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.

Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

When I catch up with him he will be exhausted and worn out. I will rout him, and the entire army that is with him will flee. I will kill only the king

and will bring the entire army back to you. In exchange for the life of the man you are seeking, you will get back everyone. The entire army will return unharmed.”

honey, curds, flocks, and cheese. For they said, “The people are no doubt hungry, tired, and thirsty there in the desert.”

Then the king said to them, “I will do whatever seems best to you.” So the king stayed beside the city gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.

The battle there was spread out over the whole area, and the forest consumed more soldiers than the sword devoured that day.

That day the people stole away to go to the city the way people who are embarrassed steal away in fleeing from battle.

But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?”

Shimei son of Gera the Benjaminite from Bahurim came down quickly with the men of Judah to meet King David.

Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him have the whole thing! My lord the king has returned safely to his house!”

The king replied, “Kimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever I deem appropriate. And whatever you choose, I will do for you.”

Once he had removed Amasa from the path, everyone followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.

Now Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, had a spear that weighed three hundred bronze shekels, and he was armed with a new weapon. He had said that he would kill David.

Later there was another battle with the Philistines, this time in Gob. On that occasion Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of Rapha.

They crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, on the south side of the city, at the wadi of Gad, near Jazer.

But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriors did not ally themselves with Adonijah.

As the Lord is with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master King David!”

Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king in Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear.

and said this: ‘The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.’”