patriarchs and prophets-第155部分

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Ahithophel　〃gat　him　home　to　his　house；　to　his　city；　and　put　his　household　in
order；　and　hanged　himself；　and　died。〃　Such　was　the　result　of　the　wisdom　of
one；　who；　with　all　his　high　endowments；　did　not　make　God　his　counselor。
Satan　allures　men　with　flattering　promises；　but　in　the　end　it　will　be　found
by　every　soul；　that　the　〃wages　of　sin　is　death。〃　Romans　6：23。

Hushai；　not　certain　that　his　counsel　would　be　followed　by　the　fickle　king；
lost　no　time　in　warning　David　to　escape　beyond　Jordan　without　delay。　To　the
priests；　who　were　to　forward　it　by　their　sons；　Hushai　sent　the　message：
〃Thus　and　thus　did　Ahithophel　counsel　Absalom　and　the　elders　of　Israel；　and
thus　and　thus　have　I　counseled。　Now　therefore　。　。　。　lodge　not　this　night　in
the　plains　of　the　wilderness；　but　speedily　pass　over；　lest　the　king　be
swallowed　up；　and　all　the　people　that　are　with　him。〃

The　young　men　were　suspected　and　pursued；　yet　they　succeeded　in　performing
their　perilous　mission。　David；　spent　with　toil　and　grief　after　that　first
day　of　flight；　received　the　message　that　he　must　cross　the　Jordan　that
night；　for　his　son　was　seeking　his　life。

What　were　the　feelings　of　the　father　and　king；　so　cruelly　wronged；　in　this
terrible　peril？　〃A　mighty　valiant　man；〃　a　man　of　war；　a　king；　whose　word　was
law；　betrayed　by　his　son　whom　he　had　loved　and　indulged　and　unwisely
trusted；　wronged　and　deserted　by　subjects　bound　to　him　by　the　strongest　ties
of　honor　and　fealtyin　what　words　did　David　pour　out　the　feelings　of　his
soul？　In　the　hour　of　his　darkest　trial　David's　heart　was　stayed　upon　God；
and　he　sang：

742

　　　　　　　　　　〃Lord；　how　are　they　increased　that　trouble　me！
　　　　　　　　　　　Many　are　they　that　rise　up　against　me。
　　　　　　　　　　　Many　there　be　which　say　of　my　soul；
　　　　　　　　　　　There　is　no　help　for　him　in　God。
　　　　　　　　　　　But　Thou；　O　Lord；　art　a　shield　for　me；
　　　　　　　　　　　My　glory；　and　the　lifter　up　of　mine　head。
　　　　　　　　　　　I　cried　unto　the　Lord　with　my　voice；
　　　　　　　　　　　And　He　heard　me　out　of　His　holy　hill。
　　　　　　　　　　　I　laid　me　down　and　slept；
　　　　　　　　　　　I　awaked；　for　the　Lord　sustained　me。
　　　　　　　　　　　I　will　not　be　afraid　of　ten　thousands　of　people；
　　　　　　　　　　　That　have　set　themselves　against　me　round　about。　。　。　。
　　　　　　　　　　　Salvation　belongeth　unto　the　Lord：
　　　　　　　　　　　Thy　blessing　is　upon　Thy　people。〃　Psalm　3：1…8。


David　and　all　his　companywarriors　and　statesmen；　old　men　and　youth；　the
women　and　the　little　childrenin　the　darkness　of　night　crossed　the　deep　and
swift…flowing　river。　〃By　the　morning　light　there　lacked　not　one　of　them　that
was　not　gone　over　Jordan。〃

David　and　his　forces　fell　back　to　Mahanaim；　which　had　been　the　royal　seat　of
Ishbosheth。　This　was　a　strongly　fortified　city；　surrounded　by　a　mountainous
district　favorable　for　retreat　in　case　of　war。　The　country　was
well…provisioned；　and　the　people　were　friendly　to　the　cause　of　David。　Here
many　adherents　joined　him；　while　wealthy　tribesmen　brought　abundant　gifts　of
provision；　and　other　needed　supplies。

Hushai's　counsel　had　achieved　its　object；　gaining　for　David　opportunity　for
escape；　but　the　rash　and　impetuous　prince　could　not　be　long　restrained；　and
he　soon　set　out　in　pursuit　of　his　father。　〃And　Absalom　passed　over　Jordan；
he　and　all　the　men　of　Israel　with　him。〃　Absalom　made　Amasa；　the　son　of
David's　sister　Abigail；　commander…in…chief　of　his　forces。　His　army　was
large；　but　it　was　undisciplined　and　poorly　prepared　to　cope　with　the　tried
soldiers　of　his　father。

David　divided　his　forces　into　three　battalions　under　the　command　of　Joab；
Abishai；　and　Ittai　the　Gittite。　It　had　been　his　purpose　himself　to　lead　his
army　in　the　field；　but　against　this　the　officers　of　the　army；　the
counselors；　and　the　people　vehemently　protested。　〃Thou　shalt　not　go　forth；〃
they　said：　〃for　if　we　flee　away；　they　will　not　care　for　us；　neither　if　half
of　us　die；　will　they　care　for　us：　but　thou　art　worth　ten　thousand　of　us：
therefore

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　743

now　it　is　better　that　thou　be　ready　to　succour　us　out　of　the　city。　And　the
king　said　unto　them；　What　seemeth　you　best　I　will　do。〃
2　Samuel　18：3；　4；　R。V。

From　the　walls　of　the　city　the　long　lines　of　the　rebel　army　were　in　full
view。　The　usurper　was　accompanied　by　a　vast　host；　in　comparison　with　which
David's　force　seemed　but　a　handful。　But　as　the　king　looked　upon　the　opposing
forces；　the　thought　uppermost　in　his　mind　was　not　of　the　crown　and　the
kingdom；　nor　of　his　own　life；　that　depended　upon　the　wage　of　battle。　The
father's　heart　was　filled　with　love　and　pity　for　his　rebellious　son。　As　the
army　filed　out　from　the　city　gates　David　encouraged　his　faithful　soldiers；
bidding　them　go　forth　trusting　that　the　God　of　Israel　would　give　them　the
victory。　But　even　here　he　could　not　repress　his　love　for　Absalom。　As　Joab；
leading　the　first　column；　passed　his　king；　the　conqueror　of　a　hundred
battlefields　stooped　his　proud　head　to　hear　the　monarch's　last　message；　as
with　trembling　voice　he　said；　〃Deal　gently　for　my　sake　with　the　young　man；
even　with　Absalom。〃　And　Abishai　and　Ittai　received　the　same　charge〃Deal
gently　for　my　sake　with　the　young　man；　even　with　Absalom。〃　But　the　king's
solicitude；　seeming　to　declare　that　Absalom　was　dearer　to　him　than　his
kingdom；　dearer　even　than　the　subjects　faithful　to　his　throne；　only
increased　the　indignation　of　the　soldiers　against　the　unnatural　son。

The　place　of　battle　was　a　wood　near　the　Jordan；　in　which　the　great　numbers
of　Absalom's　army　were　only　a　disadvantage　to　him。　Among　the　thickets　and
marshes　of　the　forest　these　undisciplined　troops　became　confused　and
unmanageable。　And　〃the　people　of　Israel　were　slain　before　the　servants　of
David；　and　there　was　there　a　great　slaughter　that　day　of　twenty　thousand
men。〃　Absalom；　seeing　that　the　day　was　lost；　had　turned　to　flee；　when　his
head　was　caught　between　the　branches　of　a　widespreading　tree；　and　his　mule
going　out　from　under　him；　he　was　left　helplessly　suspended；　a　prey　to　his
enemies。　In　this　condition　he　was　found　by　a　soldier；　who；　for　fear　of
displeasing　the　king；　spared　Absalom；　but　reported　to　Joab　what　he　had　seen。
Joab　was　restrained　by　no　scruples。　He　had　befriended　Absalom；　having　twice
secured　his　reconciliation　with　David；　and　the　trust　had　been　shamelessly
betrayed。　But　for　the　advantages　gained　by　Absalom　through　Joab's
intercession；　this　rebellion；　with　all　its　horrors；　could　never　have
occurred。　Now　it　was　in　Joab's　power

744

at　one　blow　to　destroy　the　instigator　of　all　this　evil。　〃And　he　took　three
darts　in　his　hand；　and　thrust　them　through　the　heart　of　Absalom。　。　。　。　And
they　took　Absalom；　and　cast　him　into　a　great　pit　in　the　wood；　and　laid　a
very　great　heap　of　stones　upon　him。〃

Thus　perished　the　instigators　of　rebellion　in　Israel。　Ahithophel　had　died　by
his　own　hand。　The　princely　Absalom；　whose　glorious　beauty　had　been　the　pride
of　Israel；　had　been　cut　down　in　the　vigor　of　his　youth；　his　dead　body　thrust
into　a　pit；　and　covered　with　a　heap　of　stones；　in　token　of　everlasting
reproach。　During　his　lifetime　Absalom　had　reared　for　himself　a　costly
monument　in　the　king's　dale；　but　the　only　memorial　which　marked　his　grave
was　that　heap　of　stones　in　the　wilderness。

The　leader　of　the　rebellion　being　slain；　Joab　by　the　sound　of　the　trumpet
recalled　his　army　from　the　pursuit　of　the　fleeing　host；　and　messengers　were
at　once　dispatched　to　bear　the　tidings　to　the　king。

The　watchman　upon　the　city　wall；　looking　out　toward　the　battlefield；
discovered　a　man　running　alone。　Soon　a　second　came　in　sight。　As　the　first
drew　nearer；　the　watchman　said　to　the　king；　who　was　waiting　beside　the　gate；
〃Methinketh　the　running　of　the　foremost　is　like　the　running　of　Ahimaaz　the
son　of　Zadok。　And　the　king　said；　He　is　a　good　man；　and　cometh　with　good
tidings。　And　Ahimaaz　called；　and　said　unto　the　king；　All　is　well。　And　he
fell　down　to　the　earth　upon　his　face　before　the　king；　and　said；　Blessed　be
the　Lord　thy　God；　which　hath　delivered　up　the　men　that　lifted　up　their　hand
against　my　lord　the　king。〃　To　the　king's　eager　inquiry；　〃Is　the　young　man
Absalom　safe？〃　Ahimaaz　returned　an　evasive　answer。

The　second　messenger　came；　crying；　〃Tidings；　my　lord　the　king：　for　the　Lord
hath　avenged　thee　this　day　of　all　them　that　rose　up　against　thee。〃　Again
from　the　father's　lips　came　the　absorbing　question；　〃Is　the　young　man
Absalom　safe？〃　Unable　to　conceal　the　heavy　tidings；　the　herald　answered；
〃The　enemies　of　my　lord　the　king；　and　all　that　rise　against　thee　to　do　thee
hurt；　be　as　that　young　man　is。〃　It　was　enough。　David　questioned　no　further；
but　with　bowed　head　he　〃went　up　to　the　chamber　over　the　gate；　and　wept：　and
as　he　went；　thus　he　said；　O　my　son　Absalom！　my　son；　my　son　Absalom！　would
God　I　had　died　for　thee；　O　Absalom；　my　son；　my　son！〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　745


The　victorious　army；　returning　from　the　field；　approached　the　city；　their
shouts　of　triumph　awaking　the　echoes　of　the　hills。　But　as　they　entered　the
city　gate　the　shout　died　away；　their　banners　drooped　in　their　hands；　and
with　downcast　gaze　they　advanced　more　like　those　who　had　suffered　defeat
than　like　conquerors。　For　the　king　was　not　waiting　to　bid　them　welcome；　but
from　the　chamber　above　the　gate　his　wailing　cry　was　heard；　〃O　my　son
Absalom！　my　son；　my　son　Absalom！　would　God　I　had　died　for　thee；　O　Absalom；
my　son；　my　son！〃

〃The　victory　that　day　was　turned　into　mourning　unto　all　the　people；　for　the
people　heard　say　that　day　how　the　king　was　grieved　for　his　son。　And　the
people　gat　them　by　stealth　that　day　into　the　city；　as　people　being　ashamed
steal　away　when　they　flee　in　battle。〃

Joab　was　filled　with　indignation。　God　had　given　them　reason　for　triumph　and
gladness；　the　greatest　rebellion　that　had　ever　been　known　in　Israel　had　been
crushed；　and　yet　this　great　victory　was　turned　to　mourning　for　him　whose
crime　had　cost　the　blood　of　thousands　of　brave　men。　The　rude；　blunt　captain
pushed　his　way　into　the　presence　of　the　king；　and　boldly　said；　〃Thou　hast
shamed　this　day　the　faces　of　all　thy　servants；　which　this　day　have　saved　thy
life；　and　the　lives　of　thy　sons　and　of　thy　daughters；　。　。　。　in　that　thou
lovest　thine　enemies；　and　h