<p class="bodytext">Now King David heard about all these things and was very angry.<n id="1" />

But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king&#8217;s sons along with him.p>

Then the king stood up and tore his garments and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing there with torn garments as well.p>

The king&#8217;s servants replied to the king, &#8220;We will do whatever our lord the king decides.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at their destination, where David<n id="1" /> refreshed himself.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now when Absalom and all the men<n id="1" /> of Israel arrived in Jerusalem,<n id="2" /> Ahithophel was with him.

<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River.

<p class="bodytext">Now Joab was the general in command of all the army of Israel. Benaiah the son of Jehoida was over the Kerethites and the Perethites.

<p class="poetry">The one true God acts in a faithful manner;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s promise is reliable;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.p>

They went through all the land and after nine months and twenty days came back to Jerusalem.<n id="1" />p>

I, the servant of my lord<n id="1" /> the king, give it all to the king!&#8221; Araunah also told the king, &#8220;May the <sc>Lordsc> your God show you favor!&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Then Abner spoke privately<n id="1" /> with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately<n id="2" /> of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.<n id="3" />

Abner said to David, &#8220;Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement<n id="1" /> with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.&#8221; So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.p>

Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, &#8220;God will punish me severely<n id="1" /> if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!&#8221;p>

Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say<n id="1" /> to any of the leaders<n id="2" /> whom I appointed to care for<n id="3" /> my people Israel, &#8220;Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?&#8221;&#8217;p>

He removed<n id="1" /> the people who were in it and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy<n id="2" /> with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.<n id="3" />p>

Zadok and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving<n id="1" /> the city.p>

Ahithophel replied to Absalom, &#8220;Have sex with<n id="1" /> your father&#8217;s concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.&#8221;<n id="2" />

The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: &#8220;For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.&#8221; Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.p>

<p class="bodytext">So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, they<n id="1" /> all came before him.p><t /><p class="bodytext">But the Israelite soldiers<n id="2" /> had all fled to their own homes.<n id="3" />