaughter, for those who were not slain by the sword perished in the woods. And the servants of David came upon Absalom riding upon a mule, and all of a sudden Absalom’s neck was caught between two branches of a tree which lifted him up by his neck into the air, and kept him dangling there while the mule carried on rider-less.

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BRAGADAYJAH 957

BRAGADAYJAH 957

David Supplied with Food in the Wilderness

In the meantime, when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass and went to his home, and put his affairs in order and hanged himself. And he was buried in the sepulcher of his father. Then David came to Mahanaim, and Absalom passed over Jordan with all his company. And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab, and then Absalom and his army pitched their tent in the land of Gilead. And it happened that when David was come to Mahanaim that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel, of Lodebar and Barzillai the Giliadite of Rogelim brought beds and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse, and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese, and kine, for David and for the people that were with him to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

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BRAGADAYJAH 956

BRAGADAYJAH 956
David Told Of Ahithophel’s Counsel
On their way to get to David, Jonathon and Ahimaaz remained at a place called Enrogel for they did not want to be seen going directly to David; but a woman saw them and took them and led them away; and a lad saw them and told Absalom. But they had moved on and came to a man’s house at Bahurim; and the house had a well in which they hid themselves. And the woman who had led them came and spread a cloth over the well’s mouth and spread ground corn over it and kept them hidden. And when Absalom’s servants came to the house and questioned the woman concerning them she said that indeed she had seen the men, but they had passed on and crossed over the river.  So Absalom’s men searched the area and when they could not find them they returned to Jerusalem. And after that the men came up out of the well and went and reported to David and told them of the counsel that Ahithophel had given to Absalom and advised him to arise quickly and go. So David arose and departed all his people with him and all crossed safely over Jordan.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 955

BRAGADAYJAH 955
Absalom accepts Hushai’s Counsel
Moreover counselled Hushai, if we watch and wait, we shall come upon him suddenly in some place where he shall be found and we will descend upon him as the dew falls to the ground and of him and all the men that are with him not one shall escape. Besides if he is found in the city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to the city and we shall use the ropes to draw every stone out of the river and there will not be one small stone left there.  And Absalom and the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.”  For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel for the purpose of bringing evil upon Absalom. Then said Hushai to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel. And thus I thus I counselled.  Now therefore send quickly and tell David not to lodge tonight in the plains of the wilderness but speedily pass over lest he be be swallowed up and all the people with him.” 

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BRAGADAYJAH 954

BRAGADAYJAH 954

Ahithophel counseled Absalom to advance upon his father David.

In addition, Ahithophel asked Absalom to let him have twelve thousand chosen men which he would then use to pursue after David in the night, promising that he would come upon him while he is weary from his journey. He would frighten away the people that were with David, and then he would kill David alone. He then promised that having killed David he would return with all the people and having gotten rid of the man who was causing unrest, the people would then be at peace. And Ahithophel’s suggestion pleased Absalom as well as the Elders of Israel, and Absalom ordered that Hushai the Archite be called and his opinion sought. And when Hushai came before Absalom he told him of Ahithophel’s plan and asked him whether he thought they should carry it out or not. And Hushai told Absalom that the counsel of Ahithophel was not appropriate at that time. For, he said, “Your father and his men are mighty men and their minds would be on edge as a bear that has been robbed of his cub.  And besides your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.” He told Absalom, “I am sure that even now he is in some hole or some pit, and it will be that even some of his men may be overcome at first, there will be an alarm raised and for sure all Israel know that your father’s heart is as the heart of a lion. Therefore my counsel is that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba will eventually turn to you as numberless as the sands of the seashore. But for now I counsel not to go to battle against your father, but to wait.”  

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BRAGADAYJAH 953

BRAGADAYJAH 953

Ahithophel’s Advice to Absalom

In the meantime, Absalom and all the men that were with him came to Jerusalem accompanied by Ahithophel; and it came to pass that when David’s friend Hushai the Archite was come unto Absalom that Hushai said unto Absalom “God save the king, God save the king!” And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” And Hushai said unto Absalom “Nay, But whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose his will I be, and with him will I abide. And in any event, whom shall I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in thy father’s presence so will I in your presence.”  At that point Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him what to do And Ahithophel told Absalom to go in unto his father’s concubine whom he had left to keep the house, and all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred of your father then shall the hand of all those who are for you be strong.” So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. And so the advice of Ahithophel which he gave in those days was as if a man had Inquired of the oracles of God; so was his counsel of those days. Both with regard to Davis and also of Absalom. 

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