patriarchs and prophets-第169节

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sought　to　gratify　every　thought　of　his　heart；　regardless　of　the　requirements
of　God。　Notwithstanding　his　great　sin；　God　had　borne　long　with　him。　For　two
years　he　had　been　granted　opportunity　for　repentance；　but　he　continued　in
sin；　and　with　his　guilt　upon　him；　he　was　cut　down　by　death；　to　await　the
awful　tribunal　of　the　judgment。

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David　had　neglected　the　duty　of　punishing　the　crime　of　Amnon；　and　because　of
the　unfaithfulness　of　the　king　and　father　and　the　impenitence　of　the　son；
the　Lord　permitted　events　to　take　their　natural　course；　and　did　not　restrain
Absalom。　When　parents　or　rulers　neglect　the　duty　of　punishing　iniquity；　God
Himself　will　take　the　case　in　hand。　His　restraining　power　will　be　in　a
measure　removed　from　the　agencies　of　evil；　so　that　a　train　of　circumstances
will　arise　which　will　punish　sin　with　sin。

The　evil　results　of　David's　unjust　indulgence　toward　Amnon　were　not　ended；
for　it　was　here　that　Absalom's　alienation　from　his　father　began。　After　he
fled　to　Geshur；　David；　feeling　that　the　crime　of　his　son　demanded　some
punishment；　refused　him　permission　to　return。　And　this　had　a　tendency　to
increase　rather　than　to　lessen　the　inextricable　evils　in　which　the　king　had
come　to　be　involved。　Absalom；　energetic；　ambitious；　and　unprincipled；　shut
out　by　his　exile　from　participation　in　the　affairs　of　the　kingdom；　soon　gave
himself　up　to　dangerous　scheming。

At　the　close　of　two　years　Joab　determined　to　effect　a　reconciliation　between
the　father　and　his　son。　And　with　this　object　in　view　he　secured　the　services
of　a　woman　of　Tekoah；　reputed　for　wisdom。　Instructed　by　Joab；　the　woman
represented　herself　to　David　as　a　widow　whose　two　sons　had　been　her　only
comfort　and　support。　In　a　quarrel　one　of　these　had　slain　the　other；　and　now
all　the　relatives　of　the　family　demanded　that　the　survivor　should　be　given
up　to　the　avenger　of　blood。　〃And　so；〃　said　the　mother；　〃they　shall　quench　my
coal　which　is　left；　and　shall　not　leave　to　my　husband　neither　name　nor
remainder　upon　the　earth。〃　The　king's　feelings　were　touched　by　this　appeal；
and　he　assured　the　woman　of　the　royal　protection　for　her　son。

After　drawing　from　him　repeated　promises　for　the　young　man's　safety；　she
entreated　the　king's　forbearance；　declaring　that　he　had　spoken　as　one　at
fault；　in　that　he　did　not　fetch　home　again　his　banished。　〃For；〃　she　said；
〃we　must　needs　die；　and　are　as　water　spilt　on　the　ground；　which　cannot　be
gathered　up　again；　neither　doth　God　respect　any　person；　ye　doth　He　devise
means；　that　His　banished　be　not　expelled　from　Him。〃　This　tender　and　touching
portrayal　of　the　love　of　God　toward　the　sinnercoming　as　it　did　from　Joab；
the　rude　soldieris　a　striking　evidence　of　the　familiarity　of　the
Israelites　with　the　great　truths　of　redemption。　The　king；　feeling　his　own
need　of　God's　mercy；　could　not　resist

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this　appeal。　To　Joab　the　command　was　given；　〃Go　therefore；　bring　the　young
man　Absalom　again。〃

Absalom　was　permitted　to　return　to　Jerusalem；　but　not　to　appear　at　court　or
to　meet　his　father。　David　had　begun　to　see　the　evil　effects　of　his
indulgence　toward　his　children；　and　tenderly　as　he　loved　this　beautiful　and
gifted　son；　he　felt　it　necessary；　as　a　lesson　both　to　Absalom　and　to　the
people；　that　abhorrence　for　such　a　crime　should　be　manifested。　Absalom　lived
two　years　in　his　own　house；　but　banished　from　the　court。　His　sister　dwelt
with　him；　and　her　presence　kept　alive　the　memory　of　the　irreparable　wrong
she　had　suffered。　In　the　popular　estimation　the　prince　was　a　hero　rather
than　an　offender。　And　having　this　advantage；　he　set　himself　to　gain　the
hearts　of　the　people。　His　personal　appearance　was　such　as　to　win　the
admiration　of　all　beholders。　〃In　all　Israel　there　was　none　to　be　so　much
praised　as　Absalom　for　his　beauty：　from　the　sole　of　his　foot　even　to　the
crown　of　his　head　there　was　no　blemish　in　him。〃　It　was　not　wise　for　the　king
to　leave　a　man　of　Absalom's　characterambitious；　impulsive；　and
passionateto　brood　for　two　years　over　supposed　grievances。　And　David's
action　in　permitting　him　to　return　to　Jerusalem；　and　yet　refusing　to　admit
him　to　his　presence；　enlisted　in　his　behalf　the　sympathies　of　the　people。

With　the　memory　ever　before　him　of　his　own　transgression　of　the　law　of　God；
David　seemed　morally　paralyzed；　he　was　weak　and　irresolute；　when　before　his
sin　he　had　been　courageous　and　decided。　His　influence　with　the　people　had
been　weakened。　And　all　this　favored　the　designs　of　his　unnatural　son。

Through　the　influence　of　Joab；　Absalom　was　again　admitted　to　his　father's
presence；　but　though　there　was　an　outward　reconciliation；　he　continued　his
ambitious　scheming。　He　now　assumed　an　almost　royal　state；　having　chariots
and　horses；　and　fifty　men　to　run　before　him。　And　while　the　king　was　more　and
more　inclined　to　desire　retirement　and　solitude；　Absalom　sedulously　courted
the　popular　favor。

The　influence　of　David's　listlessness　and　irresolution　extended　to　his
subordinates；　negligence　and　delay　characterized　the　administration　of
justice。　Absalom　artfully　turned　every　cause　of　dissatisfaction　to　his　own
advantage。　Day　by　day　this　man　of　noble　mien　might　be　seen　at　the　gate　of
the　city；　where　a　crowd　of　suppliants　waited　to　present　their　wrongs　for
redness。

730

Absalom　mingled　with　them　and　listened　to　their　grievances；　expressing
sympathy　with　their　sufferings　and　regret　at　the　inefficiency　of　the
government。　Having　thus　listened　to　the　story　of　a　man　of　Israel；　the　prince
would　reply；　〃Thy　matters　are　good　and　right；　but　there　is　no　man　deputed　of
the　king　to　hear　thee；〃　adding；　〃O　that　I　were　made　judge　in　the　land；　that
every　man　which　hath　any　suit　or　cause　might　come　unto　me；　and　I　would　do
him　justice！　And　it　was　so；　that　when　any　man　came　nigh　to　him　to　do　him
obeisance；　he　put　forth　his　hand；　and　took　him；　and　kissed　him。〃

Fomented　by　the　artful　insinuations　of　the　prince；　discontent　with　the
government　was　fast　spreading。　The　praise　of　Absalom　was　on　the　lips　of　all。
He　was　generally　regarded　as　heir　to　the　kingdom；　the　people　looked　upon　him
with　pride　as　worthy　of　this　high　station；　and　a　desire　was　kindled　that　he
might　occupy　the　throne。　〃So　Absalom　stole　the　hearts　of　the　men　of　Israel。〃
Yet　the　king；　blinded　by　affection　for　his　son；　suspected　nothing。　The
princely　state　which　Absalom　had　assumed；　was　regarded　by　David　as　intended
to　do　honor　to　his　courtas　an　expression　of　joy　at　the　reconciliation。

The　minds　of　the　people　being　prepared　for　what　was　to　follow；　Absalom
secretly　sent　picked　men　throughout　the　tribes；　to　concert　measures　for　a
revolt。　And　now　the　cloak　of　religious　devotion　was　assumed　to　conceal　his
traitorous　designs。　A　vow　made　long　before　while　he　was　in　exile　must　be
paid　in　Hebron。　Absalom　said　to　the　king；　〃I　pray　thee；　let　me　go　and　pay　my
vow；　which　I　have　vowed　unto　the　Lord；　in　Hebron。　For　thy　servant　vowed　a
vow　while　I　abode　at　Geshur　in　Syria；　saying；　If　the　Lord　shall　bring　me
again　indeed　to　Jerusalem；　then　I　will　serve　the　Lord。〃　The　fond　father；
comforted　with　this　evidence　of　piety　in　his　son；　dismissed　him　with　his
blessing。　The　conspiracy　was　now　fully　matured。　Absalom's　crowning　act　of
hypocrisy　was　designed　not　only　to　blind　the　king　but　to　establish　the
confidence　of　the　people；　and　thus　to　lead　them　on　to　rebellion　against　the
king　whom　God　had　chosen。

Absalom　set　forth　for　Hebron；　and　there　went　with　him　〃two　hundred　men　out
of　Jerusalem；　that　were　called；　and　they　went　in　their　simplicity；　and　they
knew　not　anything。〃　These　men　went　with　Absalom；　little　thinking　that　their
love　for　the　son　was　leading　them　into　rebellion　against　the　father。　Upon
arriving　at　Hebron；　Absalom　immediately　summoned　Ahithophel；　one　of　the

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chief　counselors　of　David；　a　man　in　high　repute　for　wisdom；　whose　opinion
was　thought　to　be　as　safe　and　wise　as　that　of　an　oracle。　Ahithophel　joined
the　conspirators；　and　his　support　made　the　cause　of　Absalom　appear　certain
of　success；　attracting　to　his　standard　many　influential　men　from　all　parts
of　the　land。　As　the　trumpet　of　revolt　was　sounded；　the　prince's　spies
throughout　the　country　spread　the　tidings　that　Absalom　was　king；　and　many　of
the　people　gathered　to　him。

Meanwhile　the　alarm　was　carried　to　Jerusalem；　to　the　king。　David　was
suddenly　aroused；　to　see　rebellion　breaking　out　close　beside　his　throne。　His
own　sonthe　son　whom　he　had　loved　and　trustedhad　been　planning　to　seize
his　crown　and　doubtless　to　take　his　life。　In　his　great　peril　David　shook　off
the　depression　that　had　so　long　rested　upon　him；　and　with　the　spirit　of　his
earlier　years　he　prepared　to　meet　this　terrible　emergency。　Absalom　was
mustering　his　forces　at　Hebron；　only　twenty　miles　away。　The　rebels　would
soon　be　at　the　gates　of　Jerusalem。

From　his　palace　David　looked　out　upon　his　capital〃beautiful　for　situation；
the　joy　of　the　whole　earth；　。　。　。　the　city　of　the　great　King。〃　Psalm　48：2。
He　shuddered　at　the　thought　of　exposing　it　to　carnage　and　devastation。
Should　he　call　to　his　help　the　subjects　still　loyal　to　his　throne；　and　ma