She said, “In the past they would always say, ‘Let them inquire in Abel,’ and that is how they settled things.

That night the Lord told Nathan, ¹ 

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

Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!” ¹ 

When David got up the next morning, the Lord had already spoken ¹  to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:

Then Abner sent messengers ¹  to David saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement ²  with me, and I will do whatever I can ³  to cause all Israel to turn to you.”

Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem ¹  against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites ²  said to David, “You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot invade this place!’”

David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying ‘I have put the Lord’s anointed to death.’”

So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. ¹  How then could I show ²  my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”

Abner advised ¹  the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king. ² 

When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!”

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! ¹ 

so you may gain lasting fame, ¹  as people say, ²  ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel!’ The dynasty ³  of your servant David will be established before you,

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.”

So David sent Tamar to the house saying, “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.”

While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one of them is left!”

Now don’t let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, ‘All the king’s sons are dead.’ It is only Amnon who is dead.”

For I made this vow ¹  when I was living in Geshur in Aram: ‘If the Lord really does allow me to return to Jerusalem, ²  I will serve the Lord.’”

Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, “When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume ¹  that Absalom rules in Hebron.”

Now David ¹  had been told, “Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed, ²  “Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O Lord!”