<p class="bodytext">Joab replied, &#8220;I will not wait around like this for you!&#8221; He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree.<n id="1" />

For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose<n id="1" /> you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant.<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see<n id="1" /> Absalom.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then a messenger came to David and reported, &#8220;The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!&#8221;<n id="1" />

If that happens even the bravest soldier &#8211; one who is lion-hearted &#8211; will virtually melt away. For all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and that those who are with him are brave.

Now don&#8217;t let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, &#8216;All the king&#8217;s sons are dead.&#8217; It is only Amnon who is dead.&#8221;p>

Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty<n id="1" /> of the citizens<n id="2" /> of Israel.p>

<p class="bodytext">But the soldiers replied,<n id="1" /> &#8220;You should not do this!<n id="2" /> For if we should have to make a rapid retreat, they won&#8217;t be too concerned about us.<n id="3" /> Even if half of us should die, they won&#8217;t be too concerned about us. But you<n id="4" /> are like ten thousand of us! So it is better if you remain in the city for support.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">As the ark of the <sc>Lordsc> entered the City of David, Saul&#8217;s daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the <sc>Lordsc>, she despised him.<n id="1" />

for you, O <sc>Lordsc> of hosts, the God of Israel, have told<n id="1" /> your servant, &#8216;I will build you a dynastic house.&#8217;<n id="2" /> That is why your servant has had the courage<n id="3" /> to pray this prayer to you.

<p class="bodytext">Her brother Absalom said to her, &#8220;Was Amnon your brother with you? Now be quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Don&#8217;t take it so seriously!&#8221;<n id="1" /> Tamar, devastated, lived in the house of her brother Absalom.p>

<p class="bodytext">Absalom instructed his servants, &#8220;Look! When Amnon is drunk<n id="1" /> and I say to you, &#8216;Strike Amnon down,&#8217; kill him then and there. Don&#8217;t fear! Is it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and courageous!&#8221;<n id="2" />

He said to the king, &#8220;Don&#8217;t think badly of me, my lord, and don&#8217;t recall the sin of your servant on the day when you, my lord the king, left<n id="1" /> Jerusalem!<n id="2" /> Please don&#8217;t call it to mind!

<p class="bodytext">David felt guilty<n id="1" /> after he had numbered the army. David said to the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, O <sc>Lordsc>, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.&#8221;p>

So get up now and go out and give some encouragement to<n id="1" /> your servants. For I swear by the <sc>Lordsc> that if you don&#8217;t go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!&#8221;p>