From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors, the bow of Jonathan was not turned away. The sword of Saul never returned empty.

Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals.” All the people wept over him again.

But the king said, “Let him go over to his own house. He may not see my face.” So Absalom went over to his own house; he did not see the king’s face.

Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance.

Hushai replied to Absalom, “No, I will be loyal to the one whom the Lord, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen.

For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.

But evil people are like thorns – all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.

But the soldiers replied, “You should not do this! For if we should have to make a rapid retreat, they won’t be too concerned about us. Even if half of us should die, they won’t be too concerned about us. But you are like ten thousand of us! So it is better if you remain in the city for support.”

David replied to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives, and not even in their deaths were they separated. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, had no children to the day of her death.

But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king’s face.

However, if he should say, ‘I do not take pleasure in you,’ then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate.”

Hushai replied to Absalom, “Ahithophel’s advice is not sound this time.”

The king said to Shimei, “You won’t die.” The king vowed an oath concerning this.

You rescue me from a hostile army; you preserve me as a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in which there are no clouds. He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth.

From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three.

He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.