Then the woman said, “Please permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter.” He replied, “Tell me.”

Then Joab got up and came to Absalom’s house. He said to him, “Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?”

Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.

Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you reaches me.”

So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.

Then Joab blew the trumpet and the army turned back from chasing Israel, for Joab had called for the army to halt.

He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.

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

They went through all the land and after nine months and twenty days came back to Jerusalem.

This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household! Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. He will have sexual relations with your wives in broad daylight!

Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent a message to you saying, ‘Come here so that I can send you to the king with this message: “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.”’ Let me now see the face of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!”

Gad went to David and told him, “Shall seven years of famine come upon your land? Or shall you flee for three months from your enemy with him in hot pursuit? Or shall there be three days of plague in your land? Now decide what I should tell the one who sent me.”

So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. How then could I show my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”

namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!”

When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom.

In the letter he wrote: “Station Uriah in the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed.”

Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear.”

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.”

Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run and give the king the good news that the Lord has vindicated him before his enemies.”

Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?”