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When David had passed the top of
the hill, he saw a man coming to meet him. It was Ziba, the servant
of Mephibosheth; he had brought some bread and fruit, and wine to David,
for the men to eat when they were tired and faint in the wilderness.
Then David asked about Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth could not come
himself to David, and his cruel servant told a lie, and accused him
falsely to the king; and said he was staying at Jerusalem, hoping that the
people would come and make him king. David felt sorry and angry to
hear this. He did not know that it was untrue; so he gave to Ziba
all the possessions which he had before given to Mephibosheth. Then
David went on to Bahurim, where he had a new sorrow. A wicked man
named Shimei, came out, and cursed him, and threw stones at him, and said
God was punishing him now for all his cruelty to Saul; and would take away
the kingdom and give it to Absalom. This wicked man did not speak
the truth. God was indeed punishing David, but not because David was
cruel to Saul. He was punishing him for murdering Uriah. David's
friends were very angry with Shimei: they did not like to hear their
master so cruelly accused, and they said they would kill this wicked
man. But David would not let them. He knew all these troubles
came from God, and he humbly submitted to him. So David and his men
went on quietly, without attending to Shimei. Shimei's curses could
not hurt David because God was his friend, and took care of him
still. He was safe in God's hands; for God punished him in love to
make him humble and holy. And David knew this. Where
was Absalom now? He went to Jerusalem to his father's house, and
there he consulted with his friends what he should do. Ahithophel
gave very wicked advice to Absalom. He told him how to make himself
king, and how to conquer David. But God was wiser than Ahithophel,
and He made Absalom unwilling to attend to him. There was a friend
of David with Absalom, named Hushai. Hushai pretended to be
Absalom's friend, and listened to all the wicked prince said; and when he
found that Absalom was determined to go to battle against his father, he
told the priests, and they told David. So David made his soldiers
ready to go and fight against Absalom. Was
Ahithophel with Absalom now? No, when he saw that Absalom did not
attend to his advice, he was very much displeased. He went home and
gave commands to his family; and then he went away and hanged himself and
died! Why? Because he was angry that his advice was not
followed. David's soldiers
were now going to fight against Absalom. David must fight against
his own son! But he still loved his son, and he told the captains to
be gentle with wicked Absalom. The battle was in the wood of
Ephraim. David's soldiers soon conquered the rebellious people; and
twenty thousand were slain. Absalom rode upon a mule, and tried to
escape; but as he went through the wood, his long hair caught in the
branches of an oak, and "he was taken up between the heaven and the
earth." The mule went away, and Absalom hung in the oak; so
that he could not escape. One of David's soldiers saw Absalom
hanging, but the man did not hurt him, because he remembered David's
command; but he told Joab; and Joab took three darts, and went to the tree
where Absalom hung, and smote him, and killed him. So the battle was
ended, and David's soldiers had the victory. But
where was David himself; He did not see the battle. He was waiting
by the gate of the city Mahanaim to hear the news; and the watchman went
up to the top of the wall to look. At last the watchman saw a man
running, and he told the king. Then David began to tremble; he felt
very much afraid. Soon after, another man was seen running.
The first soon came to David, and fell down, and said, "God has
delivered up the men who lifted their hand against the king."
But David thought most about his son; and he asked, "Is the young man
Absalom safe?" The messenger said, "I cannot
tell." Then the other man came to David, and said, "The
Lord has avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against
thee." But David could not attend to the victory; he thought
only about Absalom, and he cried again, "Is the young man Absalom
safe?" The messenger did not wish to grieve the king; he could
not then tell him the whole of the sad story; he only said, "May the
king's enemies all be as that young man is now." David
understood what this meant; he knew how it was with Absalom; and he could
not bear to hear more. He arose directly and went to his own room,
for he wished to be alone; and as he went up, he cried very, very
sorrowfully. "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! O
Absalom, my son, my son!" This
is a sad story. Absalom knew what was right. He had learned
what he ought to do. David had taught him to serve God; he had
talked to him about holy things; he had prayed for him. But Absalom
had not attended; he had not prayed for himself; he had not cared about
God. God is angry with those children who will not attend to their
parents' and teachers' holy lessons. Joab
did not like David to mourn so much for Absalom. All the people were
very glad that the rebels were conquered, and Joab wanted David to go and
speak comfortably to them. Joab was a wise captain, but he was not a
kind friend. He was not gentle to David in his trouble. When
our friends are unhappy, we ought to speak very kindly to them, and try to
comfort them; but Joab spoke very harshly to David. David
could not forget his poor son, but he knew that he must not be idle when
there was so much for him to do; so he attended to Joab and arose, and sat
by the gate, and his people came to him. They were very glad to see
him again; and to hear him speak kindly to them; and the men of Judah came
to bring him home to Jerusalem. So he made ready, and went over
Jordan; and many of his friends met him there, and brought a boat to carry
some of his family and things across the river. Ziba came, and his
servants and his sons, and Shimei came too. Shimei was humble now,
and asked David to forgive him the wicked words he had used. David
promised not to punish him; but Shimei was not truly sorry for his sin; he
was a wicked man still. There
was a very old man who lived at Rogelim, named Barzillai. He was
eighty years old. He loved the king very much, and had given him
many things at Mahanaim; and now he came to Jordan to go over with David,
and to bid him farewell, for Barzillai wanted to show his love and respect
for his king. David loved this kind old man, and wished him to come
and live with him in Jerusalem. But Barzillai answered, I cannot
live long; my hearing, and sight, and taste are all gone; and soon I shall
go too. I must return to my city, and die there, and lie down in my
grave. But here is my son Chimham, he shall go to Jerusalem with the
king." Then David kissed and blessed good old Barzillai, and
they parted. Barzillai went home, to stay there till he went to
another and better home in heaven. When
David came near to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth met him. What Ziba had
said of him was not true. Mephibosheth loved the king, and had
mourned very much when David was away. David said, "Why wentest
thou not with me?" Mephibosheth answered, "My servant
deceived me; I wished to follow thee upon an ass, because I cannot walk,
for I am lame. And Ziba has falsely accused me." Then
David gave Mephibosheth some of his lands again; and was friendly with him
as before. David now
returned to Jerusalem; and his people submitted to him, and all was peace
again, for God gave him deliverance from all his enemies. This
is a world of trouble. David had many sorrows; but he knew where to
find comfort; God was his refuge and strength in them all. Let us
pray God to be our friend too; and then we need not fear any troubles, nor
any enemies. We shall have comfort here on earth, and everlasting
peace in the heavenly Jerusalem above.
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