I chase my enemies and destroy them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.

When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

He instructed the messenger as follows: “When you finish giving the battle report to the king,

The king longed to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon.

Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived, wailing and weeping. The king and all his servants wept loudly as well.

They replied to the king, “As for this man who exterminated us and who schemed against us so that we were destroyed and left without status throughout all the borders of Israel –